PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patryck Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steele comes to the cage accompanied by The Simpsons theme song. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Steele
vs
Mendes

183 cm
26
172 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

170 cm
24
170 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Joseph Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Patryck Mendes!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendes moves into the clinch successfully.
Mendes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Steele wants a takedown but no success here.
Mendes taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Steele fails to pull guard.
Mendes prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Steele. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mendes ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mendes no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Steele looking to pass the guard.

Steele has gone for a leg lock! Mendes slips out almost immediately though and dives into Steele's guard.

Steele manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Mendes shoots for a takedown but Steele saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mendes throws the kick towards the body but Steele avoids it.
Mendes tries to clinch up but Steele circles away and keeps his distance.
Mendes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steele sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mendes somewhat.
Steele blocks a head kick by Mendes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele shoots and misses

and Mendes counters with a single leg into guard. Steele didn't expect that.
Mendes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Steele looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Steele is breathing heavily.
Mendes working some strikes from top position.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
Mendes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steele is keeping the position for now.

Steele has an active guard here but Mendes has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes controlling the pace.

Steele looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mendes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mendes is nestled in close to Steele, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendes is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mendes content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes scoring with strikes but Steele is staying in there.
Mendes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes lands a big shot there that rocks Steele but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Steele is desperately trying to improve his position but Mendes has a good base and remains in mount.
Steele taking shots to the head.
Mendes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Steele can't escape the position.
Mendes landing strikes from the mount and Steele is in trouble!
Mendes lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

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.
Mendes punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mendes breaks from Steele's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mendes is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mendes trying to control but Steele is having none of it.
Steele is working to get back to half guard.
Mendes landing punches.
Steele wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Mendes trying to control momentarily.
Steele can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patryck Mendes dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mendes gets a takedown into half guard.
Steele is looking to control Mendes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steele avoid being mounted?
Mendes is trying to control. Steele wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Steele looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Steele moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mendes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steele will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mendes wants to stand but Steele has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Steele is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Steele working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mendes has passed into half guard!

That's two 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.
Mendes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mendes drops an elbow to the side of Steele's head.

Mendes is looking for a kimura but Steele is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mendes to get the leverage.
Steele wants to get back to full guard.

Mendes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Steele doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mendes.
Mendes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Steele does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Steele sees it coming and defends easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mendes doesn't manage to clinch there - Steele circles away.
Mendes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steele ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mendes throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Steele swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendes.
Mendes shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mendes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Steele counters by moving into the clinch.

Mendes works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Mendes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Steele has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mendes has managed to get both his arms back between Steele's legs - danger averted.

Steele isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Mendes stacks Steele on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Mendes!
Steele gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steele is squirming around, avoiding Mendes's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patryck Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mendes tries a head kick but it misses.
Steele circles away from the clinch attempt

and Steele counters by moving into the clinch.

Mendes pulls guard successfully.
Mendes wants to stand and escape but Steele is having none of it.
Steele won't allow Mendes to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steele pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendes is keeping the position for now.

Steele drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Steele jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steele tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendes is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Steele postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mendes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Steele, into his guard.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.

Steele escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mendes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mendes working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mendes gets to his feet. Steele looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Patryck Mendes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Steele shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mendes is looking to get to half guard.
Steele avoids the attempt from Mendes to control.
Mendes regains half guard.
Mendes manages to get to full guard.
Mendes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendes is retaining full guard.
Mendes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mendes 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 looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Steele is trying to get back to full guard.
Mendes wants to control but Steele is keeping him busy.
Mendes is looking to advance position but Steele won't allow it.
Steele is staying active underneath Mendes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Steele is looking to control Mendes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steele avoid being mounted?

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.

Mendes is working for a submission of some sort.
Mendes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Steele does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mendes has a takedown stuffed.

Mendes shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patryck Mendes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mendes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patryck Mendes!