5 Things We Learned From UFC 164

3. Mendes Should Get a Title Shot

Clay Guida is a crazy, tough as nails ultra-exciting MMA fighter and having been a mainstay at lightweight for several years Guida is trying hard at 145 to be a champion. His crazy unpredictable style and granite chin made it look like Guida who would be bigger and stronger than others at 145 would be destined to be featherweight champion. That long held idea fell apart on Saturday night when Chad €˜Money€™ Mendes the former number one contender stepped into the cage with Clay. Mendes really does look like a champion with his wrestling background, good looks and his small frame packed almost to breaking point with muscles Mendes looks incredible. In his title fight against Jose Aldo he was unluckily caught with a knee in the first round while looking to take the champ down. Since that crushing defeat the All American grappler reinvented himself as a striker having worked so hard to improve his punches. It€™s worked well for him too coming up with 3 first round knockouts before he got to the Guida fight. He looked utterly dominant against Guida ducking and dancing round the cage at frightening speed making it near impossible even for the wild striking of Guida to connect. Mendes combined this fast unhittable bobbing and weaving with some great combinations constantly able to connect on Guida until finally even the chin of Clay couldn€™t take it. Early in the 3rd round a couple of hard shots backed Guida against the cage then one big right hand knocked the Carpenter€™s block off Mendes is the first man not just to KO Clay Guida but the first man to ever knock him down, an amazing achievement proving the power and improvement in Mendes€™s stand up game. This big historic knockout combined with the other 3 first round knockouts shows that Mendes is in the form of his life and must be considered for another shot at the 145 crown. Mendes shows what defeat should do to a top level fighter, the former all American in wrestling has transformed himself from a grappling master into being one of the most dangerous strikers at featherweight. The change gives him even more chance of winning a world title because while wrestling is a base every MMA fighter must have being a world class grappler doesn€™t tend to breed MMA success, you need to master other elements to truly be one of the best in the UFC. You can tell Mendes has really put time and effort into his stand up and surely will know his mistakes from the first fight so hopefully the UFC will see that and book what has the potential to be a fight of the year in Mendes Aldo 2.