It appears that UFC featherweight fighter Chad Mendes may have his next fight in a courtroom rather than in the Octagon. Mendes has been charged by the Kings County District Attorney’s Office with battery due to his alleged involvement in a bar fight.
The Hanford Sentinel first reported on the incident back in early August, stating that Mendes was being sought for questioning after he allegedly sucker punched another patron and ran off before police could question him about the July 29 incident.
A short time after that report, Mendes’s management representatives at MMA Incorporated sent a statement to Bleacher Report that stated:
On Friday afternoon, Chad Mendes was shocked and surprised by the allegations contained in an article published on an Internet news site. While Chad acknowledges that an incident occurred last Saturday in Hanford, he contends that the majority of the facts pertaining to him in the story are absolutely false.
Attempts were immediately made by Chad’s representatives to contact personnel at the Sheriff’s Department on Friday afternoon. Despite these repeated attempts, Chad’s representatives have not received any response from the Sheriff’s Department as of the time of this release.
Chad denies any wrongdoing and is very upset by the allegations contained in the story. He will fully cooperate with the Sheriff’s Department and looks forward to clearing his name.
On Friday, the Sentinel reported that Mendes faces charges that could result in a fine as well as jail time. Mendes will be arraigned on September 19.
Mendes is one of the top ranked fighters in the UFC’s featherweight division, sporting a record of 12-1. His only loss came to UFC champion Jose Aldo in January of this year. Aldo stopped Mendes at the 4:59 mark of the first round. Mendes rebounded in his next bout, stopping Cody McKenzie with a punch to the body just 31 seconds into the first round of their fight at UFC 148.
As of this time, Mendes has not been booked for his next fight.
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