Chad Mendes put in a stellar outing on Saturday night.
Mendes' UFC 179 bout against UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo was the kind of performance that can boost a career.
Mendes lost the fight. But it is likely he gained more in defeat than in all of his previous UFC wins.
It was an exhilarating fight, with Mendes giving Aldo nearly all he could handle. He tested the champion, and the champion responded by reminding all of us just how good he is. It was the best featherweight title fight in UFC history and will be a contender for fight of the year.
Even in defeat, Mendes has plenty to be happy about. In a short period of time, he has morphed from a pure wrestler into a wrestler who is also a dangerous striker. He proved his worth in the Octagon against one of the best fighters in the world.
But despite the positives, Mendes also entered a unique place on the UFC roster. He's a deserving title challenger who has two losses to the current champion.
Mendes is familiar with this position. His Team Alpha Male teammates Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez are in the same spot. Faber and Benavidez are among the absolute best in their respective weight classes. And except for the champions, they would likely come off as betting favorites against every fighter in their division.
Faber is in a different situation, of course. He lost twice to Renan Barao, which put him in the same spot as Benavidez. But then T.J. Dillashaw beat Barao, giving Faber another path to the championship. The only thing stopping Faber from challenging for the title is the fact that Dillashaw is his teammate and protege.
Benavidez has two losses to Demetrious Johnson. The most recent loss was by knockout. It will be difficult for Benavidez to earn another title shot, but it is not impossible. After his first loss to Johnson, Benavidez won three consecutive fights to get a second shot. After losing the second fight with Johnson, Benavidez returned with a win over Tim Elliot. He'll face Dustin Ortiz next month.
If Benavidez beats Ortiz and then scores one or two more wins, he'll be back in consideration for a third fight with Johnson. The flyweight division's lack of depth means Benavidez will constantly be in consideration for championship shots as long as he keeps winning.
The @ufc has assured me the next shot at Aldo. As long as I win my fight against Edgar. http://t.co/PIRQgURAAS
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) October 26, 2014
This is the position Mendes now finds himself in. He has been knocked down the pecking order a few notches. Cub Swanson, Frankie Edgar and Conor McGregor have all moved ahead of him. Swanson tweeted on Sunday that if he beats Edgar next month, he'll get the next shot at Aldo. And if McGregor beats Dennis Siver in January, you know the UFC's new golden child will be next in line.
Do you want to see Aldo vs. Mendes 3?
But all hope is not lost for Mendes. It won't be easy, but he can get back to the top and earn another title fight. After the excitement of their second bout, the UFC will have no problem booking a third fight between Aldo and Mendes.
And if Swanson, Edgar or McGregor pull off the upset and beat Aldo, the slate will be wiped clean for Mendes. The losses to Aldo won't matter any more, because there will be a new champion. And given how much bad blood we've seen between Mendes and McGregor thus far, you couldn't blame Mendes one bit if he pulls for McGregor to win the title.
But in the meantime, Mendes will regroup and prepare for his next fight. The road back to a title shot won't be an easy one, but it is not impossible either.
Mendes has the skill and the determination to claw his way out of the purgatory he now finds himself in. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to eventually see him take a championship belt back home to Sacramento, California.
