Full Breakdown
MenaRD's Strategic Character Switches Secure Fourth Evo Street Fighter 6 Title
6/30/2026, 1:13:50 PM
Tournament Victory and Strategy
At the Evolution Championship Series in Las Vegas, MenaRD (Mena) captured his fourth Street Fighter 6 Evo title. In the Winner’s Semifinals he opened with M. Bison, tied 2-2 against Shigematsu’s Blanka, then switched to Blanka to win the deciding game. In Grand Finals he again started with Bison, lost the first set 1-3, reset the bracket, and closed the match 3-0 with Blanka. Shigematsu had advanced to Grand Finals by defeating Dogura, Craime and Kilzyou, prompting the bracket reset. The reset forced Shigematsu to win a second set, which Mena capitalized on with Blanka. The victory adds to his four Evo championships, including back-to-back wins at Las Vegas (2025-2026) and Japan (2024-2025).
Background
Mena’s win follows consecutive Evo titles in Las Vegas (2025-2026) and Japan (2024-2025), giving him four championships—a record that supports his claim as the leading Street Fighter 6 player.
Official Statements & Responses
Mena said his initial Bison selection accounted for Shigematsu’s teammate Takagi, a top Japanese Blanka player, and his confidence from practice sessions where Bison performed well. He noted that his Bison consistently outperformed the Blanka playstyles he encountered in practice sessions. After losing the first Grand Finals set, he switched to Blanka, describing it as his “bread-and-butter” character. He also credited living in Japan and daily training with Zeta Division teammates Momochi, Higuchi and Yamaguchi for his recent improvement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My Bison actually produced better results against the Blanka players that I practiced with. But why did he decide to choose Bison in the first place? After the match, Mena responded to the question by saying,” — MenaRD
- “ My Bison actually produced better results against the Blanka players that I practiced with.” — MenaRD
What's Next
Mena remains in Japan, competing in the Street Fighter League and training daily with Momochi, Higuchi and Yamaguchi.
