Three-time UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes nonetheless has fights left on his UFC contract, however isn’t very fascinated by returning to the octagon anytime quickly.
Having been away from the UFC since shedding to future champion Alexander Volkanovski in December 2018, Mendes spoke with MMA Combating following a grappling win over Diego Brandao at ADXC 5, and mentioned the potential for placing on MMA gloves once more.
“I don’t know. I nonetheless I’m below contract with the UFC although,” mentioned Mendes, who challenged Jose Aldo twice and Conor McGregor for UFC titles within the 2010s. “I feel I nonetheless have three or 4 fights on that final contract that I’ll simply by no means struggle, so I can’t struggle MMA anyplace anyhow, which I actually don’t have any need to do it, however I used to be capable of do the bare-knuckle boxing and I can come do these grappling occasions anytime.”
Mendes fought twice below the BKFC banner, knocking out Joshuah Alvarez in 2022 after which shedding a cut up resolution to Eddie Alvarez a 12 months later.
“[UFC] must pay me some huge cash [to fight again], truthfully, and so they’re not keen to do it, so no,” Mendes mentioned with amusing. “Truthfully, at this level in my profession, I’ve zero need to chop any weight. I normally stroll round like 175 [pounds]. Except it’s like massive cash, it’s not likely something at this level I wish to do. I really like competing and I completely hate slicing weight. If it’s one thing that I can compete, make some cash, have enjoyable and never have to chop weight, signal me up, I’m all for it.”
“I bought nothing deliberate so far as some other competitions,” he added. “I maintain saying I’m retired — I left the UFC in 2018, however I began doing bare-knuckle the final two years and my final struggle I mentioned I used to be executed. The primary one I mentioned I used to be executed, then I ended up coming again and preventing Eddie Alvarez, after which I mentioned I used to be executed once more. We’ll see, however I don’t have something locked up. I imply, I bought two little ladies at residence and a spouse and a number of companies that I’m making an attempt to explode and make it profitable. There’s a variety of time that will get snatched up from all that. It’s truthfully arduous to place within the period of time that I really actually wish to. I’m the kind of man that desires to coach and be one hundred pc ready going into any sort of competitors as a result of I completely hate to lose, so it’s arduous for me.”
Mendes was initially slated to grapple in opposition to Kevin Lee at ADXC, however Brandao stepped in as a late-notice alternative. The Crew Alpha Male consultant mentioned he “didn’t have a ton of time” to organize for the match as he needed to cut up his consideration between rising his different companies, however nonetheless received. Mendes is open to competing once more for ADXC if the chance is fascinating, however would respect a correct camp subsequent time.
“His wrestling was a little bit bit higher than I used to be anticipating,” Mendes mentioned of Brandao. “I figured I’d be capable to management high place a little bit bit higher, however he did a great job of not staying in any unhealthy place. He would explode out, get again as much as his ft. We mainly simply needed to flip it right into a takedown clinic. And there was a number of submissions I tried that I noticed for a cut up second, however he’s sturdy and simply I wasn’t capable of get it executed. All in all, I felt it felt good. That’s the primary time I’ve competed in any grappling in like 4 years, so I felt good to get again residence.
“I like going in opposition to wrestlers higher. I’ve NCAA top-level wrestling, so when I’ve someone that’s OK participating in wrestling and is there to wrestle, I really feel nice. I used to be really anticipating Diego to tug guard extra and never wish to rise up with me, however he was permitting me to do the snapdowns and that stuff will get you drained should you’re not used to it, and he let me try this all through the entire match. I don’t suppose it might have been any tougher, I really would have in all probability loved having someone that was there mixing in additional wrestling. We’ll see for subsequent time. Both that struggle with AJ [Agazarm] sounds good or someone else perhaps even within the UFC.”
