Chad Mendes Would Like to Wait on Jose Aldo, But Won’t if Wait Is Too Long

Would a rematch between Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo unfold differently? Please tell us below.

“I think that the first time I fought him, I just was not comfortable yet being a mixed martial artist,” Mendes told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I still really relied on my wrestling, and the standup part of it almost felt forced for me. I think the fighter that I am today, I’m just a lot more confident, a lot more comfortable in there. I’m able to be calm and really focused throughout the entire fight and really see the openings when they come and really capitalize on it. I definitely didn’t have that sense of calmness then.”

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).