Chad Mendes

Chad "Money" Mendes holds an 18-5 professional record and competes as an orthodox featherweight at 5'6" with a 66-inch reach. A premier wrestler-based competitor, Mendes averaged 4.13 takedowns per 15 minutes with 55% accuracy and a perfect 100% takedown defense rate, establishing himself as one of the division's most difficult opponents to take down.

His striking averaged 2.78 landed per minute at 49% accuracy while absorbing just 2.35 strikes per minute with 67% defense, reflecting a defensive, control-oriented approach that prioritizes grappling over volume offense. Over his recent eight-fight stretch, Mendes compiled a 5-3 record that included a first-round knockout of Myles Jury in July 2018 and a second-round loss to Conor McGregor in July 2015, demonstrating both his capacity for explosive finishes and the elite-level opposition he faced during his prime.

His most significant recent result came against Jose Aldo in October 2014, where he pushed the dominant champion to a unanimous decision loss over five rounds—a performance that underscored his elite grappling credentials despite the setback. At 39 years old, Mendes remains a dangerous matchup for any featherweight seeking to test their wrestling defense.