PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Okongwu (ranked 474 p4p, 1236 weight class) and Riyu Mendes (ranked 73 p4p, 170 weight class). Okongwu comes to the cage accompanied by Killin Dem (ft. Zlatan) - Burna Boy. Riyu Mendes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Okongwu
vs
Mendes

180 cm
26
214
9 - 5 - 0

188 cm
27
213
12 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

FUClothing

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Okongwu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Riyu Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some bone on bone action there as Okongwu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mendes looks to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Okongwu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Riyu Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Okongwu. No joy for Mendes on that attempt.
Okongwu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Okongwu, as that shot connected.

Mendes clinches with his opponent.
Okongwu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mendes struggles to land a body shot inside as Okongwu controls his hands.
Okongwu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mendes's elbow.
Okongwu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Okongwu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
Mendes digs a right hand into Okongwu's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Okongwu's gas tank.
Mendes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Okongwu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A short body shot lands from Mendes as the two fighters clinch.
Okongwu lands a nice shot to the body.
Mendes looks winded!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Okongwu.
Mendes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mendes takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes throws a head punch that misses.
Okongwu lands with a light punch inside.
Okongwu blocks an uppercut.
Mendes misses with some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mendes.
Okongwu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Okongwu misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mendes.
Okongwu prevents a body shot from Mendes.

Okongwu breaks the clinch.
Mendes tries to clinch there but Okongwu circles away.
Isaiah Okongwu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Okongwu half committed to a counter leg kick.
Mendes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Okongwu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Okongwu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Okongwu fires out a quick counter leg kick but Mendes just manages to avoid it.
Okongwu swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Okongwu cracks Mendes with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Mendes looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Okongwu finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendes doesn't manage to clinch there - Okongwu circles away.
Okongwu looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Mendes fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendes takes the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Okongwu on the inside.
Mendes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mendes working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Okongwu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Okongwu misses the target.
Mendes scores with a jab.

Mendes closes the distance and clinches.
Mendes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good body shot from Okongwu.
Mendes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mendes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Okongwu throws a punch but it's blocked by Mendes.
Okongwu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mendes misses with a punch to the body.
Mendes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mendes.
Okongwu misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Okongwu.
Okongwu can't find room to land a body shot as Mendes controls the action.
Okongwu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Mendes.
Okongwu struggles to land a body shot inside as Mendes controls his hands.
Okongwu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Okongwu.
Okongwu lands with a short shot to the head.
Mendes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mendes.

Okongwu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mendes is looking to clinch.

Okongwu tries to keep at a distance but Mendes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Okongwu pushes Mendes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mendes lands with a right to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice right hand lands inside from Mendes.
Mendes working aggressively here.
Okongwu tries a body shot but Mendes blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Okongwu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mendes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Okongwu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Isaiah Okongwu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riyu Mendes.
Mendes is looking to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Okongwu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mendes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Okongwu connects with a nice looking jab.
Mendes throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Okongwu to counter with a crisp jab.

Mendes is rocked!
Mendes is aggressively charging in as Okongwu backs up avoiding any damage. Okongwu tosses out a jab and Mendes runs right into it face first! Mendes is out cold! Okongwu dropped down on all fours and is barking in Mendes's face like a pit bull in celebration until the ref was finally able to pull him away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Isaiah Okongwu!
After winning the bout, Isaiah Okongwu thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.