Chad Mendes intends to get back on the mats with Real American Freestyle – it’s just about pinning down the correct timeline.
Three-time UFC title challenger Mendes made his RAF debut in November with a loss to Michael Chandler. He was scheduled to compete against former UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson in February, but an injury popped up during preparation, and it was deemed not worth the risk.
I tweaked my knee pretty good,” Mendes told MMA Junkie. “I think I partially tore my MCL. I’m getting old. I’m 41 years old. I don’t recover as quick. I’m going to wait for two or three weeks and then I’ll be good, and then the more I started thinking about it and the closer it got I’m like, ‘Why? I don’t need to push through this like it’s a big fight.’ So I ended up just pulling out and playing it safe, but we’re all back to normal now. It took a good seven, eight weeks to really heal that damn thing up.”
Now healthy, Mendes, who retired from MMA competition in December 2018 but has since competed in a pair of BKFC bouts, is eager to get back to his wrestling roots soon, but admits it’s not the top priority.
Mendes has settled comfortably into post-combat life with Finz and Featherz, a fishing and hunting exploration company he founded that is thriving.
He made a contractual commitment to RAF, though, and whether it’s in late 2026 or early 2027, he wants to start knocking off some of his obligations.
“I’ve still got four matches on the contract with them – I definitely want to do it,” Mendes said. “The tricky part with my schedule and with hunting season kicking off now, basically as soon as August hits, I’m pretty much gone on the road either filming hunts or guiding until December. I don’t think I’m going to have time to jump back in there until maybe December or January.
“I’m just going to keep working out here and there and keep the cardio and the body as in-tune as I can, and as soon as my schedule clears up I’m going to jump back in full-bore and hopefully get two matches at the beginning of the year. I loved it. That was such an awesome event. I love what those guys are doing with the sport, for the up-and-comers.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Chad Mendes intends to fulfill RAF contract, gives return timeline
