Three-Time UFC Featherweight Title Contender Chad Mendes Officially Announced His Retirement From MMA
Chad Mendes (18-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) is a former runner-up NCAA Championships in wrestling in 2008, who made a superb transition to the world of mixed martial arts and won his first 11 MMA matches. He holds notable victories over Clay Guida, Cody McKenzie, Rani Yahya, Michihiro Omigawa, and Cub Swanson. During his UFC career, Chad scored five post-fight bonuses and six knockouts.
Chad Mendes fought Jose Aldo in Featherweight title matches two times, at UFC 142 and UFC 179 (Fight of the Year 2014), but lost both of them. He was granted another opportunity to capture UFC 145-pound interim belt at UFC 189, but Conor McGregor stopped him via second-round TKO.
But Mendes had ups and downs in his last 4 bouts. After back-to-back defeats to Conor and Edgar, he rebounded back with a first-round TKO victory versus Myles Jury. “Money” last fought at UFC 232, but Alexander Volkanovski stopped him. Despite Chad was aggressive in the opening round and even dropped the Australian few times, everything changed in the second frame, and he lost the bout via body punch.
Shortly after Volkanovski loss, it was announced on social media that Chad Mendes hung up his gloves. Chad’s decision is official now. (h/t MMAFighting)
“I wanted to step away for a little bit and let everything settle, just make sure my feelings didn’t change. And they haven’t,” Mendes said in a statement initially released by ESPN. “It’s just that time for me. I have no regrets. I had an amazing time.”
Mendes’ manager Jeff Meyer said he was honored to work with Chad Mendes and added the two became very close friends over the years.
“I had the privilege and honor to work with Chad during his MMA career from start to finish,” said Mendes’ manager Jeff Meyer. “Over the last 11 years, Chad has become one of my closest friends.”
Chad Mendes is 34 years old. Please give us your thoughts on his retirement. Did he end his MMA career too early?
