Chad Mendes is a very talented featherweight prospect and veteran of the WEC. He currently trains alongside Urijah Faber at Team Alpha Male, and does enter the sport with a very strong wrestling pedigree. Wrestling at Cal Poly San Luis-Obispo, Mendes became a two-time NCAA Division I All-American, a two-time NCAA Division I Finalist and was also a three-time Olympic Wrestling Team alternate for the United States. A hard-nosed, technically proficient and physically imposing fighter, Mendes displays the work ethic and raw talent necessary to develop into an elite level mixed martial artist.

Entering MMA, Mendes' biggest strengths are his tremendous wrestling base and exceptional athletic abilities. He's a compact, powerful featherweight who possesses good size, strength and phenomenal speed and quickness. He has an incredibly quick shot, the ability to change levels in a flash and is a strong technical wrestler who drives through opponents' with beautiful takedowns. Composed yet active from the top, Mendes stays very tight to his opponents showing excellent top control. His ground and pound potential is very exciting as he's able to land quick, powerful punches, forearms and elbows strikes from the top. Mendes' striking is fast and precise on the ground, and he's capable of being both composed and opening up and unleashing with his punches from the top. To compliment his ground and pound and wrestling abilities Mendes has shown promising progress in his jiu jitsu game. His submission defense looks solid, and he's also shown glimpses of developing into a competent power submission grappler on the ground.

Mendes' primary background is his wrestling and although he's still green with his striking he does appear comfortable standing. He's a tremendously gifted athlete who's very quick and fast, and moves around very well on his feet. At times Mendes is still a little hesitant about letting his hands go, but he does show good hand speed and raw punching power, having dropped opponents with his fists in the past. He possesses quick leg kicks, a nice right cross and throws very quick knees to the body from in close (to compliment his takedown abilities from close quarters). Given his base it's understandable that Mendes is more comfortable on the mat, and he'll need to work on his counter punching abilities and expanding his striking arsenal. He does however avoid getting sloppy on his feet and keeps it very technical with his striking, and overall the tools are there for him to develop into a strong featherweight striker.