MenaRD
MenaRD 
Guilty Gear
Injustice
Saul Leonardo "MenaRD" Mena II is a Dominican Fighting Games player residing in the United States who is currently representing Weibo Gaming and Red Bull eSports.
He is an EVO champion, having won EVO Japan 2024 for Street Fighter 6, and a two-time Capcom Cup champion, having won the 2017 and 2023 editions for Street Fighter V.
Biography[edit]
Street Fighter V[edit]
Hailing from the Dominican Republic, a country known for its talent pool but lack of finances for International travel, Mena started to gain attention for himself during the 2017 Capcom Pro Tour. He was first recognized for his success in the Latin American scene by winning his first 2017 CPT event at Game Over Tournament 2017, being signed by Rise Nation shortly after. More high placements followed in two Latin American online events (winning one after defeating Mono in the final for the third event), as well as SoCal Regionals 2017 where he finished 4th.
His consistency allowed him to garner enough Tour points to qualify for that year’s Capcom Cup, at this time known as a Birdie specialist. Mena immediately turned heads by taking wins on Xian, Kazunoko and Daigo Umehara in order to proceed to the Top 8. A 3-0 against Itabashi Zangief set up a Winners Final against tournament favorite and that year's EVO Champion Tokido, whom he lost to in a tight 2-3 set to be sent to the Losers Final. He scored another 3-0 win, this time against Nemo, to force a rematch against Tokido in the Grand Final; he reset the bracket 3-2 in the first set and finally defeated Tokido with a 3-1 in the second set, becoming the first Latin-American player to hoist the Capcom Cup and earn $250,000 in winnings. Mena used his winnings to support the Dominican fighting game and esports communities, and also formed the Santo Domingo Tigers, a Dominican-based esports organization.[1]
Six years later, Mena returned to the top of the Street Fighter scene by convincingly winning Capcom Cup IX, defeating rising stars EndingWalker and Zhen to become the first player to win multiple Capcom Cup titles.
Street Fighter 6[edit]
Mena was one of the first players to stand out following the release of Street Fighter 6 on June 2, 2023. He started his tenure by winning CEO 2023 over North American favorites iDom, Punk, and Nephew in the Top 8 alone. He backed up this win with consistent Top 4 Premier placings in the 2023 season of the Capcom Pro Tour, with finishes of 2nd at EVO 2023, 4th at the Singapore Offline premier and 2nd again at the France Offline premier. Despite these results, he was unable to qualify for Capcom Cup X offline; he had to win the US East Online Regional Final to get there. At Capcom Cup X, Mena had a disappointing result after landing in a "group of death" against Leshar, AngryBird (whom he lost to in the Grand Finals of EVO), EndingWalker, Caba, and NeroTheBoxer; he ended up tying for 13th. However, he was able to win the first SFL World Championship for SF6, arguably carrying his team, Bandits Gaming, at the event with back-to-back wins against FAV gaming.
Mena began his 2024 with a win at EVO Japan, defeating Yanai, Oil King, Xiaohai, Tokido, Ryukichi, Lexx and Kakeru (which he did in under 6 minutes) to win his first EVO title. Later on, after playing for Bandits Gaming since its founding, he left for Team Falcons. He would also join the esports team of Fisher College, based in Massachusetts, in September of the same year.
