Would a rematch between Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo unfold differently? Please tell us below.
Chad Mendes has scored four straight wins since Jose Aldo knocked him out in January 2012. Now he’s looking for a rematch against the UFC featherweight champ, though it’s not clear when it will come.
Aldo finished Mendes with a knee with just one second remaining in the first round. The standout wrestler bounced back six months later by knocking out Cody McKenzie. Next he knocked out Yaotzin Meza, then Darren Elkins. In August, he became the first fighter to stop Clay Guida on strikes. If he gets a rematch against Aldo, Mendes said he wouldn’t be afraid to stand with him.
“I definitely would really like to mix it up,” he said. “I think that’s what’s going to beat Aldo is a complete mixed martial artist, someone that can land the shots on the feet and mix in the takedowns, keeping him off balance the entire time and on his toes. I think that’s what it takes to beat a guy like Jose Aldo.”
It could be a while before Mendes gets another shot, though. Aldo injured his foot in his August title defense against Chan Sung Jung and could be on the shelf for some time.
“He’s hurt now, so who knows how long he’s going to be out. I’m guessing realistically, it’s probably going to be the beginning of next year some time,” Mendes said when asked when he might face Aldo again. “I’m hoping maybe January, February… . I don’t really want to be waiting for six to eight months, but at this point in my career, I would definitely wait for that title shot.”
Unless the wait is too long. Besides the fact that Aldo’s hurt, Mendes might not even be the next in line. Ricardo Lamas has also won four straight.
“Ultimately, at this point in my career, I would like to wait,” Mendes concluded, “but if it’s going to be a ridiculous amount of time, eight-plus months or something like that, I’m definitely going to fight.”
Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:37:36).