Three-time UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes nonetheless has fights left on his UFC contract, however isn’t very all for returning to the octagon anytime quickly.
Having been away from the UFC since dropping 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 underneath contract with the UFC although,” stated 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 wherever in any case, which I actually don’t have any want 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 underneath the BKFC banner, knocking out Joshuah Alvarez in 2022 after which dropping a cut up resolution to Eddie Alvarez a yr later.
“[UFC] must pay me some huge cash [to fight again], truthfully, and so they’re not prepared to do it, so no,” Mendes stated with fun. “Truthfully, at this level in my profession, I’ve zero want to chop any weight. I often stroll round like 175 [pounds]. Until it’s like massive cash, it’s not likely something at this level I need to do. I like competing and I completely hate reducing 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 acquired nothing deliberate so far as another 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 stated I used to be executed. The primary one I stated I used to be executed, then I ended up coming again and combating Eddie Alvarez, after which I stated I used to be executed once more. We’ll see, however I don’t have something locked up. I imply, I acquired two little women at house and a spouse and a number of companies that I’m attempting to explode and make it profitable. There’s a variety of time that will get snatched up from all that. It’s truthfully onerous to place within the period of time that I really actually need to. I’m the kind of man that wishes 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 onerous for me.”
Mendes was initially slated to grapple in opposition to Kevin Lee at ADXC, however Brandao stepped in as a late-notice substitute. The Group Alpha Male consultant stated he “didn’t have a ton of time” to arrange 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 attention-grabbing, however would recognize a correct camp subsequent time.
“His wrestling was a bit bit higher than I used to be anticipating,” Mendes stated of Brandao. “I figured I’d be capable to management high place a bit bit higher, however he did job of not staying in any dangerous 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 house.
“I like going in opposition to wrestlers higher. I’ve NCAA top-level wrestling, so when I’ve any person 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 need to rise up with me, however he was permitting me to do the snapdowns and that stuff will get you drained for those who’re not used to it, and he let me do this all through the entire match. I don’t assume it will have been any tougher, I really would have most likely loved having any person that was there mixing in additional wrestling. We’ll see for subsequent time. Both that struggle with AJ [Agazarm] sounds good or any person else perhaps even within the UFC.”