MMAConvert.com

SAN JOSE, CA. - From the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA, in what many have billed as “UFC vs. Strikeforce”, is UFC on FOX 7. The card is headlined by the return of UFC lightweight champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson, as he defends his title against former Strikeforce lightweight champion and UFC newcomer, Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez.  In the evenings co-main event is the Octagon debut of Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner, Daniel Cormier, who is welcomed by former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir in a thrilling heavyweight clash. In case you miss the action, MMAConvert was nice enough to provide live results for you:

Main Card on FOX

Lightweight Championship – Champion Ben Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez

• Ben Henderson def. Gilbert Melendez by Decision (split), Retains UFC Lightweight Title

Heavyweight – Frank Mir vs. Daniel Cormier

• Daniel Cormier def. Frank Mir by Decision (unanimous)

Lightweight – Nate Diaz vs. Josh Thomson

• Josh Thomson def. Nate Diaz by TKO (head kick and punches) Rd. 2, 3:44

Welterweight – Matt Brown vs. Jordan Mein

• Matt Brown def. Jordan Mein by TKO (elbows to the body) Rd. 2, 1:00

Preliminary Card on FX

Featherweight – Chad Mendes vs. Darren Elkins

• Chad Mendes def. Darren Elkins by TKO (punches) Rd. 1, 1:08

Middleweight – Francis Carmont vs. Lorenz Larkin

• Francis Carmont def. Lorenz Larkin by Decision (unanimous)

Lightweight – Ramsey Nijem vs. Myles Jury

• Myles Jury def. Ramsey Nijem by KO (punch) Rd. 2, 1:02

Flyweight – Joseph Benavidez vs. Darren Uyenoyama

• Joseph Benavidez def. Darren Uyenoyama by TKO (punches to the body) Rd.2, 4:50

Lightweight – Tim Means vs. Jorge Masvidal

• Jorge Masvidal def. Tim Means by Decision (unanimous)

Bantamweight – T.J. Dillashaw vs. Hugo Viana

•  T.J. Dillashaw def. Hugo Viana by TKO (punches) Rd. 1, 4:22

Preliminary Card on Facebook

Lightweight – Anthony Njokuani vs. Roger Bowling

• Anthony Njokuani def. Roger Bowling by KO (punch) Rd. 2, 2:52

Middleweight - Clifford Starks vs. Yoel Romero

•  Yoel Romero def. Clifford Starks by KO (flying knee and punches) Rd. 1, 1:32

Darren Elkins has offered to step in and face Chad Mendes at UFC on FOX 7 in April, according to a report by MMAjunkie.com.

Mendes was expected to meet Clay Guida, but an injury knocked Guida out of the featherweight contest.

Elkins (16-2) recently improved to 5-0 at 145 pounds after defeating Antonio Carvalho.

Mendes (13-1) is a former top contender to the UFC title, as his loss to Jose Aldo is the only one of his career.

The bout is expected to be a featured one on the FX-televised prelims April 20.

Well, Elkins stated his desire to face a Top-10 ranked featherweight after defeating Carvalho, but I’m not sure he meant someone like Mendes right away. This will be the biggest test of his career, but a win would vault him right into contender status.

Finding – and keeping – an opponent for Chad Mendes appears to be a difficult job.

Clay Guida is the latest in a string of fighters who have been scheduled to face Mendes, only to fall victim to a training injury. The two featherweights were slated to meet at UFC on FOX 7 next month.

According to a report by Sherdog.com, Guida suffered an undisclosed injury. The fighter has yet to say anything official, and the UFC hasn’t announced a replacement yet.

Last year, Mendes (13-1) lost Hacran Dias as an opponent, but faced Yaotzin Meza and earned a victory. He was also booked to meet Manny Gamburyan earlier this year, but Gamburyan suffered an injury and was knocked out.

Guida made a triumphant debut at 145 pounds by besting Hatsu Hioki.

Clay Guida’s recent fights have caught the attention of MMA fans, media and his own boss – and not in a good way.

Guida, who moved down to featherweight after a loss to Gray Maynard last year, will meet Chad Mendes next month at UFC on FOX 7. “The Carpenter” and Mendes share a mutual respect, but that is thrown out the window when it comes down to moving up the UFC’s rankings and getting closer to a title shot.

