PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Mendes (ranked 23211 p4p, 489 weight class) and Josh Jon (ranked 4560 p4p, 395 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mendes
vs
Jon

177 cm
27
159 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

165 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fernando Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josh Jon!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jon slaps away a takedown attempt from Mendes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mendes dives in for a single leg takedown but Jon sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mendes shoots in for a takedown but Jon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jon clinches.

Jon pulls guard effortlessly.

Jon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mendes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mendes tries to free his leg and advance position but Jon is retaining full guard.

Mendes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jon is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jon has escaped and now he's on top!

Mendes looking for subs off his back but Jon has passed one foot through into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in half guard, Jon seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.
Mendes wants to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Mendes is not content to let Jon control the position.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jon is nestled in close to Mendes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Jon is trying to control. Mendes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jon not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.
Jon lands with a punch from half guard.
Jon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Mendes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Jon is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nice strikes from Jon there.
Still in half guard, Jon seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.
Mendes is refusing to be controlled, as Jon sits in half guard.
Jon keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.

Mendes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jon pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Jon is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Jon wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Jon is pressing down on Mendes's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mendes is holding on for now.
Jon is looking to take a break and control but Mendes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jon wants to stand but Mendes has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Mendes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jon is trying to control. Mendes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jon trying to control the pace.
Mendes won't allow Jon to pass to mount.

Mendes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Jon wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Jon dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mendes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jon sprawls well. Jon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mendes gets slowly back to his feet.
Jon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mendes.
Mendes misses with a takedown

and Jon holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendes tries for a takedown. No joy.

Jon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendes shoots for a takedown but Jon saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mendes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Jon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Jon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jon wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Jon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jon pushes down on Mendes's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Jon looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Jon is trying to work for a kimura but Mendes is defending well.
Jon is controlling the pace.
Mendes is staying active underneath Jon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Mendes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jon pulls his head out easily.
Mendes is staying active underneath Jon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jon should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jon is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Mendes has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Jon escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Jon!
Mendes is not content to let Jon control the position.
Mendes is trying to improve his position.

Jon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jon gets to mount! Mendes was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mendes working to try and regain half guard.
Jon lands a heavy elbow.
Jon breaks from Mendes's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Jon is landing with some decent strikes but Mendes is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mendes is desperately trying to improve his position but Jon has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendes is working hard here to advance position.
Jon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Jon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mendes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jon throws a body punch but Mendes moves out of range.
Mendes drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jon sprawls and moves away.
Mendes fails with a takedown attempt.
Jon tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Mendes dives in for a single leg takedown but Jon sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jon throws out a counter right but Mendes avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jon defends it nicely.
Mendes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Mendes tries to sprawl but Jon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Josh Jon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jon keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jon is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Jon seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jon works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jon gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Mendes dives in for a single leg takedown but Jon sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mendes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Jon looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mendes!
Jon scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mendes to see if he's OK.
Jon is looking to take a break and control but Mendes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mendes is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee asks Jon politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Jon prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is looking to regain half guard here but Jon keeps moving and retains side control.
Mendes manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
It looks like Jon is going to stand back up.
Jon content to control rather than advance.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.
Jon looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mendes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jon wants to stand up but Mendes is controlling the position.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jon trying to mount his opponent but Mendes defends it.
Jon is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Mendes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Mendes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jon pulls his head out easily.

Jon moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Mendes.
Mendes is working to avoid the ground and pound but Jon connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries to improve position but can't.
Jon controlling from side mount.
Mendes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Jon controlling the position.
Mendes is trying to improve his position.
Fernando Mendes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Jon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jon trying to control the action but Mendes is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Jon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Jon!