PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franjy Izgrate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franjy Izgrate struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Mendez
vs
Izgrate

185 cm
22
212 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
218 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Fast

Fight King Nutrition
Malicious Intent Fight Gear

Bushido Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paolo Mendez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franjy Izgrate!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danga de danga de dang - Izgrate scores with a four punch combination!
Izgrate throws a combination. Mendez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Izgrate swinging wilding here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Izgrate.
Mendez wants to clinch.
Izgrate throws a one two combo.
Izgrate tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mendez counters with a single leg into guard. Izgrate didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Izgrate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendez won't allow Izgrate to get back to his feet.
Mendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Izgrate is keeping the position for now.
Izgrate wants to stand but Mendez is controlling the position.
Mendez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mendez passes Izgrate's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mendez tries to pass to full mount but Izgrate defends it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mendez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Izgrate throws a combination that misses

so Mendez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mendez passes Izgrate's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendez is trying to control the action in half guard but Izgrate is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Mendez is working for a kimura but Izgrate is defending it quite comfortably.
Mendez thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Izgrate to regain full guard.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Izgrate keeps moving.
Izgrate can't keep his opponent in guard - Mendez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Mendez seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Izgrate defending well though.
Mendez wants to free his trapped foot but Izgrate is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mendez prevents Izgrate from standing back up.
Izgrate looks gassed!

Mendez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Izgrate pushes Mendez off looking to stand but Mendez dives back in and keeps control.

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

That's four 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.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mendez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Izgrate defends it well.
Mendez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Izgrate defending well though.
Izgrate won't allow Mendez to pass to mount.
Mendez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Mendez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Izgrate is just riding it out for now. Mendez eventually gives up the hold.
Izgrate wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Mendez dominated that 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.

Mendez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Izgrate!
Izgrate wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mendez throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Izgrate because Mendez loaded up on that one.

Mendez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Izgrate turns into him and now he's in Mendez's guard.

Izgrate gets to his feet. Mendez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mendez fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Izgrate tries to land a leg kick but Mendez saw it coming and moves away.
Mendez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Izgrate counters with a left and a right that stings Mendez.
Mendez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Izgrate counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Izgrate breaks the clinch.
Mendez looks to clinch
and Izgrate counters with a nice uppercut.
Mendez takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Izgrate circles away from the clinch attempt
and Izgrate counters with a straight right hand.
Mendez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Izgrate counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Izgrate.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Izgrate smiles and moves away.
Izgrate misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mendez.
Mendez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Izgrate counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Izgrate looks to land a combination but Mendez avoids it well.
Izgrate is looking to land body kicks.

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.
Izgrate tries to clinch up.
Mendez has his takedown stuffed

and Izgrate counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Izgrate manages to break the clinch.
Mendez shoots and misses
and Izgrate counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Izgrate tries to clinch up.
Mendez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mendez has his takedown stuffed
and Izgrate makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franjy Izgrate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mendez shoots and misses
and Izgrate counters with a nice body kick.
Mendez shoots and misses
and Izgrate counters with a nice kick to the body.
Izgrate tries to land a body kick

and Mendez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mendez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mendez trying to pass the guard but Izgrate defending well.
Izgrate pushes Mendez off looking to stand but Mendez dives back in and keeps control.

Mendez is working for a submission of some sort.
Izgrate is not content to let Mendez control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez trying to pass the guard but Izgrate defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mendez is looking for a kimura but Izgrate is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mendez to get the leverage.
Mendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Izgrate keeps working.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A right-left combo lands from Izgrate.
Mendez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Izgrate counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Izgrate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez misses with a takedown attempt
and Izgrate counters with a nice body kick.
Izgrate throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Izgrate wants to clinch up but Mendez keeps it at a distance.
Franjy Izgrate is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendez with a poor takedown
and Izgrate counters with a series of strikes. Mendez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Izgrate looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Izgrate wants to land a leg kick but Mendez is out of range.
Mendez throws a poor cross that misses
and Izgrate counters with a left and a right that stings Mendez.
Mendez misses with a takedown
and Izgrate counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Izgrate.
Mendez tries to clinch up
and Izgrate counters with a good low kick that Mendez was not able to check.
Izgrate scores with a push kick.
Mendez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Izgrate counters with an outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez has his takedown stuffed

and Izgrate counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Izgrate.

Izgrate breaks the clinch.

Izgrate clinches up with Mendez and pushes him back against the cage.

Mendez jumps guard.
Izgrate wants to stand but Mendez is controlling his posture from full guard.

Mendez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Izgrate doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Izgrate manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Paolo Mendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mendez working for a triangle but Izgrate defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franjy Izgrate really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Izgrate throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Mendez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Mendez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Izgrate is trying to stand back up but Mendez is controlling him

Mendez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Izgrate is just riding it out for now. Mendez eventually gives up the hold.
Mendez trying to control from Izgrate's half guard. Izgrate has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Mendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Izgrate is retaining full guard.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Izgrate keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Izgrate pushes Mendez off and scrambles back to his feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Mendez fails with the takedown
and Izgrate cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mendez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Izgrate counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mendez shoots and misses

and Izgrate counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Izgrate manages to break the clinch.
Mendez misses with a takedown attempt
and Izgrate counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez misses with a takedown attempt

and Izgrate moves into the clinch.
Mendez tries to score a body lock takedown but Izgrate shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Izgrate can't break the clinch.

Mendez manages to pull guard.
Izgrate preventing the sweep.

Mendez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendez trying to control the position.

Mendez has his feet on Izgrate's thighs here. He's pushed Izgrate off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Izgrate screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Paolo Mendez!
Paolo Mendez retains his light heavyweight title!