Chad Mendes Announces Un-Retirement, Transition to Bare Knuckle Fighting

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

In this episode, former UFC title contender Chad Mendes joins Joe Rogan to officially announce his return to professional combat sports. The conversation focuses heavily on his decision to sign with a bare-knuckle boxing promotion (BKFC), his departure from and current status with the UFC, and the technical differences between MMA and bare-knuckle fighting. They also touch upon the business of combat sports, specifically how organizations are recruiting former UFC stars to build their brands.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• The Return "Itch": After two and a half years away from the sport, Mendes realized that at 36, he still has the physical capability and desire to compete. He expressed a fear of reaching his 40s and regretting not taking one last opportunity while in his prime.
• Transition to 155 lbs: Mendes plans to compete at 155 pounds (Lightweight) rather than his usual 145, citing that weight cutting becomes significantly harder and more taxing on the body as an athlete ages.
• The 2-Minute Round Advantage: Mendes is particularly excited about the five, two-minute round format. As an explosive athlete, he believes this shorter duration allows him to maintain a high pace and "knock someone's head off" without the need for the strategic pacing required in five-minute MMA rounds.
• UFC Relations: Remarkably, Mendes is still under UFC contract. Unlike other high-profile cases where the UFC blocked fighters from outside opportunities (such as Georges St-Pierre), the UFC gave Mendes the "green light" to compete in bare-knuckle boxing.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• On his return: "In the great words of TJ Dillashaw, daddy's home!"
• The De La Hoya Connection: Mendes revealed that his name was originally in the mix to box Oscar De La Hoya, and while that didn't materialize, the payday he secured for his bare-knuckle debut is comparable to what he would have made in that high-profile exhibition.
• On Safety: "I don't have to worry about a baseball bat head kick whipping through and cracking me in the dome... there's a lot of other things in the MMA game that I think are a lot more dangerous."
• Future Plans: Mendes revealed he still has fights left on his UFC contract and hasn't ruled out a return to the Octagon after his boxing venture: "There still is a possibility that I come back and maybe I want to do one or two more UFC fights."

Overall Themes

The primary theme of the discussion is the evolution of a fighter's career. Mendes highlights the shift from being a "pure" MMA fighter to exploring niche, high-paying opportunities in the twilight of his athletic prime. The conversation also explores risk management; Mendes argues that while bare-knuckle boxing looks more "brutal" due to the prevalence of cuts, the lack of head kicks, knees, and the "thudding" weight of a glove may actually change the concussive profile of the sport compared to MMA.

Finally, the episode underscores the growing market for veteran combat athletes, as new promotions leverage the established fanbases of former UFC stars to fuel the rapid growth of alternative combat sports like bare-knuckle boxing.