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Mendes to face Yahya, not Aldo, at UFC 133

The champ isn't healthy enough to defend his title in August.

Official Silver Star Casting Co. And UFC Magazine Pre-Party At Studio 54Ethan Miller / Getty Images for Studio 54
Chad Mendes will still be fighting at UFC 133...it just won't be against Jose Aldo.
MMA Beat
By Ariel Helwani
NBCSports.com contributor
updated 4:15 p.m. ET May 24, 2011

Chad Mendes will be fighting at UFC 133 after all, but his opponent won't be featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

The UFC confirmed on Tuesday that Mendes -- considered to be the No. 1 contender in the UFC's featherweight division -- has agreed to face Rani Yahya at the Aug. 6 event in Philadelphia.

Mendes won't be fighting Aldo because the champion isn't healthy enough to fight at UFC 133.

The 26-year-old had the option to wait for Aldo to recover, but he opted to stay busy, especially since he hasn't fought since beating Michihiro Omigawa at UFC 126 in February.

Mendes (10-0) also holds wins over Javier Vazquez, Cub Swanson and Erik Koch. The Team Alpha Male Member is 5-0 in WEC/UFC.

Meanwhile, Yahya (16-6) snapped a two-fight losing streak in January, defeating former 145-pound champion Mike Brown via unanimous decision. Prior to that losing streak, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt had won three in a row.

UFC 133 will mark the organization's second event in Philadelphia. Headlined by Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, it will air live on pay-per-view from Wells Fargo Center.

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