MenaRD has solidified his reputation as perhaps the best Street Fighter 6 player in the world, securing his fourth career Evolution Championship Series title this past Sunday in Las Vegas. His latest victory marks back-to-back wins at Evo in Las Vegas (2025-2026) and adds to his consecutive wins at Evo Japan (2024-2025).
While MenaRD is widely recognized for his dominant Blanka, his path to the 2026 trophy saw him lean heavily on M. Bison during crucial moments. The strategy was put to the test during the Winners Semis, where MenaRD traded games with Shigematsu’s Blanka before ultimately switching to his own Blanka to secure the win in the final round.
Shigematsu clawed his way back through the losers bracket, defeating Dogura, Craime, and Kilzyou to set up a rematch in the Grand Finals. Initially, it appeared the stage was set for a Blanka mirror match, but MenaRD opted to stick with M. Bison for the duration of the first set. Shigematsu capitalized on this, resetting the bracket with a 3-1 score.
Following the reset, MenaRD finally brought out his signature Blanka. The shift proved decisive; he swept the final set 3-0 to claim the championship.
The Logic Behind the Bison Switch
In a post-match discussion, MenaRD explained that his character choice was a calculated move against Shigematsu, who regularly trains with fellow top Japanese player Takagi. "My Bison actually produced better results against the Blanka players that I practiced with," MenaRD noted. "But I also had the suspicion that his style was a little bit different. A little more aggressive, and had a lot of tricks."
Having secured a spot on the winner's side of the Grand Finals, MenaRD felt he had the safety net required to experiment with the Bison pick, though he eventually reverted to his "bread and butter" Blanka once the pressure of the bracket reset demanded a high-percentage play.
Training in the Japanese Meta
MenaRD credits his current training environment in Japan as a major factor in his continued success. Staying in the region has allowed him to compete in the Street Fighter League alongside his Zeta Division teammates: Mochi, Higuchi, and Yamaguchi. "They're all amazing players and I see them every day," he said. That daily exposure to high-level competition appears to be paying dividends as he continues to add to his historic run of tournament wins.