MenaRD Switches Characters in Street Fighter 6 Evo Finals
Originally published Jun 29, 2026
By Mitchell Saltzman · IGN
AI-generated summary based on IGN · Aggregated by GamingCurve · Human-reviewed and approved on Jun 29, 2026
Key points
- MenaRD switched from Blanka to M. Bison in the Grand Finals match at Evo 2026.
- The decision was based on his training against top Japanese Blanka players and his confidence in Bison.
- MenaRD used Bison in the first set of the Grand Finals, which Shigematsu won, before switching back to Blanka.
- MenaRD credits his time in Japan and his team for improving his overall game and adaptability.
- The move paid off as MenaRD won the second set with Blanka, securing his fourth Evo title.
MenaRD, the back-to-back Street Fighter 6 Evo champion, made a strategic decision to switch from his signature character Blanka to M. Bison during the Grand Finals match against Shigematsu. The move surprised many, as MenaRD is widely known for his dominance with Blanka. In the Winners Semis, he initially used Bison and later switched to Blanka for a decisive mirror match. During the Grand Finals, he again opted for Bison in the first set, which Shigematsu won, prompting MenaRD to return to Blanka for the final set and secure his fourth Evo title. MenaRD explained that his choice was influenced by his training in Japan and his confidence in Bison's performance against top Blanka players.
Read the original story: IGN — by Mitchell Saltzman