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#2 The return of Chad Mendes
It’s been almost three years since we last saw Chad Mendes in the Octagon – the former Featherweight title challenger was suspended by USADA for a positive PED test following his knockout loss at the hands of Frankie Edgar in December 2015, and this weekend sees his big return.
The UFC haven’t thrown him a softball either, he’s facing Myles Jury, a well rounded fighter who has won his last two contests.
In his prime, his powerful wrestling game combined with an improving, dangerous kickboxing arsenal would’ve given Mendes a comfortable advantage in a match like this, but coming off so long on the shelf, it’s hard to tell exactly what he’s got left in the tank, particularly as he’s 33 years old now and was knocked out in his previous two fights prior to the suspension.
Jury will be seeing this fight as a chance to claim a major scalp in terms of reputation, and given we’ve seen the likes of Carlos Condit, Jake Ellenberger and Thiago Alves go down against up-and-comers this year, Mendes could be in for a tough ride.
If he comes back with a vengeance, then he’s likely an instant title contender. This is a can’t miss fight at 145lbs.
