PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Guilhermee Viana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Three Days Grace - Are You Ready? kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Viana
vs
Mendez

185 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
222 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Guilhermee Viana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charlie Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Viana tries to clinch up.
Mendez looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
No luck for Viana with that takedown attempt.
Mendez blocks a head kick by Viana.
Viana misses with a takedown attempt - Mendez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Mendez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mendez wants to advance to full mount but Viana doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Viana has Mendez pulled in close to control his posture.
Viana could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Viana looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendez is one step ahead there.
Viana is trying to keep Mendez in close.
Viana wants to get back to his feet but Mendez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Viana is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mendez, into his guard.
Viana has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mendez is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Viana controlling from the top position.

Mendez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Viana can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Viana trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
Viana sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mendez's guard.
Viana seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Viana's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Guilhermee Viana just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Mendez darts in trying to clinch

and Viana counters with a shoot takedown. Mendez fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendez, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mendez is on top in guard.

Mendez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Viana is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mendez, into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Viana trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mendez is looking for a triangle but Viana pushes his legs off easily.
Mendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Viana has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mendez is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Viana scoring with some ground and pound.
Viana trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
Viana is stalling in the full guard.
Viana trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mendez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Viana taking a breather.
Viana tries to pull guard but Mendez won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guilhermee Viana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Viana prevents a takedown attempt there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilhermee Viana dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mendez counters by clinching up.
Viana drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendez wants a takedown but no success here.
Viana lands an elbow inside.
Viana creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mendez's defenses.

Viana pulls Mendez into guard.
Mendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Mendez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Viana manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mendez has Viana in his guard.
Viana sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viana wants to stand but Mendez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Viana pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendez is keeping the position for now.
Viana trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
Viana keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mendez's head.
Viana controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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.

Mendez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Viana gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Mendez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Viana throws a sloppy head kick and Mendez moves out of range easily.

Viana shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mendez's guard.
Viana is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Mendez has his foot on Viana's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Viana works his way back into a safe position though.
Viana showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Viana from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mendez is on top in guard.
Viana wants to sweep but no luck.
Mendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Viana is retaining full guard.
Viana bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mendez's guard.
Viana looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Viana gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Viana with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mendez counters by moving into the clinch.

Mendez tightens his grip and picks Viana up, before dumping him to the ground. Viana manages to land in guard.

Mendez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mendez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Viana is keeping the position for now.
Viana is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mendez is pushing down on Viana's leg trying to pass to half guard. Viana is fighting to maintain full guard but Mendez has managed to sneak the leg through.
Viana trying to hold on to Mendez's head to control him but Mendez postures up.

Mendez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Viana is just riding it out for now. Mendez eventually gives up the hold.

Mendez is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Viana still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Viana has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilhermee Viana dominated that second round.
That's time! Viana's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Viana has a takedown stuffed.
Guilhermee Viana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Viana fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Viana throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mendez's waist but Mendez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Viana off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guilhermee Viana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Viana wants to clinch

and Mendez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Mendez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mendez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Viana can't keep his opponent in guard - Mendez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viana is looking to control Mendez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Viana avoid being mounted?

Mendez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Viana is concentrating on defense, preventing Mendez from advancing position.

Mendez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Viana has managed to free his arm - good work.
Viana wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy.

Mendez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Viana defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Mendez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Viana doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mendez.
Mendez stops Viana from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Viana rushes Mendez and presses him up against the cage.
Mendez wants a takedown.

Mendez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Viana is trying to keep an underhook but Mendez manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Mendez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Viana makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Viana.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viana is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Mendez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mendez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Viana trying to keep a closed guard but Mendez is proving a slippery customer.

Mendez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Viana looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Viana looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Viana!
Viana remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Mendez is looking to regain half guard here but Viana keeps moving and retains side control.

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.
Mendez looking for a sweep but Viana has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Viana controlling the position easily from mount.
Mendez wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Viana is looking to control Mendez but Mendez is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Viana biding his time, looking for the opening.
Viana trying to control momentarily.
Charlie Mendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Guilhermee Viana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Mendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Viana has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guilhermee Viana!