After main Group Bandits to victory on the Avenue Fighter League 2025 US Finals, MenaRD has cemented his standing as one of many sequence’ biggest gamers of all time… however he’s not finished but.
Dominican Avenue Fighter professional Saul Leonardo ‘MenaRD’ Mena II boasts a laundry record of achievements that few different combating recreation gamers can match. He’s a three-time Evo champion, on high of being the one individual in historical past to ever win Capcom Cup twice.Article continues after advert
He’s been on a tear in 2025, profitable Evo Japan, Evo Las Vegas, and even taking dwelling the Avenue Fighter League US Professional-US Finals in a surprising Grand Finals set in opposition to fellow combating recreation star Victor ‘Punk’ Woodley.
This match, particularly, confirmed simply how dominant Mena has turn into. He appeared to have a solution for Punk’s each transfer, even when his opponent switched characters from Cammy to Akuma in a last-ditch effort to interrupt his psychological obtain.Article continues after adArticle continues after advert
We obtained the possibility to talk with MenaRD after this thrilling victory, the place we requested him how he feels about becoming a member of Avenue Fighter legends like Daigo, Tokido, and Nuki within the GOAT class.
MenaRD is embracing his standing as the brand new GOAT of Avenue Fighter
Surprisingly, Mena revealed that he’s at peace with this label, and stated that he’s obtained far more he’d like to perform in his profession. Particularly, he talked about that he desires to win his third Capcom Cup, take Evo France, and at last earn the title of Esports World Cup Champion.Article continues after advert
“Truthfully, it’s a fairly loopy factor,” he admitted. “It’s one thing that I all the time considered once I was younger, however now it’s a actuality, and it’s been a actuality for some time. I simply suppose there’s extra to do. There’s all the time one other factor to do, and I gotta preserve motivated and play each day to realize larger issues.
“Now it’s a matter of, I really feel at peace. I really feel good that I used to be capable of assist my mates, but when I had misplaced, I used to be going to really feel fairly unhealthy. So it’s about that. It’s about having that peace and incomes that reduction now.”Article continues after adArticle continues after advert
MenaRD says Daigo “isn’t ready” for his expertise in long-awaited FT10 match
One among these “larger issues” he’d like to perform is maybe the most important achievement a Avenue Fighter participant can attain: beating Daigo Umehara in a first-to-ten set.
Daigo was Japan’s first-ever skilled gamer and is likely one of the 5 Gods of combating video games. Whereas his aggressive outcomes have waned with Avenue Fighter’s most up-to-date titles, his expertise in Third Strike, the Alpha sequence, and SFIV stay uncontested.
Daigo is thought for ‘downloading’ gamers in prolonged units, particularly first-to-ten battles, the place he’s whittled down a few of Avenue Fighter’s biggest skills so harshly that they’ve shed tears.Article continues after advert
Hi there,I hope you have got been effectively. I need to confess that I firmly consider you’re the greatest ever at making ready for lengthy units in Avenue Fighter. Your unbelievable report has confirmed simply how impossibly robust you turn into while you put together for a participant.It might be the best honor of…— WBG MenaRD🇩🇴(最強) (@_MenaRD__) February 13, 2025
Earlier this 12 months, MenaRD put ahead an official request to Daigo asking for a first-to-ten exhibition match. It’s been months since then, with nothing organized on the time of writing… however Mena is assured that it’ll occur quickly. And when it does, he’s positive that he’ll win.Article continues after advert
“I believe it’s coming this 12 months,” he informed us. “I’m keen to attend endlessly, however I believe it’s coming this 12 months.Article continues after advert
“I’m extraordinarily assured, 10 out of 10. I really feel like he’s going to return stronger than what everyone thinks, however I believe no person is aware of how robust I’m going to return for that set, so he’s not going to be ready for me.”
Now, all that’s left is for Mena to arrange for Capcom Cup and the Avenue Fighter League World Finals, the place Group Bandits will face off in opposition to the EU’s Ninjas in Pyjamas and the as-yet undetermined workforce from Japan.Article continues after advert
