UFC
Chad Mendes on bout with Conor McGregor at UFC 189: "I'm going to mess that dude up"
Jul 1, 2015 - 11:10:25 AM Chad Mendes on bout with Conor McGregor at UFC 189: "I'm going to mess that dude up"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"As soon as I got this call and they said get ready I basically just shut out any possibility that Aldo was coming back. I'm basically treating this like I'm fighting Conor for the title. I have to get my weight down. I'm coming up with a game plan and going over it, fine-tuning cardio. I'm pretending like I'm getting in there, and I'm fighting. That's my mindset. I wake up every morning, I sit there and game plan stuff while I'm laying in bed before I get out. And I'm excited, man. I think this is a great match-up for me. Conor's a tough guy, but Conor's a guy I know I can beat. He better pray that Aldo can go in there and fight because I'm going to mess that dude up... I feel for [Frankie Edgar]. I have nothing against Frankie. Me and Frankie are right there in the same spot. Ultimately that was up to the UFC. Obviously I feel very honored that they chose me, but yeah, I feel like Frankie could make a case just as much as I could."

-Before officially getting the UFC 189 title fight with Conor McGregor, Chad Mendes spoke with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour this week about the potential fight.

Penick's Analysis: Given that the fight is actually happening now, this becomes more relevant talk, and Mendes coming in on a couple weeks notice has a big task ahead of him. Given he's lost twice to Aldo, he's going to set up a third fight a lot sooner than would have otherwise been the case if he can get past McGregor. He's got the confidence in himself to do just that, but taking a five round fight on that short of notice isn't the most ideal. Still, he's going to be expected by many to win this fight, and it's a huge opportunity for him overall.