PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edson Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Vrech (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Hard Hittaz by Three 6 Mafia. 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.

Mendes
vs
Vrech

183 cm
23
180 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

176 cm
19
176 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

*²³* CHAINSAW SHACK *²³*

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 9 - 8 - 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Vrech!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Mendes.
Mendes fails with a takedown attempt.
Vrech takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mendes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vrech misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vrech throws a nice looking combination but Mendes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Vrech drops Mendes with a beautiful combination! Mendes stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Vrech is looking for the KO!

Mendes is rocked!
Vrech keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Max Vrech seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vrech looks to land a combination but Mendes avoids it well.
A head kick misses from Mendes.
Vrech throws a sloppy head kick

and Mendes moves into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Mendes.
A short uppercut from Mendes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendes is working Vrech over against the cage.
Vrech is trying to break the clinch but Mendes is controlling him.
Vrech trying to control the position but instead, Mendes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Vrech into the cage.
Mendes cracks Vrech with a nice body shot.
Vrech wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mendes scores with a knee to the head.
Mendes prevents Vrech from breaking the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mendes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mendes.
Vrech looks gassed!
Mendes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vrech's face.
Vrech takes a knee to the side of the body.
Vrech tries to land knees in the clinch but Mendes avoids the damage to the body.
Mendes has Vrech pressed against the cage, preventing Vrech from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Mendes gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Vrech regains guard.
Vrech is looking to stand up but Mendes isn't so interested in that idea.
Mendes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Vrech's guard.
Mendes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Vrech won't allow Mendes to pass to mount.
Mendes moves into full mount! Vrech won't be happy about that!
Mendes with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mendes wants to finish this one by submission but Vrech is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mendes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes thowing shots but they're missing.

Mendes wants to finish this one by submission but Vrech is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mendes.
Poor strikes thrown by Mendes there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Vrech really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mendes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
BOOM! Mendes connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vrech keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to 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.
Mendes looking to ground and pound but Vrech is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes avoids the attempt from Vrech to control.
Mendes is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Vrech can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Vrech wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mendes.
Mendes landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mendes cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mendes scoring with strikes but Vrech is staying in there.
Vrech blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes fails to take his opponent's back.
Mendes working Vrech over with strikes here.
Mendes looking to ground and pound but Vrech is blocking nicely.
Vrech really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mendes lands a heavy elbow.

Mendes is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Vrech to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Vrech shrugs it off.
Vrech tries to hold on but Mendes pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes throwing strikes here but Vrech is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Vrech can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Mendes dominated that round.
That's time! Mendes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mendes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vrech moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vrech rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mendes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vrech misses with a combination

and Mendes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Vrech is looking to break free of the clinch but Mendes has double underhooks.
Vrech is trying to force a seperation but Mendes has the dominant position.
Mendes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mendes blocks the elbow strike.
Vrech is trying to break the clinch but Mendes has him pressed against the cage.
Mendes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Vrech backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mendes.
Mendes works on Vrech's body with a couple of short punches.
Nice body punch from Mendes.
Mendes scores with a shot to the side of Vrech's head.
Mendes lands a body punch in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Mendes.
A hook to the body from Mendes.
A body shot lands from Mendes.
Mendes lands a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A body shot lands from Mendes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendes with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Vrech is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mendes is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Vrech to the mat. Vrech regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Edson Mendes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mendes forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mendes lands strikes from half guard.
Mendes wants to pass to mount but Vrech is defending the position.
Mendes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vrech defending well though.
Mendes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mendes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vrech keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Mendes is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendes prevents Vrech from standing back up.

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.
Mendes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vrech defending well though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mendes misses with a takedown attempt - Vrech sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vrech goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Vrech misses with a double jab
and Mendes counters with a head kick.
Vrech throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mendes throws a series of punches but Vrech avoids them all with ease.
Max Vrech is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendes moves out of range as Vrech throws a body kick.
Mendes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vrech tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vrech throws a nice looking combination but Mendes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Mendes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Vrech is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Mendes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vrech wants to improve his position but Mendes is controlling well.

Mendes is working for a kimura but Vrech is defending it quite comfortably.
Mendes misses with a head shot. Vrech uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes trying to move into half guard but instead Vrech has managed to sweep!
Vrech stopping the sweep attempt from Mendes.

Vrech decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes thows a body shot but no joy.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick and Vrech moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edson Mendes dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Mendes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vrech but Vrech pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A head kick by Vrech misses
and Mendes counters with a good low kick that Vrech was not able to check.
Mendes avoids the head kick by Vrech.
Vrech looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Mendes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mendes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mendes connects with a knee to the head.
Vrech is trying to break free.
Vrech wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vrech is trying to break free.

Vrech breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mendes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vrech looks to land a combination. Mendes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Vrech swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Mendes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vrech, pushing him back against the cage.
Vrech tries to break the clinch but Mendes is controlling the position.
Mendes prevents Vrech from breaking the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendes lands a knee to the head.
Mendes lands an elbow inside.
Mendes working Vrech over with knees to the body.

Vrech breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mendes, as that shot connected.
Mendes tries to clinch up but Vrech circles away and keeps his distance.
Mendes blocks a head kick by Vrech.
Vrech will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vrech dodges the punch combination from Mendes.
Mendes lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Vrech misses with a body kick.
Vrech blocks a head kick by Mendes.
Vrech throws a combination that misses

and Mendes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mendes advances position into side control!
Mendes looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Vrech is avoiding damage well.
Mendes throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendes goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Vrech has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mendes but great work by Vrech.
Mendes struggling a bit here.

Vrech stands up and beckons Mendes to his feet.
Mendes throws a head kick but Vrech moves out of range.
Vrech throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mendes.
A punch combination from Vrech misses.
Edson Mendes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Vrech doesn't seem bothered though.
Mendes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vrech can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vrech does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick and Vrech moves out of range easily.
Vrech rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mendes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mendes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Vrech looks to land a combination but Mendes avoids it well.
Max Vrech has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendes's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Mendes duly obliges.
Mendes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vrech misses with a wild combination.
Mendes lands a right hook to the body.
Vrech throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Mendes counters with a takedown into side control.

Mendes tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mendes fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vrech defending against the ground and pound.

Mendes goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Vrech has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mendes but great work by Vrech.

Vrech tries for a kimura but Mendes is defending well.
Mendes can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes regains half guard, as Vrech was trying to land strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edson Mendes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mendes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

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