Chad Mendes
Encyclopedia
Chad Edward Mendes is an American mixed martial artist
who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
.
in San Luis Obispo, CA. He finished his career with an overall record of 64-14. As a Senior, Mendes finished the year with a 30-1 record, being ranked #1 in the nation for most of the season. He eventually lost to Ohio State's Jaggers in the title match for the 141 weight class. Mendes received All-American honors both in 2005 for the 125 weight class and again in 2008 for the 141 weight class. In 2008, Mendes also received Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year honors.
and went undefeated. Mendes fights in the Featherweight
division, training alongside Urijah Faber
and Joseph Benavidez
.
on March 6, 2010 at WEC 47
. He won the fight via unanimous decision, despite a cut over his right eye that was examined during the fight to see if he could continue.
Mendes faced Anthony Morrison
, replacing an injured Mackens Semerzier
, on April 24, 2010 at WEC 48
. He won via first round submission.
Mendes faced Cub Swanson
on August 18, 2010 at WEC 50
. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Mendes faced Javier Vazquez
on November 11, 2010 at WEC 52
and defeated him via unanimous decision. Mendes was able to utilize his improved striking to compliment his superior wrestling to dictate where he wanted to take the action.
merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.
Mendes made his UFC debut against returning veteran and judo black belt Michihiro Omigawa
on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126
. He won the fight via unanimous decision after winning every round.
Following UFC 129
, Dana White
mentioned in the post-fight press conference that Mendes may have a shot at the title against UFC featherweight champion José Aldo
. Although the two were expected to fight at UFC 133
, Aldo would be sidelined until October recovering from various injuries sustained during the Hominick bout.
Mendes next faced Rani Yahya
on August 6, 2011 at UFC 133
. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Mendes is expected to face UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo
on January 14, 2012 at UFC 142
. .
, Italian
, Puerto Rican
, Irish
and Indian descent. Mendes got married in September of 2010.
|Win
|align=center|11-0
|
Rani Yahya
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 133
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10-0
|
Michihiro Omigawa
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 126
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|9-0
|
Javier Vazquez
|Decision (unanimous)
|WEC 52
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8-0
|
Cub Swanson
|Decision (unanimous)
|WEC 50
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7-0
| Anthony Morrison
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|WEC 48
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:13
|Sacramento, California
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6-0
| Erik Koch
|Decision (unanimous)
|WEC 47
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Columbus, Ohio
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5-0
| Mike Joy
|Decision (unanimous)
|Tachi Palace Fights
1: Most Wanted
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-0
| Steven Siler
|KO (punches)
|PFC: Best of Both Worlds 3
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:44
|Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-0
| Art Arciniega
|Decision (unanimous)
|PFC: Best of Both Worlds 2
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:00
|Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-0
| Leland Gridley
|TKO (punches)
|PFC: Best of Both Worlds
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:58
|Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
| Giovanni Encarnacion
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|PFC 10: Explosive
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:06
|Lemoore, California
, United States
|
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
.
High school
Mendes finished 8th in the state of California (103 weight class), wrestling for Hanford High School. In 2002, he finished 5th at 114 lbs. and in 2003, he finished third at 121 lbs. Chad Mendes also received honors for being a Cadet All-American.NCAA
Mendes wrestled for Cal Poly California Polytechnic State UniversityCalifornia Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
in San Luis Obispo, CA. He finished his career with an overall record of 64-14. As a Senior, Mendes finished the year with a 30-1 record, being ranked #1 in the nation for most of the season. He eventually lost to Ohio State's Jaggers in the title match for the 141 weight class. Mendes received All-American honors both in 2005 for the 125 weight class and again in 2008 for the 141 weight class. In 2008, Mendes also received Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year honors.
Early career
After the conclusion of his NCAA Wrestling Career, Chad Mendes began to train with the mixed martial arts team Team Alpha Male. He began fighting for the Palace Fighting ChampionshipPalace Fighting Championship
Palace Fighting Championship was a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States that was created in 2007 by Christian Printup...
and went undefeated. Mendes fights in the Featherweight
Featherweight (MMA)
The featherweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Pancrase's featherweight division, which groups competitors within 136 to 145 lb...
division, training alongside Urijah Faber
Urijah Faber
Urijah Christopher Faber is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization. Faber won the WEC featherweight championship at WEC 19 on March 17, 2006 and held the title for over two years until his loss to Mike Brown at WEC...
and Joseph Benavidez
Joseph Benavidez
Joseph Rolando Benavidez is an American mixed martial artist. After fighting in smaller shows while working as a screen printer in Las Cruces, New Mexico, he joined up with Urijah Faber's Team Alpha Male in 2007. He has since fought in Dream and most recently the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion...
.
World Extreme Cagefighting
Mendes successfully made his WEC debut against Erik KochErik Koch
Erik Koch is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Personal Life:Koch enrolled in Taekwondo classes at the ripe age of four peaking his interest in MMA...
on March 6, 2010 at WEC 47
WEC 47
WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on March 6, 2010. It was held at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio-Background:...
. He won the fight via unanimous decision, despite a cut over his right eye that was examined during the fight to see if he could continue.
Mendes faced Anthony Morrison
Anthony Morrison
Anthony Morrison is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Daddis Fight Camps. He has recently been signed by WEC in the featherweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
, replacing an injured Mackens Semerzier
Mackens Semerzier
Mackens Semerzier is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Semerzier has mostly fought in Virginia...
, on April 24, 2010 at WEC 48
WEC 48
UFC Presents: Aldo vs. Faber, also referred to as WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on April 24, 2010 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California...
. He won via first round submission.
