PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Lalime (ranked 1721 p4p, 1312 weight class) and Riyu Mendes (ranked 236 p4p, 180 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Lalime
vs
Mendes

190 cm
22
205
8 - 4 - 0

188 cm
24
206
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anthony Lalime!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Riyu Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lalime stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Lalime fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mendes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A shot to the body from Lalime misses
and Mendes counters with an outside leg kick.
Lalime tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mendes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mendes appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Lalime throws a shot to the body.
Lalime connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Mendes pushes Lalime up against the cage in a clinch.
Mendes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lalime's elbow.
Lalime lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
Lalime throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mendes misses with a body punch.
Lalime misses with some punches.
Lalime has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Mendes lands with a right to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mendes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lalime misses with the head strike.
Mendes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lalime.
Mendes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lalime smiles and moves away.
A left and a right from Lalime both land. Nice combination.
Lalime lands a body shot.

Mendes drives through and clinches with Lalime against the cage.
Lalime looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mendes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mendes lands a right hand.
Mendes blocks a body shot from Lalime.
Lalime fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mendes swings wildly with an uppercut but Lalime uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lalime lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lalime misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mendes has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Lalime seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Mendes can turn it around.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lalime backwards.
Lalime blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mendes is leaning against Lalime and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Lalime throws an elbow that misses.

Mendes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lalime throws a hook but Mendes blocks it.
Mendes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lalime.
Lalime swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mendes counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Mendes lands a big shot that drops Lalime! Can he finish him?

Lalime is rocked!
Lalime keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.
Mendes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lalime is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lalime passes to full mount!
Lalime trying to control but Mendes is having none of it.
Mendes is looking to get to half guard.
Lalime wants to control the pace but Mendes is squirming around nicely.
Lalime thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries to hold on but Lalime pushes him away.
Mendes is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mendes wants to control but Lalime is having none of it.
Mendes gets back to half guard.
Lalime is thwarting Mendes's attempts to control the position.

Mendes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lalime pulls his head out easily.
Mendes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mendes wants to sweep but Lalime has passed to side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Riyu Mendes will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lalime swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anthony Lalime is winning the standup battle so far.
Lalime throws a jab but it's blocked by Mendes.
Mendes lands a front kick.
Lalime is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mendes.
Lalime stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A shot to the liver by Lalime. Beautiful body shot.
Mendes walks into a straight right hand from Lalime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lalime throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Mendes counters with a big uppercut that knocks Lalime off his feet! Mendes dives into side control looking to finish!
Oh Lalime is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lalime is looking to regain half guard here but Mendes keeps moving and retains side control.
Lalime seems to have got his legs back now.

Mendes tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lalime is trying to get back to half guard.
Mendes trying to control the action but Lalime is working from the bottom.

Mendes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lalime knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lalime struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lalime is not content to let Mendes control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lalime tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mendes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Mendes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lalime has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mendes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lalime keeps working.

Mendes is trying to get an arm triangle but Lalime is defending well.

Mendes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Lalime is avoiding damage well.

Mendes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lalime, who protects the arm well.
Lalime is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mendes asserts his dominance and retains side control.
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Mendes creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lalime sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lalime is looking to regain half guard here but Mendes keeps moving and retains side control.

Mendes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lalime knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lalime struggling a bit here.
Lalime tries to buck Mendes off but Mendes is having none of it.
Lalime is not content to let Mendes control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendes working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Riyu Mendes 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 hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lalime listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Mendes clinches.
Lalime scores with a shoulder strike.
Lalime doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mendes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lalime backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mendes.
Lalime misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mendes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mendes.
Mendes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendes tries to throw a body punch but Lalime avoids it by throwing Mendes back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lalime fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mendes throws a solid leg kick but Lalime takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mendes.

Lalime forces Mendes back against the cage and clinches.
Lalime tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mendes's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes tries to score a body lock takedown but Lalime shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Anthony Lalime has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riyu Mendes.
Mendes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lalime lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
Mendes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lalime backwards.
Lalime is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lalime cracks Mendes with a nice body shot.
Mendes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lalime misses with a body punch.
Mendes tries a body shot but Lalime blocks it.
A short right from Lalime.
Mendes lands a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Lalime.
Lalime will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mendes up against the cage.
Mendes lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lalime gets through Mendes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lalime lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lalime misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mendes struggles to land a body shot inside as Lalime controls his hands.
A right hook to the body lands for Lalime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Lalime.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lalime creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mendes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lalime's elbow.
Mendes blocks an elbow strike from Lalime.
Lalime working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mendes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lalime gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lalime just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mendes's brow.
Mendes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lalime gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mendes struggles to land a body shot inside as Lalime controls his hands.
Mendes misses with a punch on the inside.
Mendes can't find room to land a body shot as Lalime controls the action.
Lalime digs a right hand underneath Mendes's ribcage. Mendes let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mendes blocks a body shot from Lalime.
Mendes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mendes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lalime can't find room to land a body shot as Mendes controls the action.
Lalime tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mendes's elbow.
Lalime taking a breather.
Anthony Lalime has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lalime tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lalime lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mendes.
Lalime has a couple of punches blocked by Mendes.
Mendes lands with a light punch inside.
Mendes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lalime avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lalime blocks a body shot from Mendes.
Lalime lands with a right to the head.
Mendes working aggressively here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lalime.
Lalime scores with a shoulder strike.
Lalime lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mendes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mendes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lalime's elbow.
Lalime working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lalime lands a nice uppercut.
Mendes struggles to land a body shot inside as Lalime controls his hands.
Lalime creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mendes's defenses.
Mendes tries for a takedown. No joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendes working aggressively here.
Lalime lands a body shot in the clinch.
Lalime blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lalime.
Lalime can't find room to land a body shot as Mendes controls the action.
Lalime tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mendes's elbow.
Lalime lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lalime scores with a shoulder strike.
Mendes's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lalime scores with a hook to the body.
Mendes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lalime stops a takedown attempt from Mendes.
Lalime lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
Anthony Lalime has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riyu Mendes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A short uppercut from Lalime.
Lalime throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Lalime lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
Lalime struggles to land a body shot inside as Mendes controls his hands.
Lalime lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mendes jumps guard but Lalime turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lalime swings wildly with an uppercut but Mendes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lalime lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lalime makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Lalime showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mendes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!