Chad Mendes Battery Charges Dropped

The battery charges against UFC featherweight Chad Mendes were dismissed Monday, ESPN reports. Mendes pleaded “no contest” to a lesser charge, paid a fine, and was released.

Kings County District Attorney’s office chief deputy James Jahn said:

“Well, they added a count of fighting in public, which is California Penal Code section 415 (1). It’s a misdemeanor. That’s what happened in court. He pled to a lesser charge and the battery charges were dropped.”

Mendes was formally charged of battery on August 24 after eyewitnesses told Sheriff’s deputies that he had punched a patron of the Lacey Inn Bar in Hanford, California in the face during a fight on July 29.

Mendes said, “I have said from the beginning that the ridiculous allegations published by the media were either false or incredibly sensationalized. (Monday’s) outcome proves it.”

The 27-year-old was put on three years of court probation, and paid a $560 fine.

The featherweight contender is set to fight Hacran Diaz — a Brazilian prospect out of the Nova Uniao fight team — in a 145-pound bout at UFC on FX 6 on December 14, 2012 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

In his most recent fight at UFC 148: “Silva vs. Sonnen 2” on July 7 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Mendes (12-1-0) knocked out Cody McKenzie (13-3-0) in the first round.

Twenty-eight-year-old Dias (21-1-0 MMA) currently trains with UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo (21-1-0). Aldo knocked Mendes out in the first round to retain his championship when the two fought on January 14 at UFC 142.

Chad Mendes faced up to six months in jail if convicted on battery charges.