PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edson Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Zodiac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendes comes to the cage accompanied by Hard Hittaz by Three 6 Mafia. Steve Zodiac told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Mendes
vs
Zodiac

183 cm
22
180 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

186 cm
25
176 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

:: Happy Pills ::

Hades Clothing [A partir de $15.99]

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edson Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Zodiac!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zodiac throws a head kick but Mendes moves out of range.
Steve Zodiac seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Zodiac.
Zodiac takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zodiac misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zodiac throws a sloppy head kick and Mendes moves out of range easily.
Zodiac pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mendes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Mendes closes the distance and pushes Zodiac back into the cage.

Mendes lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zodiac keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mendes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mendes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mendes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes wants to pass to mount but Zodiac is defending the position.
Zodiac tries to kick Mendes off but Mendes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Mendes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zodiac is looking to escape.

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

Mendes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mendes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zodiac wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zodiac is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Zodiac's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Mendes thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Mendes goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Zodiac is on top in guard.
Zodiac wants to get up but he can't break Mendes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zodiac is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes has a closed guard, preventing Zodiac from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zodiac being controlled here momentarily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zodiac takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zodiac looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zodiac throws a sloppy head kick and Mendes moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Mendes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zodiac throws a sloppy head kick and Mendes moves out of range easily.
Mendes takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zodiac throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mendes's head.
Edson Mendes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendes avoids the head kick by Zodiac.
Mendes avoids the head kick by Zodiac.
Mendes blocks a head kick by Zodiac.
Zodiac pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zodiac throws a sloppy head kick and Mendes moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zodiac pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zodiac throws a solid leg kick but Mendes takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zodiac.

Mendes gets a takedown into half guard.
Mendes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mendes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mendes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zodiac looks like he's trying to stand up.

Zodiac manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zodiac misses with a straight left.
Zodiac misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zodiac throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zodiac throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mendes.

Mendes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mendes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zodiac's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zodiac regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Mendes.
Mendes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zodiac utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zodiac is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mendes is controlling him.
Zodiac avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mendes throws a strike but Zodiac rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mendes trying to control the position.

Mendes is looking for a triangle but Zodiac pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zodiac wants to stand but Mendes is controlling his posture from full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zodiac tries a head kick but it misses.
Zodiac throws a sloppy head kick and Mendes moves out of range easily.
Mendes blocks a head kick by Zodiac.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Zodiac 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A head kick misses from Zodiac.
Mendes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mendes blocks a head kick by Zodiac.
Zodiac throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zodiac misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zodiac tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zodiac misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zodiac throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zodiac looks to clinch

and Mendes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zodiac's guard.

Mendes has gone for a leg lock! Zodiac slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mendes's guard.
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.
Zodiac is in trouble now - Mendes has advanced to mount!
Mendes with the ground and pound from mount.

It looks like Steve Zodiac has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes won't let Zodiac get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Mendes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Zodiac takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Edson Mendes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes unloads with some shots from mount but Zodiac bucks and avoids them well.

Mendes goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Zodiac is on top in guard.
Zodiac wanted to stand there but Mendes had control of the position.
Mendes has control of Zodiac's left arm, preventing Zodiac from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zodiac wants to stand but Mendes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Mendes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zodiac defends well.
Zodiac wants to stand but Mendes is controlling his posture from full guard.

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.
Mendes pulls Zodiac in close to prevent any damage.
Mendes wants to sweep here but Zodiac controlling him for the moment.

Mendes working for submissions but it's allowed Zodiac to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edson Mendes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mendes 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

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