MenaRD Eyes Possible Move to Street Fighter League Japan

MenaRD recently captured the Street Fighter League US championship for the second time in three years with Bandits, further cementing his reputation as the best Street Fighter 6 player in the world. With nearly every mountain conquered in the US scene, fans are now wondering: what’s next for the “Strongest Bull”?

According to a recent tweet, the two-time Capcom Cup champion may be looking toward Street Fighter League Japan for the upcoming season. Mena already spends significant time training in Japan and has increasingly engaged his fast-growing Japanese fanbase, often tweeting in Japanese to strengthen that connection.

In his post, Mena stated that he is open to hearing offers from teams regarding his future in SFL. While he didn’t explicitly mention SFL Japan, the fact that the message was written in Japanese, and that switching between SFL US or EU teams makes little practical sense, has sparked heavy speculation.

His statement, translated to English, reads:

“For the first time in my career, I am letting you know that I am ‘ready to consider’ offers regarding SFL.

“This does not mean that I have decided to leave Bandits Gaming at this point.

“I deeply value the culture and camaraderie I have built at Bandits.

“That said, I also want to listen to discussions from other teams in order to expand my own possibilities.

“If there is a team considering me as a player, I believe I can demonstrate not only contributions to results, but also a commitment to the overall growth of the team.

“This is purely the ‘exploration phase to broaden my options,’ so teams or individuals who are interested are welcome to reach out casually.”

While SFL Japan is overwhelmingly composed of Japanese players, there have been notable exceptions. Most recently, LeShar, a Korean competitor, has played for REJECT over the last two seasons. Before that, French player Gunfight competed for Hiroshima Team iXA while living in Japan.

Under current league rules, teams must include at least two players with a Japanese Esports Union (JeSU) license and at least three players recognized as Japanese regional players. This structure leaves room for one non-Japanese player, which theoretically makes a path possible for Mena.

With SFL Japan growing more popular each season, especially domestically, adding a global superstar like Mena would be a seismic moment for the league. His arrival could open the door for even more international participation in what is widely considered the premier Street Fighter League in the world.