Chad Mendes was ranked because the second-best featherweight on the planet behind Jose Aldo for a few years within the 2010s and gave the Brazilian one the toughest assessments of his UFC reign in an epic battle in 2014. Trying again, he names Aldo because the hardest man he’s ever confronted.
“Aldo’s a beast,” Mendes informed MMA Combating. “I nonetheless inform all people to today, that was my hardest combat. Everybody at all times thinks it’s Conor [McGregor], nevertheless it wasn’t. Aldo was subsequent stage. I believe that took about 10 years off my life, I at all times say. That evening I bought again to the resort, I used to be pissing blood. I’d by no means had that occur on any of my fights. I used to be fairly beat up after that combat.”
Mendes examined himself towards three different former or future UFC champions throughout his ultimate run in MMA — Conor McGregor, Alexander Volkanovski, and Frankie Edgar, plus Eddie Alvarez in bare-knuckle boxing — however says there’s nonetheless nobody like Aldo.
Mendes was undefeated in MMA when he first challenged Aldo for UFC gold, venturing into enemy territory as an undefeated 11-0 prospect however finally dropping through first-round knockout in 2012. Mendes earned one other crack at Aldo’s featherweight title in 2014 after incomes 5 wins in a row, and the 2 placed on an epic five-round thriller once more in Rio de Janeiro. Aldo received a call, his ultimate title protection earlier than dropping to Conor McGregor.
Mendes changed Aldo on quick discover at UFC 189 to face McGregor for the interim featherweight title the next 12 months, however misplaced through second-round stoppage.
Aldo not too long ago returned to the UFC after practically a two-year hiatus — a interval during which he went 2-0-1 in boxing — and dominated rising prospect Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301. After finishing his UFC deal, Aldo re-signed and now faces Mario Bautista at UFC 307.
“He’s a beast, man,” Mendes mentioned of Aldo’s lateet win. “I’m undoubtedly not stunned he got here again and fully dominated like that. … I didn’t even know he was coming again [for UFC 307]. He doesn’t must. I believe he simply has the real love for it. And actually, I do too, that’s why I maintain coming again. However that’s superior, man. I at all times like watching Aldo combat.”
Aldo might make a case for one more shot on the UFC bantamweight title if he retains beating up-and-comers and UFC contenders, and Mendes received’t rely him out towards the likes of Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili, who headline UFC 308 for the belt on Sept. 14.
“I’d think about he’s gonna maintain pouring his coronary heart and soul into it,” Mendes mentioned. “He doesn’t look like a man that half-asses something, so I believe [he can win].”
