Updated on 1 July at 09.00
FOLLOWING THIS MORNING’S withdrawal of Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes has officially stepped in to face Conor McGregor for the interim UFC featherweight title in the main event at UFC 189 in Las Vegas on 11 July.
Who is Chad Mendes?
A 30-year-old American, Chad ‘Money’ Mendes is an elite wrestler who was a two-time NCAA Division One All-American… which means that when it comes to wrestling, he’s good. Really good. And if wrestling is one of your weaknesses, Mendes is likely to expose it.
A fight against Mendes represents the perfect opportunity for Conor McGregor to answer the long-standing ‘wrestler question’. McGregor has yet to fight an elite wrestler of the calibre of Mendes, which has been the primary verbal weapon of the Dubliner’s detractors. Overcoming Mendes would be an emphatic response.
“That wrestler question is definitely one I want to answer,” McGregor told reporters in Las Vegas last month. “It’s a question the fans want answered, it’s a question the media want answered. How will he react?
“A guy asked me the other day, is it personal? Do you really want to get in and show everyone what you can do? It’s never personal, it’s business. Business is business, they want to see me tested against a wrestler. They believe that’s a question that’s yet to be answered. So if it’s good business, I’m in it.”
The foundation of Mendes’ game is wrestling but his boxing has shown significant improvement too — never more so than in his Fight of the Year against Jose Aldo last October. Aldo won it via the judges’ scorecards but he was battered and bruised by the time his hand was raised.
McGregor wasn’t impressed, however. He said recently: “I think Chad [Mendes] is more just a wrestler with an overhand right. He swings his overhand, looks at the floor, closes his eyes and hopes for it to land. To me that’s novice. That’s day-one beginner stuff where I come from.”
Mendes, who’s the number one contender in the UFC’s featherweight rankings, has a professional record of 17 wins and two losses — both of which were handed out by Aldo.
When the pair first met in 2012, Aldo won by KO in the final second of the first round but it wasn’t without controversy, as the champion appeared to use the fence to defend a takedown before finishing Mendes with a knee.
Mendes has beaten five of the UFC’s top 15-ranked featherweights, the most recent of which saw him overcome Ricardo Lamas via first-round TKO in April. Cub Swanson, Nik Lentz, Clay Guida and Darren Elkins have also tasted defeat against the Team Alpha Male product.
They haven’t fought yet but there has already been plenty of verbal jousting between McGregor and Mendes, so there’ll be no love lost if the pair do square off at UFC 189.
Back in February, Mendes said: “It’s going to feel so good to beat the crap out of Conor. Because the guy’s just a big tool. I’m trying to be nice here. I could definitely say a lot meaner things.”
Aldo versus McGregor was the one everyone wanted to see, and while former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar was unfortunate to be overlooked, the UFC have devised a pretty attractive Plan B.
Following his two losses to Aldo, Mendes is no stranger to UFC title shots. Will it be third time lucky on 11 July?
– First published on 25 June at 18.30
I’m a united fan, but, in united, the Glazers have their own personal license to print money, (literally billions). The only way they’ll ever be gotten rid of is legislation, or if its no longer profitable.
Media/social media pressure, will make zero difference.
@Martin Malone: Social media pressure is making a huge difference. Team Viewer who recently partnered with the glazers at United saw stocks fall by 4% in one day. Trustpilot now banning reviews pn them after all the negativity. Once sponsors start falling, the Glazers become out of pocket and will sell
@Hugh: I genuinely hope you’re right …I just think news comes and goes so quick these days ..In a few weeks it will be as if nothing has happened…we’ll pay over the odds for Sancho…and all will be forgotten… we’ll pick up odd cups here and there…and eventually when the club is no longer as profitable…it will be sold. Hope ta f I’m wrong.
Get out of my club and take your debt with you.
@Jason Flynn-Wall: to be fair it’s his club
@thomas walsh: how do Mancunians find their way to our 42 page?
@Joe: beats me
Their rattled, promise the sun moon and stars now..
I don’t support United. But i certainly don’t support the glazers either.
Gary Neville mentioned the ground at old Trafford is in dire need of upgrading , rats were reported seen around the seats last year and so forth , he said the glaziers are siphoning money out of the club etc . I’m lost in wonder when I consider the glazers have pumped almost a billion in to buying players , they’ve won numerous trophies and sacked managers the fans weren’t happy with . Sir Alex never complained about them and I think he wouldn’t hold back if he thought the club was being wronged , especially when he had nothing to lose at the end of his reign .They are business people at the end of the day . The recent rioting by united yobs was disgraceful , the decent ones are disgusted I’d imagine ? A peaceful one should have been the norm .
@Tricksy: glazers bought the club with a loan
Transferred the debt of the loan to the club
Have put $0 of their own money back into the club
All transfers have came from revenue
They have taken 2 billion from the club
Agree with the peaceful protest.
@Pauly Kels: previous Liverpool owner hick s and Gillett did the exact same and nearly put the club out of business , but they never sourced transfers like the Glazers Pauly . It seems this is an American business model ? Don’t think if fsg came under the same model but definitely the price they paid is only a pittance to what it’s worth now . I think the breakaway would destroy the game , but the fiddler calls the tune and it won’t go away .Sir Alex always had me wondering about why he stayed quiet on the Glazers . Stan kronke put a brand new stadium around Arsenal , so what owners do isn’t all bad .
@Tricksy: lfc were very lucky hicks and gillett owernship only lasted 3.5 years, this is going on 16 yrs with utd.the transfers that were sourced all funds were made available from revenue not a cent from the glazers pockets.yes exactly that breakaway would have destroyed football.
Straight out of the ‘row with the missus’ playbook.
There’s only one winner here bud
If they’re not going to reduce the mountain of debt they’ve lumped on the club then this letter is useless as that’s really the core issue most fans have. If they don’t reduce debt then they can feck off. They’re only parasites feeding off the club.
Thw money from united went to gwt tom brandy to to the Bucs. They win thw super bowl and the money stays in Tampa
Orignally when they bought the bucs. They wanted a new stadium or they moved. The Tampa government built one. Been there a few times fine place. But again a freebee. Ols Trafford hasnt been updated in years, it will fall behind the rest. All because of greed.
They want you all out not talking more
They should f off back to Jacksonville
The horse has bolted long ago. No point in closing the door now Joel.