Augusto Mendes will not be competing next month in New Jersey, after all.
The UFC bantamweight fighter failed a USADA out-of-competition drug test, stemming from a sample collected March 7, according to a release sent out Tuesday by the UFC. Mendes is now facing a UFC anti-doping policy violation and USADA will handle the adjudication process and sanctions.
“Tanquinho” was supposed to fight Merab Dvalishvili at UFC Atlantic City on April 21, but has been pulled from the bout, per the release. The UFC is seeking a replacement to fight Dvalishvili.
Mendes (6-2) has not fought since a unanimous decision loss to Aljamain Sterling at UFC on FOX 24 in April 2017.