Chad Mendes - Official UFC® Fighter Profile

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Chad Mendes

TRAINING: 9:30-11am – drilling and live MMA sparring/grappling/wrestling. 2pm - Kickboxing and conditioning with Master Thong. 3 mile run. Monday and Thursday I work standup with coach Duane Ludwig.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started wrestling at the age of five, so I have grown up competing pretty much my entire life. I met Urijah Faber when I was in high school and worked wrestling camps with him during my college summers. I did some jiu-jitsu with him at a few of these camps and really liked it. After college wrestling I still had the drive to compete, so I decided to move to Sacramento and start training with Team Alpha Male.

What ranks and titles have you held? 2x PAC 10 champ, 2x D1 NCAA All-American, second-degree black belt in wrestling

Do you have any heroes? My Father. He has gone through a lot in his life and has really shown me what it means to never quit.

What is your favorite technique? The wushu finger hold

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? This is a huge accomplishment for me considering I've only been fighting for about 2 1/2 years now. I never expected to be fighting for the UFC so soon. I remember watching the UFC when I was a kid and thought it was the coolest thing ever and now I'm a part of it. It feels awesome!

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Cal-Poly

What was your job before you started fighting? Student