Darren Elkins Steps in For Injured Clay Guida, Meets Chad Mendes at UFC on Fox 7

Chad Mendes vs Darren Elkins set for UFC on Fox 7

Following his first round TKO victory over Antonio Carvalho at UFC 158 this weekend, Darren Elkins (16-2, 6-1 UFC) has agreed to quick return to The Octagon, at UFC on Fox 7 next month, where he will take on Chad Mendes, as a replacement for the injured Clay Guida.

Elkins win over Carvalho marked his first stoppage victory as a UFC featherweight after four straight unanimous-decision victories and improved his UFC Featherweight record to 5-0, the first fighter to attain such a mark in the UFC.

Prior to his victory over Carvelho, Elkins had scored decision wins over Steven Siler, Diego Brandao, Michihiro Omigawa and Tiquan Zhang in the UFC, which has seen him slip under the raider of title contention.

Mendes (13-1, 4-1 UFC) who enters the bout having bounced back from a TKO loss to UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo at UFC 142, with back-to-back TKO victories over Cody McKenzie and Yaotzin Meza, is widely considered the number 2 featherweight in the world, and may feel an impressive win over Elkins may be enough to put him right back in title contention.

UFC on Fox 7 Takes place on  April 20 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, featuring a lightweight title fight between champion Benson Henderson and final Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez, with UK stars Dan Hardy and Norman Parke also on the card

The latest UFC on Fox 7 card now includes:

Main Card
Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez - For The UFC lightweight title
Daniel Cormier vs. Frank Mir
Nate Diaz vs. Josh Thomson
Matt Brown vs. Dan Hardy

Preliminary Card
Norman Parke vs. Jon Tuck
Francis Carmont vs. Lorenz Larkin
Myles Jury vs. Ramsey Nijem
Francisco Rivera vs. Hugo Viana
Jorge Masvidal vs. Tim Means
Facebook Prelims
Chad Mendes vs. Darren Elkins
Roger Bowling vs. Anthony Njokuani
Clifford Starks vs. Yoel Romero
Joseph Benavidez vs. Darren Uyenoyama