MenaRD on the Kemonomichi feud, Evo Vegas, and what keeps him positive throughout the tournament

No one would be surprised to see Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II to overcome i Street Fighter 6 the tournament in Evo Vegas 2026. He is considered one of the best SF6 players in the world right now. However, his trip to Evo this year was unusual for him.

Fortunately, MenaRD has the right mindset to conquer it all. At Evo Vegas 2026, MenaRD spoke to him Esports Insider before the tournament to discuss his extraordinary journey and what it took to overcome the obstacles in his path.

MenaRD did not have much success Hello Japan this year, which was quite shocking if taken for granted. He won Evo Japan 2025 after all. Not to mention he just won the first of 10 exhibition games he faced Daigo Umeharaoften referred to as the GOAT of Street Fighter.

However, that was part of the problem.

Instead of focusing on the upcoming tournaments, MenaRD decided to put his best foot forward Legends of Kemonomichi LIVE. It was something he had been looking forward to for years. He first asked Daigo for the honor last year, apparently taking the idea of ​​an exhibition match very seriously.

“It would be the biggest honor in my career if I could get a chance to fight you in the first-to-10,” MenaRD wrote to X on legend last year. “Since I was young, I have dedicated myself to preparation, and I wonder how far we can take it if we decide to focus on one set between us for months.

While speaking to ESI, MenaRD said it was a “great honor” for the Street Fighter community that Daigo accepted his proposal. It is not something to be taken lightly. Not with MenaRD. Not about anyone. He only asked because he knew he was at a point in his career where he could give Daigo a good challenge.

Once the exhibition game was accepted and the date set, MenaRD began preparations. He focused completely on the Daigo game for a month, with a team from Japan and one from home, the Dominican Republic, by his side.

“It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done,” he said. “At the end of the day it was really important because I wanted to be at a level that would challenge him and be worth his time, he was preparing himself, I was very happy that it was worth it.

In the end, MenaRD won 6-10. But it wasn’t about winning MenaRD. It was about the game itself. He wanted Daigo to be happy. He wanted the two of them to have a big, proper match.

It was a proud moment, but unfortunately, it was shrouded in controversy at the time. The Japan FGC heard that Evo’s broadcasts did not take “Beast Mode” seriously. This was more important than winning a tournament or getting a title. For many, the loser was considered “dead.” In spite of this, broadcasting has forced the times of hype, removed the intensity and authenticity of the time.

Someone on X wrote: “I will never forget how you used Beast Path as a money making tool and then threw it away.”

Despite the controversy, MenaRD remained optimistic about the experience.

“Honestly, I felt like the production tried their best. As a competition, some days are not your best day. If I don’t have the performance I want, I just learn from it and do better next time. That’s what will happen. The Evo team has always given the best shows. They can do it again. It’s a learning experience. It’s unfortunate. But I had to be able to fulfill that mission of mine in the future.”

And that has been the theme of MenaRD all year. After winning against Daigo, he came 9th in Evo Japan. But he didn’t let it get to him. In fact, he expected it. Preparing for a grueling weekend of matches against dozens of fighters is much different than focusing on beating one person.

MenARD was able to overcome a fate that would have crushed other top players because of his mentality. And that helped him get locked in other events during the year.

MenaRD often mentions his “amazing team,” which includes friends, teammates and coaches. They not only help him improve in Street Fighter but also provide mental support, which is ultimately more important. Oftentimes it’s the mindset – not the skill – that holds back top players.

He is not a supernatural being. MenaRD has times when he gets in over his head and starts feeling salty, mad, frustrated… again competition. He told me that it can be difficult for players to leave that kind of thinking on stage, especially after a loss. But “When I walk down that stage after the game is over, I see all these people working to make this happen and put me in the best possible place.”

“That salt and anger is always there, but it’s always in the game.”

If you live in that mindset of failure, MenaRD says, that can get in the way of a competitive mindset. That’s when the players start to wind and fumble.

Fortunately, this support earned him some very big and special Ws. It was big while MenaRD wins Blink Rewindhis first victory in the Dominican Republic. He has been trying to win it for a while, but the local crowd has been a big challenge. Red Bull and his team arrived hand in hand, allowing him a private area to practice without fans before he took to the stage. They also had a day focused on serving the fans, so the day of the competition could feel very focused.

It’s no wonder the fans are crazy in the Dominican Republic. Although MenaRD has moved to Japan for work, he does not forget where he came from. DR was often his winning motivation, allowing him to give back to the scene. He will open Bandits Dojo later this year, providing training and practice space for young Street Fighter players.