He asked us to make him look mean, but there’s no escaping the fact that Chad Mendes is one of the nicest guys we’ve had the pleasure of putting on our cover. It’s easy to observe too. You can see it in the way he interacts with his fans, his comrades at Ultimate Fitness, and his family and friends. Easy to spark up a conversation with and quick with a smile, Chad Mendes carries himself like a champion—only he’s not. At least not yet.
In his wrestling days, a bad call robbed him of a national title, and more recently, a split second mistake against Jose Aldo left him in second place once again. But having faltered so close to the finish line in the past has only given him more drive and focus in the present. Similar brushes with greatness have plagued other wrestlers as well (Chael Sonnen and Gray Maynard come to mind), but Mendes is determined to break the cycle. Flip to page 44 where RJ Clifford tags along with Chad to see how he balances his family and outdoor life with a full-time training schedule as he prepares to take on the equally affable Clay Guida at UFC 164.
We hope you enjoy the issue!
Ladd Dunwoody
Editor-in-Chief
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