It’s not the title he wants, but Chad Mendes is coming closer and closer to proving he’s the best nonchampion on the UFC roster.
At UFC Fight Night 63, Mendes made quick work of former featherweight title challenger Ricardo Lamas. It took Mendes less than three minutes to stop the No. 4 featherweight, and the bout could have been stopped sooner by referee Dan Miragliotta.
Having only lost to 145-pound champion Jose Aldo, Mendes has solidified himself as the second-best featherweight in the world. He’ll now have to root for Conor McGregor to dethrone Aldo in July, which would expedite Mendes’ next title shot.
With another UFC event in the books, here are the bouts that should be next for Mendes, Lamas and the rest of the UFC Fight Night 63 competitors.