Chad Mendes is widely accepted as one of the greatest featherweights, if not fighter’s period, in the sport of MMA, but following a first round KO loss at the hands of Frankie Edgar at the The Ultimate Fighter 22: Finale, “Money” has seen his last title shot.
It is rare thing in the sport of MMA when a fighter, who has previously fallen short as a title contender, is able to claw his way back to the top, and earn himself a second shot. It is even rarer, that same fighter, having previously fallen twice as a title contender, is able, in the same weight class albeit, to earn a third shot at the title. And it is unheard of for a three time challenger, yet to conquer the champions mountain, is able to convince the masses that a fourth time will be any different.
Chad Mendes’ Dilemma
Chad “Money” Mendes had the opportunity at the TUF 22: Finale.
In what was considered by many to be a #1 contender bout, with the victor ostensibly set to face the winner of Aldo/McGregor, Mendes had one last chance to prove he belonged in the upper echelon of one of the most stacked divisions in the UFC, the featherweight division, in taking out, notoriously, one of the toughest fighters in all of MMA, Frankie “The Answer” Edgar.
Unfortunately for Mendes, he like many others, had no questions for “The Answer”, suffering a first round knockout – his second straight KO – and now third loss in his last four bouts.
Having thrice challenged for the featherweight crown unsuccessfully, coupled with a loss to now, save an Aldo/McGregor rematch, #1 contender Frankie Edgar, Mendes is left with few options going forward.
Hypothetically speaking, let’s say the UFC brass decide to go with Edgar over Aldo to fight for the title next. Given his current momentum, the next logical fight to make is Max Holloway vs Jose Aldo. This leaves only a rematch with Lamas or a fight outside the top five, both of which do little to improve Mendes’ stock in a division in which he has proven time and time again that he doesn’t have what it takes to be the best in the world.
It is a similar situation that Phil Davis found himself in prior to jumping ship to Bellator.
Davis having found himself in a career stalemate in the UFC, decided to test his stock in the open market, eventually receiving a more lucrative offer from Bellator, and also propelling him to instant title contender in the world’s #2 MMA organization. The timing and situation could not be more perfect for Mendes to do the same, except it isn’t. Having recently signed an eight-fight deal with the UFC, Mendes will presumably fight for the organization through 2017-2018, essentially relegating him to gatekeeper in a division where, going forward, he will largely serve as a stepping stone.
Though hindsight is always 20/20, given the current circumstances, it was a move that may have sealed his fate as a fighter and barring a series of unfortunate events, or a miraculous career turnaround in which he is able to clean out the featherweight division, it is tough to imagine “Money” fighting again for gold again.
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