Results[edit]
Street Fighter 6[edit]
| Date | Place | Tier | Event | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025-03-08 | 13th - 16th | Tier 1 | Capcom Cup 11 |  | 2 : 3 |   Xian | $3,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-12-15 | 7th - 8th | Tier 1 | Kings of the World |   | 0 : 3 |   moke | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-11-10 | 7th - 8th | Tier 1 | Blink Respawn 2024 |  | 1 : 3 |  Nain Jr | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-10-13 | 1st | Tier 3 | First Attack 2024 | 3 : 1 3 : 0 |  Uriel Velorio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-08-24 | 1st | Tier 1 | Cream City Convergence 2024 | | 1 : 3 3 : 0 |   Dual Kevin | $3,272 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-08-16 | 9th - 12th | Qualifier | CPT 2024 World Warrior: US-Canada East #3 | 0 : 2 | NuckleDu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-08-08 | 25th - 32nd | Tier 1 | Esports World Cup 2024 | | 1 : 3 | Dual Kevin | $5,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-07-20 | 17th - 24th | Tier 1 | Evolution Championship Series 2024 | | 1 : 2 | Nemo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-07-13 | 2nd | Tier 3 | Arm The Rebels Cup Finale | | 2 : 3 |  Punk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-07-12 | 2nd | Qualifier | CPT 2024 World Warrior: US-Canada East #2 | | 2 : 3 |  Booce | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-06-30 | 9th - 12th | Tier 1 | CEO 2024 |  | 1 : 2 |  Nephew | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-06-02 | 5th - 6th | Tier 1 | DreamHack Dallas 2024 | | 0 : 3 |  Zhen | $2,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Place | Event | Partner | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-12-13 | 5th - 8th | Royal Flush | MenaRD Alex Smith  | 0 : 2 | John Takeuchimoke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Place | Event | Result | Prize | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025-02-22 | 2nd | Street Fighter League Pro-US 2024 |   | 20 : 70 |  | $3,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025-01-12 | 13th - 16th | Topanga Charity Cup 14 |   | L : W | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-02-24 | 1st | Street Fighter League World Championship 2023 | | 70 : 60 |   | $20,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-01-11 | 1st | Street Fighter League Pro-US 2023 | |  | $15,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-12-30 | 1st | FAV CUP 2023 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-06-12 | 1st | Twitch Rivals - Street Fighter 6 Legacy Showdown | | 2 : 1 | | $2,600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
vs. Fuudo /
vs. 
Mister Crimson /
vs. 
Limestone / vs. 
Deiver / vs. ChrisCCH /
vs. DCQ / vs. 
JeSTeRPoWeR /
vs. moke / vs. Pulgaa / vs. Nain Jr / vs. 
GranTODAKAI.EX /
vs. Dual Kevin / vs. Dual Kevin / vs. Nephew / vs. JAK / vs. Dual Kevin / vs. Zhen / vs. Problem-X / vs. Nemo / vs. Nephew /Street Fighter V[edit]
| Date | Place | Tier | Event | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-05-28 | 4th | Tier 1 | Topanga World Championship 2023 | 4/3 | Round Robin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-02-26 | 1st | Tier 3 | Winter Clash 2023 | 3 : 0 | Caba | $300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-02-19 | 1st | Tier 1 | Capcom Cup IX |  | 3 : 1 |  Zhen | $120,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-11-06 | 1st | Tier 2 | Blink Respawn 2022 | 2 : 3 3 : 2 | Punk | $1,176 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-10-09 | 5th - 6th | Tier 2 | First Attack 2022 | 0 : 3 |  HotDog29 | $136 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-08-07 | 33rd - 48th | Tier 1 | Evolution Championship Series 2022 | 1 : 2 | ChrisCCH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-07-31 | 1st | Tier 2 | CPT 2022 Online Event: Central America East | | 3 : 1 |  Bryan-D | $2,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-07-27 | 2nd | Tier 2 | Global Esports Tour 2022 - Riyadh | 2 : 3 1 : 3 | Mister Crimson | $10,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-06-26 | 2nd | Tier 1 | CEO 2022 | 1 : 3 | iDom | $458 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-05-29 | 7th - 8th | Tier 1 | Combo