There's still too much distance between Chad Mendes and a return to the UFC Octagon, but his appearance at Submission Underground 3 last month certainly brought the competitive fires to full flame.

The former multi-time featherweight title challenger still has 16 months remaining on a USADA suspension handed down in June of 2015, but Mendes has never been one to sit idle. The Team Alpha Male staple stayed in the gym, remained sharp in case something came along, and a phone call from Chael Sonnen was just that opportunity.

The Sacramento-based fighter stepped in against Jeff Glover at Submission Underground 3, and proceeded to shock the jiu-jitsu world by besting the Southern California grappling icon in the first overtime exchange. The match was a back-and-forth affair, but Mendes' won out in the end, and it's a moment he'll tuck away in his memory for a long time.

"It was an awesome experience," Mendes told FloCombat. "It was the first time I'd ever done one of these grappling events, and it was a big step out of my comfort zone. I've been wrestling all my life and I grapple during my training the past eight years, but I've never done any competitions. To further the point, most of the grappling I've done has been geared toward MMA and gaining positions to set up strikes.

"I knew it was going to be a big challenge but I loved it, man. It's fun to test yourself...at least that's my mentality. Getting in there with very little grappling experience and going up against a guy like Jeff, who is a black belt and world champion, was a great way to see where I stand.

"I jumped right in there with the best of the best, and that's what I'm all about in everything I do in life."


Jan 29, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Jeff Glover against Chad Mendes at Roseland Theater. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Weiser-USA TODAY Sports

While Mendes was able to control the action throughout the opening eight minutes, the overtime period brought him much closer to adversity. The EBI rules (Eddie Bravo Invitational) allow three extra stanzas where each competitor gets a chance to start in an advantageous position of their choice, and the action continues until a submission occurs or a full escape is made.

Time becomes your enemy or your ally under that ruleset, and Mendes found himself fighting an uphill battle once Glover forced him to tap 34 seconds into the first overtime.

Never one to be detoured by adversity, Mendes jumped back into the fray knowing he would have to get the job done quicker in order to claim victory. He started in back mount and nine seconds later a major upset was etched in stone.

"My game plan was to stay solid throughout that first round and not get caught in anything," Mendes explained. "Jeff was going from leglock to leglock, rolling around and doing the Donkey Guard. He was getting crazy and we knew all that was going to happen. My plan was to just pin his hips down and keep him flat, which I did, and then take it to the overtime rounds.

"I will say I was not expecting to get submitted though," he laughed. "That kind of bummed me out for a second, but then I realized I had an opportunity to go on him."

Although there was a tremendous amount of experience separating the two, Mendes' experience in combat sports allowed him to be aware in the moment. That mindfulness led to him picking up on a key element he could use to his advantage.


Jan 29, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Jeff Glover competes against Chad Mendes at Roseland Theater. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Weiser-USA TODAY Sports

"One big factor I noticed right away was the amount of sweat that was present," Mendes said. "Every training session I had leading up to the match I did in a tee shirt which soaks up a lot of sweat. Jeff and I were both shirtless in the bout, and those lights beaming down had me dripping sweat.

"When he got on my back and I started fighting his hands I could feel how slippery everything was. I tried to fight it off as long as I could, but he was able to lock it up and tapped me in 34 seconds. I went in to my attempt knowing how slippery it was, and if I just went for it hard he wasn't going to be able to hold.

"I treated it like a wrestling match to be honest. In those situations when you have top position you sit there listening and listening waiting for that ref to blow the whistle or say. It's all about that first move and that's how I treated it.

"As soon as the ref gave the signal I sank that choke in as hard as I could and it immediately slid up under his chin. It didn't take him long to tap and I got the submission in eight or nine seconds. I got my submission quicker than he did and that's what earned the victory. It was an awesome experience."

Immediately following the win Mendes popped to his feet to celebrate, and the emotion showed post-bout was a look inside the man himself.

Mendes is and always will be as game as they come, and while the crowd size in Portland was drastically different than the numbers he's spent the past decade competing in front of, "Money" wasn't counting heads at the Roseland Theater. The only thing that mattered was the win and the chance to feel the love from a crowd who certainly appreciated his work on the night.


Jan 29, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Chad Mendes reacts after winning his bout against Jeff Glover at Roseland Theater. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Weiser-USA TODAY Sports

"It was a blast, man," Mendes said in regard to the crowd in Portland. "It was so small you could honestly hear everything anyone said and it was hilarious. When the action slowed down it would get quiet and someone would make a funny comment then Jeff and I would talk about it during match. It was a fun experience.

"There was definitely less craziness than a UFC fight. Things were a lot more chill that night than what I'm used to because you have the ability to focus on just the one thing. I didn't have to worry about being punched, kicked or elbowed which was a nice change of pace. It's funny how those things snap back to you though and the crowd got a kick out of me dropping those elbows on the mat during the match. I was just having some fun and everyone seemed to appreciate it.

"I jumped up with a ton of excitement because I just beat one of the best in the world. The crowd went nuts and it was an awesome moment. I also had my fiance and my teammates there to see it so it was definitely a moment I'll remember for a long time."

Mendes still has a long road to travel before he can return to the Octagon, but he'll remain busy in the meantime. The avid outdoorsman successfully launched his Finz and Featherz business in 2016, and the company is expecting another exciting year on the books.

In between business and training Mendes is saving some room for another call to the compete on the SUG stage. He is leaving the door open if Glover wants a crack at revenge, and believes MMA and BJJ fans could see former winner of The Ultimate Fighter Chris Holdsworth back in the competitive ranks.

"I'd love to get in there and do it again," Mendes said. "It was definitely fun, and I'm all about testing my abilities and getting better. This was something that will up my game. I always look to challenge myself and stepping in against a black belt of Jeff's caliber was about as big of a test as I could have found.

"I'm definitely down to get in there with Jeff again. He's an awesome competitor and I learned a lot from our first match. I'm positive I'd learn even more if we did it again. I'm all for it. Sign me up.

"[Holdsworth] was actually talking about it after my match. He was like, 'This was awesome...I probably need to get in on this," and we all told him, 'Hell yeah.' It would be great to see him on the next card and would be even better if we were competing on the same night. I'd love that."