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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
UFC featherweight Chad Mendes is being sought for questioning by authorities in his hometown of Hanford, Calif., following a 40-person bar brawl last Saturday in the city, according to The Hanford Sentinel.
Mendes allegedly sucker-punched an individual in the midst of a melee that broke out at the Lacey Inn Bar. After the Gang Task Force arrived to handle the out-breaking brawl, Mendes allegedly began cursing at the authorities when they recognized him and asked him to leave.
According to Assistant Sheriff Dave Putnam, Mendes instead went back into the bar, striking a man who "never even saw him coming." Putnam added, "The victim felt lucky to walk out with just a contusion after being punched by Mendes."
The Sheriff's office has been attempting to contact Mendes since the incident, but have not been able to get a hold of him. If Mendes does not come forward to give a statement on the incident, charges could be filed and an arrest warrant issued.
"If we don't speak with him by Monday, then we'll request that the District Attorney’s Office file charges against him," Putnam said. "Then we can pick him up on an arrest warrant.”
"With his training as a professional fighter, he could be looking at a charge of assault with a deadly weapon," Putnam said. "That's something the District Attorney's Office will have to weigh out when they make their filing decision."
Penick's Analysis: This is certainly not a good situation, but Mendes hasn't given his side of the incident yet, and no charges have officially been filed against him. Being a professional fighter is not going to work in his favor in the event of assault charges, but at the moment he's just being asked for a statement. If they have witnesses who corroborate the sucker-punching story, Mendes is almost assuredly going to face some type of charge, and if he did go in and sucker punch someone, that's a ridiculous and disappointing move from a young and promising competitor.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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