Mendes faced Cub Swanson
Cub Swanson
Kevin Luke Swanson is an American mixed martial artist . He is currently signed as a featherweight with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-World Extreme Cagefighting:...
on August 18, 2010 at WEC 50
WEC 50
WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on August 18, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Mendes faced Javier Vazquez
Javier Vazquez (fighter)
Javier Vazquez is an Cuban-American mixed martial artist currently fighting for The UFC's featherweight division. He was previously fighting for the WEC before the UFC merged the promotions in 2010. He is the son-in-law of Rorion Gracie....
on November 11, 2010 at WEC 52
WEC 52
WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
and defeated him via unanimous decision. Mendes was able to utilize his improved striking to compliment his superior wrestling to dictate where he wanted to take the action.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On October 28, 2010, World Extreme CagefightingWorld Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...
merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.
Mendes made his UFC debut against returning veteran and judo black belt Michihiro Omigawa
Michihiro Omigawa
is a Japanese mixed martial artist and Judoka who trains out of Hidehiko Yoshida's dojo. He made it to the finals in the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix losing to Masanori Kanehara.-Mixed martial arts career:...
on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126
UFC 126
UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 5, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
. He won the fight via unanimous decision after winning every round.
Following UFC 129
UFC 129
UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario.-Background:...
, Dana White
Dana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
mentioned in the post-fight press conference that Mendes may have a shot at the title against UFC featherweight champion José Aldo
Jose Aldo
José Aldo is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who competes as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is the first and current UFC Featherweight Champion...
. Although the two were expected to fight at UFC 133
UFC 133
UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 6, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-Background:...
, Aldo would be sidelined until October recovering from various injuries sustained during the Hominick bout.
Mendes next faced Rani Yahya
Rani Yahya
Rani Ahmad Yahya is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. Yahya won the 66 kg division of the prestigious ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in April 2007...
on August 6, 2011 at UFC 133
UFC 133
UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 6, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-Background:...
. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Mendes is expected to face UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo
Jose Aldo
José Aldo is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who competes as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is the first and current UFC Featherweight Champion...
on January 14, 2012 at UFC 142
UFC 142
UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes is an upcoming mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event is expected to take place on January 14, 2012 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-Background:...
. .
Personal life
Mendes is of PortuguesePortuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
, Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
, Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and Indian descent. Mendes got married in September of 2010.
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Win
|align=center|11-0
|
Rani YahyaRani Yahya
Rani Ahmad Yahya is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. Yahya won the 66 kg division of the prestigious ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in April 2007...
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 133
UFC 133
UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 6, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-Background:...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10-0
|
Michihiro OmigawaMichihiro Omigawa
is a Japanese mixed martial artist and Judoka who trains out of Hidehiko Yoshida's dojo. He made it to the finals in the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix losing to Masanori Kanehara.-Mixed martial arts career:...
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 126
UFC 126
UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 5, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|9-0
|
Javier VazquezJavier Vazquez (fighter)
Javier Vazquez is an Cuban-American mixed martial artist currently fighting for The UFC's featherweight division. He was previously fighting for the WEC before the UFC merged the promotions in 2010. He is the son-in-law of Rorion Gracie....
|Decision (unanimous)
|WEC 52
WEC 52
WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8-0
|
Cub SwansonCub Swanson
Kevin Luke Swanson is an American mixed martial artist . He is currently signed as a featherweight with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-World Extreme Cagefighting:...
|Decision (unanimous)
|WEC 50
WEC 50
WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on August 18, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7-0
|
Anthony MorrisonAnthony Morrison
Anthony Morrison is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Daddis Fight Camps. He has recently been signed by WEC in the featherweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|WEC 48
WEC 48
UFC Presents: Aldo vs. Faber, also referred to as WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on April 24, 2010 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:13
|Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6-0
|
Erik KochErik Koch
Erik Koch is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Personal Life:Koch enrolled in Taekwondo classes at the ripe age of four peaking his interest in MMA...
|Decision (unanimous)
|WEC 47
WEC 47
WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on March 6, 2010. It was held at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio-Background:...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5-0
|
Mike Joy|Decision (unanimous)
|Tachi Palace Fights
Tachi Palace Fights
Tachi Palace Fights is an American mixed martial arts promotion which hosts events at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California...
1: Most Wanted
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-0
|
Steven Siler|KO (punches)
|PFC: Best of Both Worlds 3
PFC: Best of Both Worlds 3
TPF: Best of Both Worlds was a mixed martial arts event held by Tachi Palace Fights on July 16, 2009 in Lemoore, CA.-Fight card:*Light Heavyweight bout: Brandon Lorenze vs. Mark Matthews *Featherweight bout: Sergio Quinones vs. Yuki Sorci *Lightweight bout: Cody Gibson vs. Dustin Rocha...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:44
|Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-0
|
Art Arciniega|Decision (unanimous)
|PFC: Best of Both Worlds 2
PFC: Best of Both Worlds 2
PFC: Best of Both Worlds 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Palace Fighting Championship on April 23, 2009 in Lemoore, CA. It followed PFC: Best of Both Worlds.-Fight Card:...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:00
|Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-0
|
Leland Gridley|TKO (punches)
|PFC: Best of Both Worlds
PFC: Best of Both Worlds
PFC: Best of Both Worlds was a mixed martial arts event held by the Palace Fighting Championship on February 6, 2009 in Lemoore, CA.-Fight Card:...
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:58
|Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
|
Giovanni Encarnacion|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|PFC 10: Explosive
PFC 10: Explosive
PFC 10: Explosive was a mixed martial arts event held by the Palace Fighting Championship on September 26, 2008 in Lemoore, California, USA.-Fight Card:...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:06
|Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|