Chad Mendes: Aims To Make Up For Lost Time:

Chad Mendes: Aims To Make Up For Lost Time:

By Dan McConnell

Saturday night saw the return of former UFC Featherweight title contender Chad Mendes to the UFC octagon after a two-year lay-off. Mendes was given a two year suspension from USADA for testing positive for a performance enhancing drug, which he later described was for a skin condition that he had been dealing with.

Mendes (18-4) has been one of the UFC’s best 145-pound stalwarts and been with the company for eight years after a stint with WEC where he won all four of his fights before he signed with the UFC as an undefeated 9-0 prospect in 2011. He recorded two wins inside the octagon before falling to Jose Aldo to mark his first defeat of his career. He then went on a 5-fight win streak before coming face to face with Jose Aldo once again, in which he was defeated for a second time.

The Team Alpha Male fighter has challenged for the UFC’s Featherweight title on two occasions and recorded victories over tough opponents including Ricardo Lamas, Cub Swanson, Clay Guida and Darren Elkins. In his most high-profile fight he fell to Conor McGregor via second-round TKO in the main event of UFC 189, with the UFC’s interim Featherweight title on the line and a fight night that is very memorable in the eyes of most UFC fans. Who can forget the epic welterweight war between former champion Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald?

‘Money’ Mendes was welcomed back to the octagon with a victory over Miles Jury via TKO in the first round of their bout at UFC Boise on Saturday night. Is there a better way to announce your return to fighting? Chad Mendes got himself back in the winning column to prove he is certainly back in the mix and is now on the hunt for a top 5 opponent for his next bout. Possible opponents have been suggested while Mendes will look to build on his recent outing.

For me Mendes has two options. He should wait and see how things develop between Jose Aldo and Jeremy Stephens who fight later in the year and fight the winner of that contest. With a possible fight between himself and Aldo who is on the wrong side of his career will allow Mendes to avenge his two losses suffered to the Brazilian. He could potentially face Stephens which on paper is an absolute barn burner of a contest and with a victory will surely put him next in line for a title shot. It’s hard to believe Mendes and Stephens haven’t already squared off as both have been Featherweight veterans within the company for a very long time.

But from a fans perspective I would love to see him avenge the loss against Frankie Edgar which was his last fight before being suspended. Both fighters are still in the mix at 145 pounds, neither have scheduled upcoming bouts and there is no better time for this rematch to happen. However, realistically it would be smart for Mendes to sit back and let the Holloway v Ortega and Aldo v Stephens schedules fights play out before he makes a move.

Undefeated prospect Alex Volkanovski has thrown his name into the mix but someone like Cub Swanson or Ricardo Lamas who Mendes has already fought seem a much safer bet to help him climb up the ladder from number 5 contender in the division if he wants to get another fight in before 2018 is over and out. This will also give him more octagon in-ring time.

Chad Mendes’ victory over Myles Jury has kick-started his career and given him his first taste of victory from April 2015. The California-native will make another run for the Featherweight title which I don’t think he is too far off. There seems to be resurgence within the Featherweight division so it is certainly an interesting time within the weight class and also one for Mendes who has added himself in the mix with his victory on Saturday night.