Do you think Mendes will be a contender again?

[VitorBelfoTRT]

With Mendes' return around the corner, do you think hed be a contender at 45 again?

Imo its all up to how he comes back post USADA. Can he be good without the juice?

 

[Thepaintbucket]

It was laced hand cream god dammit.

 

[James Baller]

I would say yes, but FRANKIE EDGAR knocked him out. So I don't know. Depends if he's motivated after the layoff. If he's motivated, he could still fight.

 

[mb23100]

Yeah I always thought Mendes was kind of the opposite of Conor. Always wrong place wrong time but an excellent fighter

 

[JKS]

Hard to say some good new guys at FW. Lets see how he does vs Jury

 

[tekkenfan]

yeah hes just to damn good i wish hed go to !35 though he is to small

 

[binny]

Hell yeah. If he looks at all like his old self he will still be the guy who beats everyone but champs/ former champs. I wish he would drop to 135 though.

 

[pick999]

no

 

[savemgs]

yes i hope to see him at 155.

 

[mirror45]

Sure if he comes back and beat a ranked fighter

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Doubt it... but Full-Camp Mendes is a tough out...

 

[Chuck]

I don't think so personally.
I hope he can prove me wrong though...I enjoyed his fights.

 

[Kenny Powerth]

I absolutely think so! Great wrestling, good striking, experienced etc.

I hope to God he’s been training. He could be top 7 IMO

 

[PeterGriffin]

145 was already getting good, getting Mendes back is just gravy. A lot of good matches to be made there.

 

[3sumrock]

Don’t see him becoming the champ but he definitely could be a contender

 

[bryank]

Hard to say some good new guys at FW. Lets see how he does vs Jury

He's going to absolutely ragdoll Jury... this is a matchup made for him to look impressive.

 

[VitorBelfoTRT]

I agree with most, I think he should be looking solid. I dont know if he can break the top 5 with all the new blood thats in the division though but itll be nice to see him back regardless.

 

[Squintz]

Short answer No. Long answer hell no.

When he was a contender he couldn’t beat Aldo or Edgar. He’s still not beating either of those guys and there’s a new crop of top guys that are younger, bigger and super talented (Holloway, Ortega) can’t forget Zabit who will also find himself in the top 5 and contending sooner than later.

I think Stephens is the last of the top that beats him pretty easily and If he fought guys like Emmett, DHC, Cub etc it might be competitive but not sure he’d win those either.

He should really think about cutting to 135 and see how he does there.

 

[JKS]

He's going to absolutely ragdoll Jury... this is a matchup made for him to look impressive.

It's gonna be a good fight, Jury is not a easy by any means and can give Chad some problems with his size and length. He's got some power in his punches, throws that right hand right down the middle and it's accurate. And Chad hasnt fought in 2.5 years so we don't know how he will look. But I expect Chad to have a good edge in the wrestling if he chooses to fight that way, Jury's tdd is subpar.

I expect Chad to win this one if he's in good form. The match ups I am interested in from the newer guys is Bektic, Zabit, Moicano, and of course you got Ortega and Max who are top of the division who's come up since he left fighting. You also have Stephens and Swanson who's both improved as well since he left, its a pretty new division.

 

[linvillegorge]

I might be wrong, but I don't think post-USADA is going to be kind to him.