UFC 148 ‘Silva vs. Sonnen 2’ Preview

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Featherweights

Chad Mendes (11-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Cody McKenzie (13-2, 2-2 UFC)

The Matchup: The first setback of Mendes’ MMA career is more of a testament to the brilliance of reigning champion Jose Aldo than it is an indictment of the Team Alpha Male representative’s status as a contender. It is quite possible that “Money” is still the No. 2 featherweight in the world, but the emphatic nature of his loss to Aldo means he must earn his way to another title shot.

First, Mendes will welcome guillotine specialist McKenzie to the 145-pound division. “The Ultimate Fighter 12” alum is the quintessential one-trick pony, with 11 of his 13 professional victories coming via guillotine choke. Most recently, the “AK Kid” tapped decorated amateur wrestler Marcus LeVesseur with his patented hold at UFC on Fuel TV 3.

McKenzie is tailor-made for Mendes’ style, however. The Throwdown representative does not have the standup to give Mendes pause before he shoots for a takedown, and, even worse, McKenzie opponents have a 100-percent success rate on takedowns against him during his brief UFC career. That leaves one obvious option for McKenzie, and while it is conceivable that Mendes could leave his neck exposed as he attempts to drive his foe to the canvas, it is not likely. Fighters from Team Alpha Male generally have good submission defense, and Mendes does a nice job setting up his takedowns with a powerful right hand. Although McKenzie somehow seems to find the guillotine in most any ground position or scramble, Mendes’ front-headlock series figures to limit those options.

Mendes, a two-time NCAA All-American wrestler, has improved on his feet since turning professional in 2008. In addition to his right hand, the 27-year-old has incorporated kicks and knees into his attack. With a big frame for a featherweight and good conditioning, wrestling will always remain his bread-and-butter, but it would serve Mendes well to deliver a finish here. A consistent record of decisions will eventually find Mendes in Jon Fitch territory as the guy the promotion feeds contenders to determine their title worthiness.

The Pick: This is something of a curious pairing considering Mendes’ previous No. 1 contender status. Look for him to rock McKenzie on the feet before finishing things on the ground for a first-round TKO.

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