The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rolls into Fairfax, Virginia this Saturday, April 4 and two featherweights in Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas will collide in a bout likely to determine the next in line after summer blockbuster title clash Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor on July 11.
Post-UFC 189 World Championship Tour it is clear that Aldo and “The Notorious” one’s rivalry has reached unparalleled heights in terms of marketing and exposure, brining the 145lb gold its biggest ever match-up.
But for Mendes and Lamas, their fight falls under much dimmer attention. Despite being insurmountably overshadowed by one of the biggest feuds in MMA history, the two title hopefuls provide clear evidence that the featherweights are so much more than just a gifted Brazilian and a brash Irishman.
#1 ranked “Money” Mendes recently took Aldo to the limit at UFC 179, in a rematch of their 2012 encounter which saw “Junior” win by knockout with one second remaining of the first round. The 2014 fight of the year was a back and forth showing, and despite being unable to pick up the win, the Team Alpha Male combatant walked out of Rio de Janeiro with a tremendous amount of new found respect.
Fairfex opponent Lamas is another featherweight whose only blip since 2010 also came to the current champion, with Aldo picking up the decision at UFC 169.
Both men are proficient counter strikers, although Mendes is slightly more aggressive, with Lamas often efficiently happy to fight on the outside and control the pace. But it’s “The Bully’s” content to lay back which has marked him a +350 underdog for this fight.
After Mendes’ deserving performance against Aldo late last year, it’s hard to look past him as the featherweight division’s legitimate number two. His cardio was a slight factor in that fight, but when going five rounds with one of the world’s best fighters, you know every aspect of your ability will be tested.
Lamas has seemed to improve every step of the way in the UFC, and everytime we see the Florida based man inside the octagon he constantly reminds us that given the right set of circumstances he can hold his own with anyone in the 145lb weight class.
When trawling through the rankings, you can make the argument that the top six names each bring something special to the table. Aldo and McGregor speak for themselves, Mendes and Lamas decrypted above.
Elsewhere, Frankie Edgar is one of the toughest guys you will ever come across, his never say die spirit is uncanny. You also have Cub Swanson and Dennis Bermudez, who despite coming off loses, still have big parts to play in the future of the featherweight roller-coaster.
Two world class individuals, in a fight which Mendes should win, but it’s not a given. He will have to work for it, and if he gets sloppy, Lamas may be able to ensue technical warfare. However, whatever the result there is one thing that cannot be questioned, and that is the symbolism they present of why featherweight is one of the deepest and talent rich divisions in all of MMA.
