Brazilian featherweight Hacran Dias has been forced from his bout against Chad Mendes due to an undisclosed injury and will be replaced by new UFC signee Yaotzin Meza.
A training partner of UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson at Arizona’s MMA Lab, Meza has spent nearly seven years competing on the southwestern circuit, where he has compiled a professional record of 18-7.
“This is a huge opportunity for me. I am thankful that the UFC is opening this door. I can’t wait to get to Australia, step into the Octagon, and show that I belong in this organization” Meza said in a statement. “I’ve been training hard already, helping Benson to prepare for his fight with [Nate] Diaz, so there won’t be a huge adjustment for me to get ready for this fight.”
Mendes comes off a 31-second body-shot knockout of Cody McKenzie at July’s UFC 148. The win saw the Team Alpha Male product rebound from a first-round January knockout loss to champion Jose Aldo, the first setback of Mendes’ career. The former collegiate wrestler holds a professional record of 12-1, with seven wins by way of decision.