Chad Mendes reflects on Conor McGregor loss at UFC 189, calls it 'a win overall'

Chad Mendes has broken his silence on one of the defining bouts of his career, offering a surprisingly upbeat take on his 2015 TKO loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 189 — a fight that captivated the sport during one of its most commercially explosive periods.

Mendes, now 41, carried a professional record of 18-5 into retirement and remains one of the most respected featherweights of his generation. Fighting out of Team Alpha Male, the five-foot-six orthodox striker from the United States brought elite wrestling to the 145-pound division, averaging an impressive 4.13 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. His striking was equally sharp, with a 49 percent accuracy rate and 2.78 significant strikes landed per minute.

McGregor, now 37 and fighting out of SBG Ireland, holds a record of 22-6 and went on to become one of the most recognizable athletes in combat sports history. The southpaw Irishman stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and has long been known for his high-volume, high-impact striking, averaging 5.32 significant strikes per minute across his career.

Mendes stepped in as a late replacement for UFC 189 and still pushed McGregor through two competitive rounds before the finish. Looking back more than a decade later, he described the experience as "a win overall" — a candid reflection that speaks to the broader platform the fight gave him and the respect he earned despite the result.

Why it matters

• UFC 189 was one of the most-watched pay-per-view events of that era, giving Mendes massive exposure despite the loss
• The fight confirmed McGregor's status as a legitimate featherweight title contender on the sport's biggest stage
• Mendes stepping in on short notice has long been cited as a factor in how the bout unfolded, lending context to his retrospective view