MMA retirements are as mythical as any retirement in sports. Are they even possible? We’ve witnessed it repeatedly, no. That’s why it wouldn’t be stunning to imagine Chad Mendes returning to the cage at some point and he agrees — numbers depending.
The 36-year-old Team Alpha Male staple is set to make his bare-knuckle boxing debut this Saturday night and has already let it be known that he’s being paid quite handsomely. According to “Money,” he’ll make more for his efforts than UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s $600,000 for successfully defending against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.
Despite competing for BKFC now, Mendes (18-5) is still under contract with the UFC. Although he was surprised at the gesture, he also noted that there would be some adjustments needed to make it possible for him to return to UFC.
“I don’t know. We’ll see on Saturday how this goes,” Mendes told The Schmo regarding an MMA comeback. “I keep telling everyone, I’ve obviously never boxed professionally and I’ve never bare-knuckle boxed professionally. So I’m either gonna go in there and absolutely love this or probably hate it. We’ll see. We’ll see.
” If I were to return to the UFC I would have to negotiate a new contract. I still have three fights and it is just too expensive for me to go back. If we ended up talking and renegotiated and it was worth it to me, I might think about it.”
Mendes’ opponent at BKFC’s Knuckle Mania 2, Joshuah Alvarez, already has experience as a boxer whether with or without gloves. Mendes has been known for his wrestling skills, but his striking abilities have improved over time. It came to a point where we were even able to say Mendes was a prominent finisher among the 145-pound featherweight ranks.
“He is a professional boxer. I think this is a perfect way for me to test my skill set,” Mendes said of Alvarez. “Getting up there and fighting someone that is basically an amateur boxer in their field so wrestling has been a lifelong journey for me and that transition to a different sport is thrilling so let’s see .”
.
This return to action will mark Mendes’ first appearance since Dec. 2018 — outside of a 2019 grappling match with Gesias Cavalcante. Mendes announced his MMA retirement after a Fight of the Night featuring future champion Alexander Volkanovski. It was only his second fight after returning from a three-year layoff due to an out-of-competition failed USADA test. The Hanford, Calif. native tested positive for the growth hormone GHRP-6 which he claimed he was using to treat psoriasis but admitted to “not doing my homework.”
Volkanovski would score a second-round TKO against Mendes which added him into the mix of Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar, and Conor McGregor, as the only men able to finish the perennial top 5 contender.
Reflecting on Volkanovski’s success since their encounter, Mendes isn’t at all surprised the Australian has gone on to do as well as he has.
“100 percent,” Mendes responded to expectations of Volkanovski becoming champion. “I remember watching that guy fight my teammate Darren Elkins and I knew that guy was probably gonna be a top 3 guy in our division very soon. He was going to be tough and that was something I predicted going in.
“The guy’s definitely proven himself, he’s beat everyone in that division, the toughest guys at the top, and continues to do so. It was a hard fight, and he definitely deserves it .”
TOP STORIES
$$$. Booker T, a pro wrestler legend sees similarities in MMA pay and WWE pay.
Platinum. Mike Perry pulled out a baseball bat during Thursday’s BKFC press conferences ahead of the match against Julian Lane.
Return. Luke Rockhold interested in a Paulo Costa fight, hopes it can happen in June.
Sad. Israel Adesanya doesn’t want to see Francis Ngannou leave the UFC.
Health. Concussion concerns came into play ahead of Roxanne Modafferi’s retirement.
VIDEO STEW
Between the Links.
Khamzat Training with Darren Till.
Brennan Ward’s return.
UFC 271 Fight Motion.
The Natural.
Best UFC Vegas 48 fighter finishes.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Haters.
Imagine making it to the top 1-5% in multiple things, and having someone that hasn’t done it in anything tell you you suck at all of them.
— Juan Adams mma (@chosenjuan285) February 17, 2022
Meet the light heavies.
Meet the PFL Challenger Series Week 1 Light Heavyweights#PFLonFuboTV pic.twitter.com/M0BR7x6ypv
— PFL (@PFLMMA) February 17, 2022
Big Tuna.
That @BellatorMMA San Jose card looks very tasty @ScottCoker @matt_frm Big T is kinda mulling over doing middleweight again. As you all know, I am a middleweight guy. Let’s get to it.
— Ben Parrish (@BenBigTuna) February 17, 2022
Doc weighs in.
Decision for surgery for fibula fracture depends on location of the fracture- IF CAUSES ANKLE INSTABILITY NEEDS SURGERY https://t.co/eE8V2b6dMh pic.twitter.com/cXJqKU83G7
— David Abbasi, MD (@DrDavidAbbasi) February 17, 2022
Danielle Kelly is now a member of the ONE Championship.
Both Pitbull brothers at RIZIN …?
yatsutoribenzimatsuchiJue marimashita. toriaezushikariSheng tsuteZi Fen noberutotorimodoshimasu. Ri Ben noJie Yang haRizinJian runoLe shimishiterunowakarukedoPu noShi He moyoroshikune.
mataitsukaXiong Di chiyanpionRi Ben demoZhan erunoLe shiminishitemasu.
Ying Yuan yoroshikuoYuan ishimasu.— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) February 18, 2022
Benny gets the Strickland nod of approval.
I’ve walked in on closed door Bible studies at kings,made me feel uncomfortable which was followed by him asking me to join. not the party I signed up for. Benny is one the most honest guys I know, he’s legitimately injured. He makes me feel uncomfortable he’s such a good man https://t.co/qiax1s8siC
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 17, 2022
BMF Bobby.
Rampage Jr.
My son Raja is having his 2nd amateur MMA fight this weekend. Love to have your support https://t.co/Qtzu4unLc9 pic.twitter.com/oisZg6JLfW
— Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) February 18, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ramiz Brahimaj (9-4) vs. Micheal Gillmore (6-4); UFC Vegas 49, Feb. 26
Jai Herbert (11-3) vs. Ilia Topuria (11-0); UFC London, Mar. 19
Aaron Pico (9-3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (17-3); Bellator 277, Apr. 15
Darren Elkins (26-10) vs. Tristan Connelly (14-7); UFC Vegas 53, Apr. 30
EXIT POLL
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.
