UFC 189: Hanford’s Chad Mendes vows he’s always ready

Whether it’s short notice or not, Chad Mendes says he is always ready to fight.

His latest bout is no exception.

The Hanford native faces Conor McGregor for the interim UFC featherweight title Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, a bout scheduled for five rounds as the main event of UFC 189.

Mendes was confirmed just a little more than a week ago as the replacement for Jose Aldo, who had to withdraw because of a rib injury suffered while sparring. Mendes is 17-2 overall as a mixed-martial artist, including 8-2 in the UFC. McGregor is 17-2 and 5-0.

“Within 24 hours, I was in Vegas talking to (UFC head) Dana (White),” Mendes recounted on a conference call this week. “So, you know, right away I knew it was me and Frankie (Edgar) there, right there at the top. I thought there might be a possibility but, this shot is mine. I talked to Dana and we made it happen. I told him, give me that contract. We’ll sign this baby right now. And we did.”

The main card airs on pay-per-view following preliminary bouts on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass that begin at 5 p.m.

Lack of a longer training camp doesn’t bother Mendes, he said.

“I mean everything’s pretty much right on track where it would be if I just went through a full training camp,” he said. “I don’t stop training. I don’t just go through a camp, fight, and then completely leave the gym and never see it again until I’m ready to start camp again.

“You know, this is training year-round. This is our job. This is what we're made to do. This is what we're doing for our lives, our livelihood. And I love doing it. So, I felt ready. I've been training. I’ve been hitting it hard.”

McGregor was asked if Mendes represents a tougher matchup than what he might have faced against Aldo.

“I think Chad is the substitute, the B-level,” he said. “I think he’s a wrestler with an overhand that gasses. You know what I mean? I think his body — his body weight to his height and his body is in disproportion and I think that hampers him as a fighter. I think that’s why he gasses and he gets that tiredness.”

Mendes offered a counterargument.

“I don’t know how you’re going to be pressuring anything from your back,” Mendes told McGregor.

“This is a huge, huge opportunity.”

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 4:55 PM with the headline "UFC 189: Hanford’s Chad Mendes vows he’s always ready."