Augusto Mendes had no opportunities to use his jiu-jitsu at UFC Fight Night 103, but that didn’t stop him from getting his first UFC victory.
Multiple-time grappling champion “Tanquinho” showed his improvement in the stand-up area earlier this year in Phoenix, defeating Frankie Saenz via split decision and earning the event’s “Fight of the Night” bonus. But nonetheless, Mendes admits that he didn’t expect to have such a hard time keeping his opponent on his back.
"I imagined it would be tough to take him down, he’s a good wrestler, but I thought that once I took him down, I would be able to keep him there,” Mendes told MMA Fighting.