3.) Chad Mendes has evolved:
Mendes, on the other hand, has evolved exponentially under the tutelage of (former) Team Alpha Male head coach Duane “Bang” Ludwig.
If you take a look at the tape of Aldo’s first win over Mendes, “Money” looks like a fresh-faced young fighter who was still learning the UFC ropes. And that’s what he was. He wasn’t ready to face Aldo at that point in his career, but there weren’t many contenders for him to face at that time, so Mendes got the nod.
The stinging defeat made him mature as a fighter, it taught him what it felt like to lose, and it undoubtedly motivated him to a never-before-seen level. Mendes has clearly gotten better since that day in early 2012, adding some absolutely thunderous striking to his already formidable wrestling background.
Will it be enough to stand and trade with Aldo? We’ll just have to wait and see, but no matter what happens, it’s true that Mendes has upped his game since their first encounter while the champ has largely stayed the same.
If Aldo shows up and demolishes Mendes again, then we’ll know that he didn’t need to evolve; that he was simply that good in the first place.