Breaker 2022 | 2 : 3 | ChrisCCH | $87 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-03-19 | 1st | Tier 3 | Winter Clash 2022 | 3 : 2 |  Mono | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-12-19 | 2nd | Tier 2 | Global Esports Games 2021 - Singapore |  | 1 : 3 |  GamerBee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Place | Event | Result | Prize | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-02-03 | 3rd - 4th | Street Fighter League Pro-US 2022 |  | 1 : 2 |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-02-04 | 6th | Street Fighter League Pro-US - Season 4 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-02-11 | 4th | Street Fighter League Pro-US - Season 3 |  | 0 : 3 |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Street Fighter IV[edit]
| Date | Place | Tier | Event | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018-01-05 | 2nd | Tier 3 | Kumite In Tennessee 2018 |   | 0 : 3 |  Wolfkrone | $60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015-04-12 | 5th - 6th | Tier 3 | Fighting Fest 2015 | 1 : 3 | G Roger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guilty Gear -STRIVE-[edit]
1v1
| Date | Place | Tier | Event | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-11-06 | 5th - 6th | Tier 3 | Blink Respawn 2022 | 2 : 3 | mike_Saftig | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-06-26 | 17th - 24th | Tier 1 | CEO 2022 | 2 : 3 | MFCR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-05-29 | 25th - 32nd | Tier 1 | Combo Breaker 2022 | 2 : 3 | 9moons Shine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022-03-19 | 1st | Tier 3 | Winter Clash 2022 | 3 : 0 | PRBigButtJackson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-08-28 | 5th - 6th | Tier 3 | The Grand Bamboo Battle 2021 | L |  Marn | $100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-08-21 | 13th - 16th | Tier 3 | The Big LEVO 3 | 1 : 3 | Pink | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-08-07 | 9th - 12th | Tier 2 | EVO 2021 Online - Latin America | 0 : 2 |  TavinhoAC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Injustice 2[edit]
1v1
| Date | Place | Tier | Event | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017-07-15 | 17th - 24th | Tier 1 | Evolution Championship Series 2017 | L | Star Charger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017-06-27 | 25th - 32nd | Tier 2 | Injustice 2 Online 2017: LATAM North | DQ | CCSONICON | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017-06-18 | 13th - 16th | Tier 1 | CEO 2017 | L | SylverRye | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017-05-28 | 33rd - 48th | Tier 1 | Combo Breaker 2017 | 1 : 3 | Kevoxreborn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trivia[edit]
- Is known for having a passionate fan base from his native country, which often gathers to cheer him on at events. In one instance, the cheering for Mena caused controversy with International competition and fans.[2][3]
- In SFV, has an in-game Birdie skin based on his likeness which was a reward by Capcom for winning Capcom Cup 2017.[4]
- Is the younger brother of fellow Dominican Street Fighter player LuiMan20, who taught him how to play Street Fighter.[5]
Media[edit]
Interviews[edit]
- 2024-12-02 | Trash Talk Podcast by Brian_F
- 2018-03-01 | Delving Into Dominica: How RISE MenaRD Strengthened His Local Scene by Virginia Glaze of Red Bull
- 2018-03-21 | RISE MenaRD, Street Fighter V Interview, Final Round 2018 (timestamps) by BornFree
- 2019-11-28 | The Kid From Nowhere Who Won it All... and Gave the Money Away by theScore esports
Articles[edit]
Gallery[edit]
Mena upon winning CEO 2023
MenaRD with his trophy upon winning Capcom Cup IX
MenaRD at Combo Breaker 2019
MenaRD competing at The Brooklyn Beatdown Round 2
References[edit]
- ↑ "Delving Into Dominica: How RISE | MenaRD Strengthened His Local Scene". 2018-03-01.
- ↑ "MenaRD and GO1's Street Fighter 5: Arcade Edition set was played in close proximity to loud cheering, off stream, with no headsets provided". 2018-04-01.
- ↑ "MenaRD considers quitting the FGC". 2018-04-01.
- ↑ "MenaRD’s Capcom Cup Champion’s Choice costume for Birdie is fully revealed". 2018-08-02.
- ↑ "RISE MenaRD, Street Fighter V Interview, Final Round 2018 (timestamps)". 2018-03-21.
