PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nelson Adeleye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adeleye comes to the cage accompanied by The Last of the Mohicans. Gustavo Mendes 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!

Adeleye
vs
Mendes

175 cm
28
167 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

175 cm
29
162 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nelson Adeleye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Adeleye drives through with a takedown into guard.
Adeleye stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Adeleye passes Mendes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Adeleye trying to control from half guard but Mendes is working away.
Mendes is looking to control Adeleye's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mendes avoid being mounted?
Mendes gets full guard.
Adeleye stopping the sweep attempt from Mendes.

Mendes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes trying to keep a closed guard but Adeleye is proving a slippery customer.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adeleye lands a couple of digs.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Adeleye from controlling successfully.

Mendes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Adeleye defends well.
Adeleye trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Adeleye throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Adeleye is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Adeleye throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mendes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

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

Mendes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Mendes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Adeleye defends it easily.
Adeleye looking to sit in guard and control but Mendes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Adeleye throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mendes trying to control but Adeleye is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Adeleye had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mendes defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes advances position into side control!

Mendes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Adeleye has escaped the position, nice work there.

Mendes goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Adeleye rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mendes's guard! Nice work there by Adeleye!
Mendes controls Adeleye momentarily but Adeleye frees himself.

Mendes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Adeleye trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mendes pulls Adeleye in to control the position.

Mendes has his foot on Adeleye's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Adeleye works his way back into a safe position though.
Mendes is trying to keep Adeleye in close.

Adeleye drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mendes manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Adeleye has Mendes in his guard.
Adeleye preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Adeleye working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mendes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mendes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mendes postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nelson Adeleye will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mendes fails with the takedown

and Adeleye counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mendes!
Mendes bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Mendes won't allow Adeleye to sweep him here.
Adeleye is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Adeleye is looking to advance position but Mendes won't allow it.
Mendes tries to get to full guard but Adeleye has control of the leg.

Adeleye is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mendes tries to roll over but Adeleye keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adeleye trying to control the action but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Mendes wants to get back to full guard.
Mendes moves into full guard.
Mendes striking from the bottom here.

Mendes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Adeleye passes into half guard.

Adeleye is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mendes is just riding it out for now. Adeleye eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Adeleye is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Nelson Adeleye overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Adeleye defends it easily.
Adeleye trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Adeleye drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mendes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mendes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mendes!

Mendes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mendes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adeleye prevents Mendes from moving into mount.
Adeleye tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Mendes easily slips into full mount!

Mendes looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Mendes is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Adeleye to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Adeleye shrugs it off.
Adeleye is looking to get to half guard.
Adeleye wants to control but Mendes is having none of it.

That's four 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.

Mendes working for a guillotine from mount but Adeleye is in no mood to give up.
Adeleye is working to get back to half guard.

Mendes moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Adeleye has worked his arm free - good work by Adeleye!
Adeleye regains half guard.
Adeleye is refusing to be controlled, as Mendes sits in half guard.

Mendes is working for a kimura but Adeleye is defending it quite comfortably.
Adeleye gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nelson Adeleye dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Adeleye!
Adeleye throws a body punch but Mendes moves out of range.
Adeleye lands a nice hook to Mendes's body. Mendes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Adeleye swings for the body but Mendes moves out of range.

Mendes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Adeleye is trying to defend but Mendes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mendes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Adeleye!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendes lands a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adeleye can't escape the position.

Mendes working for a guillotine from mount but Adeleye is in no mood to give up.
Adeleye is controlling an arm, preventing Mendes from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Mendes looking to control but Adeleye is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Adeleye sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Adeleye is staying active underneath Mendes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Adeleye looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Adeleye moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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

Adeleye avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Adeleye trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendes is trying to keep Adeleye in close.

Mendes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adeleye landing some decent shots from guard.
Mendes can't keep his opponent in guard - Adeleye advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Adeleye moves into full mount! Mendes won't be happy about that!
Mendes regains half guard.
Mendes wants to get back to full guard.
Mendes manages to get to full guard.
Mendes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adeleye working some strikes from top position.

Mendes has his foot on Adeleye's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Adeleye works his way back into a safe position though.
Adeleye wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Adeleye tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendes is retaining full guard.

Mendes has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Adeleye is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mendes.
Adeleye advances to mount.
Gustavo Mendes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nelson Adeleye is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Adeleye is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mendes is surviving well by controlling Adeleye's body position as best he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nelson Adeleye.
Well Adeleye has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nelson Adeleye!