“It was an easy decision (to face Mendes) when a possible shot at a world title, a championship, is on the line,” said Guida, during a recent interview with MMAMania.com. “Nothing is gonna get in the way of my dream and that’s what I’m here to do for the last six-to-seven years in the UFC. Chad and I are grown men and we know that we’ll be friends no matter what.”

Guida topped Hatsu Hioki in his 145-pound debut earlier this year. Still, UFC president Dana White was recently quoted as questioning his style of fight as of late.

“Dana and I have an understanding. He knows that I’m one fight away from potentially having a “Fight of the Night” or a “Fight of the year” candidate,” he said. “These last couple of fights, Hioki, I want to see his last six fights and see how exciting those were. All of his fights in the UFC have been snoozers. Mine against him was a snoozer. It was a boring fight.”

Guida went on to talk about his matches with current UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis and Takanori Gomi. He added that, “People know I’m out there to fight every fight like it might be my last.”

An interesting featherweight contest has been added to UFC on FOX 7, as former No. 1 contender Chad Mendes will face Clay Guida. MMAjunkie.com first reported the bout on Tuesday.

Mendes (13-1) was scheduled to face Manny Gamburyan later this month at UFC 157, but Gamburyan was forced out with an injury. He has won two straight since a knockout loss to UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Guida (30-13) made a successful debut in the weight class with a win over Hatsu Hioki last month via decision. “The Carpenter” is 10-7 in his Octagon career.

Chad Mendes will not be fighting on February 23 at UFC 157, as the promotion was unable to secure a replacement for Manny Gamburyan.

Gamburyan and Mendes were set to kick-start the pay-per-view main card from Anaheim, but Gamburyan suffered a broken thumb and fractured elbow in training recently.

Well guys it looks like I’m off the Anaheim card. Sucks pretty bad. Ill keep everyone updated with what I find out. Sorry.

— chad mendes (@chadmendes) February 10, 2013

In place of the bout, heavyweights Brendan Schaub and Lavar Johnson are expected to be featured on the main card.

Chad Mendes has been preparing to fight at UFC 157 later this month.

However, after Manny Gamburyan was forced to exit their planned encounter due to a training injury, Mendes is without an opponent.

It didn’t take the former No. 1 contender long to take matters into his own hands, calling out Ricardo Lamas for a meeting.

Lamas, who fought last month and defeated Erik Koch, was looking to cash in and meet Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight title. However, Aldo accepted a bout with Anthony Pettis for later this year.

So manny’s out. How bout we find out who the real number one contender is@ricardolamasmma

— chad mendes (@chadmendes) February 9, 2013

UPDATE: Lamas has since responded to the challenge issued by Mendes via Twitter, posting, “I already accepted a fight in May, waiting to announce it, but I’m sure our paths will cross.”

Who could this opponent for Lamas be? Maybe a returning “Korean Zombie?”

Manny Gamburyan has suffered a training injury, knocking him out of a planned encounter with Chad Mendes at UFC 157.

MMAWeekly.com reported the injury, which has caused the bout for February 23 to be scrapped.

Gamburyan broke his thumb, according to the report. It remains unknown if an opponent will be found for Mendes, who has won two straight since a loss to UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Gamburyan (12-7) is a former Ultimate Fighter finalist. He defeated Michihiro Omigawa this past summer by decision, snapping a three-fight losing skid.

Yaotzin Meza has been tabbed as a replacement for Hacran Dias, stepping in to face Chad Mendes at UFC on FX 6 Friday night.

The card goes down from Australia. The Mendes-Meza bout is expected to be the main event for the prelims.

Meza (18-7) is a training partner of Benson Henderson and Jamie Varner at the MMA Lab in Arizona. He will be making his UFC debut.

Mendes is coming off a victory over Cody McKenzie. Dias was announced as injured early last week.

Chad Mendes is without an opponent just seven days from his scheduled fight.

According to a report by MMAjunkie.com, Hacran Dias will not make his planned encounter with Mendes at UFC on FX 6. The card takes place next Friday night from Australia.

Mendes’ (12-1) status for the card remains unknown at this time. The former UFC featherweight contender stopped Cody McKenzie earlier this year.

Photo credit: Sherdog