Clay Guida Forced Out of UFC on Fox 7 Due to Injury; Chad Mendes Awaits New Opponent

Clay Guida has suffered an undisclosed injury that has forced him off the UFC on Fox 7 fight card, leaving Chad Mendes awaiting a new opponent.

MMAWeekly.com sources on Friday confirmed Guida’s withdrawal, which was first reported by Sherdog.com.

Mendes (13-1) has only lost to current UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, but has had a difficult time keeping together fights that would earn him a return shot at the belt.

He has been scheduled to fight the likes of Hacran Dias, Manny Gaburyan, and Guida, but all have fallen out due to various injuries, leaving Mendes searching for top name opponents that would boost him back up the ladder.

Guida (30-13) only recently made the drop from lightweight to featherweight, but defeated Top 10 fighter Hatsu Hioki in his 145-pound debut. He also has a strong reputation from his time as a lightweight. A victory over him would have helped Mendes back on his way to a title shot.

Mendes is currently on a two-fight streak, defeating Cody McKenzie and Yaotzin Meza, but now awaits a new UFC on Fox 7 opponent.

UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson puts his belt on the line against Strikeforce titleholder Gilbert Melendez in the UFC on Fox 7 main event on April 20 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.