The good news for Chad Mendes is that he beat Cub Swanson by unanimous decision at WEC 50, running his professional MMA record to 8-0.
The bad news is that although Mendes completely controlled the fight with his wrestling, he doesn't look like he's developing much as a fighter.
Mendes was a good NCAA wrestler who now trains with two of the WEC's best fighters, Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez. But a 25-year-old fighter who's relatively new to the sport should be adding weapons to his arsenal. Mendes doesn't look like he is, and is relying too much on his wrestling to win fights.
"Obviously I'm a wrestler so I'm always going to stick with the wrestling stuff," Mendes said after the fight. "I'm a wrestler and I feel most comfortable on the ground, but I've been working on my stand-up so much and I want to get in there and use it."
The WEC's announcers mentioned Mendes as a potential opponent for featherweight champion Jose Aldo, but Mendes will have to work on his stand-up a whole lot more before that's a realistic fight to make. Mendes deserves credit for staying undefeated, but he still has plenty of room to improve.
The bad news is that although Mendes completely controlled the fight with his wrestling, he doesn't look like he's developing much as a fighter.
Mendes was a good NCAA wrestler who now trains with two of the WEC's best fighters, Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez. But a 25-year-old fighter who's relatively new to the sport should be adding weapons to his arsenal. Mendes doesn't look like he is, and is relying too much on his wrestling to win fights.
"Obviously I'm a wrestler so I'm always going to stick with the wrestling stuff," Mendes said after the fight. "I'm a wrestler and I feel most comfortable on the ground, but I've been working on my stand-up so much and I want to get in there and use it."
The WEC's announcers mentioned Mendes as a potential opponent for featherweight champion Jose Aldo, but Mendes will have to work on his stand-up a whole lot more before that's a realistic fight to make. Mendes deserves credit for staying undefeated, but he still has plenty of room to improve.