Chad Mendes vs Javier Vazquez — Fight recap

Chad Mendes defeated Javier Vazquez via unanimous decision over three rounds on November 11, 2010, with referee Herb Dean officiating. Mendes controlled the fight through superior wrestling and striking volume, landing 30 of 71 significant strikes at 42% accuracy while Vazquez managed only 6 of 22 at 27%.

The decisive difference came on the mat, where Mendes executed a perfect 3-of-3 takedown performance with 100% accuracy, accumulating 11:45 of control time compared to Vazquez's negligible 0:02. Mendes' striking was concentrated on the head, connecting on 23 of 64 attempts, while Vazquez remained largely ineffective throughout.

The lopsided grappling advantage and sustained top control established Mendes as a rising contender in the featherweight division with a clear wrestling-based game plan.