A Fort Madison native, Aubrey Mendonca was born into combat sports, starting Shidokan karate at age four under the tutelage of his father and grandfather. A standout high school wrestler who fell in love with the "grind," he later served in the U.S. Army from 2013 to 2022, including deployments to Afghanistan. Driven by his fiancé and five children, Mendonca fights to build a legacy for his family. When not coaching at the Fort Madison Fighter’s Guild or managing at O’Reilly’s, he is an avid skateboarder and a competitive gamer who travels the country for regional Mortal Kombat tournaments.

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Mendonca began competing in amateur MMA and kickboxing in 2011, though his professional debut came in the bare-knuckle ring in November 2025. He describes himself as a natural athlete who brings flyweight-level speed to his division. His style is boxing-heavy with a devastating clinch game rooted in his Greco-Roman wrestling background. A natural counter-puncher who thrives on forward pressure, Mendonca believes bare-knuckle is his true calling and constantly seeks to introduce new techniques to the sport.

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