PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Skyler Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Wood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Mendez
vs
Wood

169 cm
25
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & Laundry-$8 or less
Charlie Wang's Nutrition and Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Skyler Mendez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nathan Wood!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Wood looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wood avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A nice leg kick lands there from Wood.
Good work by Mendez as he checks the leg kick.
Wood lands a front kick.
Mendez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Wood scores with a push kick.

Mendez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Wood is trying to defend but Mendez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mendez is thwarting Wood's attempts to control the position.
Wood avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mendez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez throwing shots but Wood is blocking nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wood manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mendez stands up over Wood, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Wood is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mendez defends well.
Mendez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wood avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mendez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wood preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wood trying to keep a closed guard but Mendez is proving a slippery customer.
Mendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wood swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wood utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wood is on top in guard.
Mendez working a defensive guard here.
Mendez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mendez tries to get out of the position.
Mendez wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wood trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wood is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nathan Wood hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Wood tries to clinch up.
Mendez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wood throws out the jab.
Wood throws a leg kick but Mendez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Wood throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wood tries to clinch there but Mendez circles away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Wood lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mendez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mendez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mendez moves out of range of the body kick from Wood.
Mendez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A head kick misses from Wood.
Wood tries to score with a low kick but Mendez moves his leg out of the way.
Mendez throws a front kick aimed at Wood's knee but Wood avoids it well.
Some bone on bone action there as Mendez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Wood throws a sloppy head kick and Mendez moves out of range easily.
Wood throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Skyler Mendez has been cut.
Wood tries to score with a low kick but Mendez moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Wood dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Skyler Mendez's cut.
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 shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Wood counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mendez checks a low kick from Wood.
Wood throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Wood throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Wood connects with a leg kick. Mendez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wood throws a low kick, looking for Mendez's leg but Mendez calmly moves out of range.
Mendez avoids the head kick by Wood.
Wood throws a sloppy head kick and Mendez moves out of range easily.
Wood goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nathan Wood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wood lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wood sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mendez somewhat.
Mendez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wood's waist but Wood gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mendez off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Skyler Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wood tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wood thows a body kick. Mendez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Wood is looking to land body kicks.
A head kick misses from Wood.
Wood scores with a spinning back kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wood misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Wood.
Mendez checks a low kick from Wood.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wood looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mendez blocks a head kick by Wood.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wood looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Wood.
Mendez checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood throws a leg kick but Mendez moved away.
Wood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wood keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wood tries a head kick but it misses.
Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mendez thows a leg kick but Wood checks it
and Wood counters with a slapping leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Wood.
Mendez moves out of range of the body kick from Wood.
Wood tries to clinch up but Mendez circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wood misses with a body kick.
Wood throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Wood lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Wood tries to clinch up.
Wood throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Wood shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mendez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mendez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendez shoots for a double leg takedown but Wood sprawls well. He's pushed Mendez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Wood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Skyler Mendez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A head kick misses from Wood.
Mendez checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mendez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Mendez avoids the head kick by Wood.
Mendez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Wood. Wood obviously looking to wear him down.
Wood moves in looking to clinch but Mendez pushes him off.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Wood.
Wood tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood tries a head kick but it misses.
A good leg kick by Wood.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mendez closes the distance and clinches up with Wood, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes Wood against the cage but Wood circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wood attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Wood fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mendez is out of range.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wood tries to clinch there but Mendez circles away.
Wood lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mendez will feel that in the morning.
Nathan Wood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Mendez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mendez lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mendez connects with a nice short shot to Wood's temple.
Mendez lands with a punch from half guard.
Wood is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mendez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mendez's back!
Mendez is trying to break free.
Wood trying to control momentarily.
Wood lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Wood.
Mendez tries to escape but Wood has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mendez prevents Wood from getting a body triangle.
Mendez rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood is controlling the pace.
Wood prevents Mendez from improving his position.
Mendez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wood scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mendez is not content to let Wood control the position.
Mendez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Wood's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Wood's back!
Mendez softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Wood wants to control his opponent's hands but Mendez gets his hands free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez lands a shot to the body.
Wood has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Mendez.
Mendez throwing sloppy strikes.
Mendez missing with punches from the back.
Mendez throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Mendez wants to control but Wood manages to buck him off and is now in Mendez's guard! Nice work there by Wood!
Mendez 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Skyler Mendez did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Skyler Mendez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Wood throws a shot from downtown. Mendez moves away and avoids it.
Mendez blocks a low kick nicely.
Wood tries to clinch but Mendez moves out of range.
Nathan Wood seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wood tries a head kick but it misses.
Wood connects with an inside leg kick.
Wood feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mendez's calf.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Wood doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendez circles away.
Mendez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Wood. Wood obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Wood.
Wood is looking to slow Mendez down with leg kicks.
Mendez blocks a head kick by Wood.
Wood goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mendez throws a hook but Wood avoids it easily.
Wood throws a head kick that misses.
Mendez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Wood.
Wood tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some bone on bone action there as Mendez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Wood.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mendez is out of range.
Wood is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wood looks for the body kick but Mendez saw that one coming.
A solid body kick from Wood.
Wood throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wood throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Wood misses with a body kick.
Mendez misses with a takedown
and Wood counters with a good low kick that Mendez was not able to check.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood tries to clinch up but Mendez circles away and keeps his distance.
Wood buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Wood keeps Mendez at a distance using the push kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
An inside leg kick lands from Wood.
Mendez steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Wood. That one must have hurt.
Wood throws a head kick but Mendez moves out of range.
Wood connects with a leg kick. Mendez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wood misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wood scores with a leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Wood. That's going to slow Mendez down.
Mendez checks a leg kick nicely.
Wood feints and then cracks Mendez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mendez down.
Mendez moves out of range of the leg kick from Wood.
Wood feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mendez's calf.
Good leg kick by Wood there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wood looks to clinch

and Mendez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mendez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Wood dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Skyler Mendez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Wood dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mendez. That did some damage!
Wood scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mendez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Wood wants to land a leg kick but Mendez is out of range.
Wood throws a wild body kick that Mendez sees coming a mile off.
Wood shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Wood goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Wood shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mendez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wood thumps Mendez with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Wood can pounce on him.
Wood misses the body punch

and Mendez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wood blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendez.
Wood is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Mendez looks to land a strike but Wood avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Wood is trying to keep Mendez in close.
Mendez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mendez wants to pass the guard but Wood is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendez throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendez working some strikes from top position.
Mendez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Skyler Mendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendez looking to sit in guard and control but Wood gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wood sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wood trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wood won't allow Mendez to sweep him here.
Wood wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.

Nathan Wood has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Wood lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nathan Wood is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Mendez on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Wood keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mendez closes the distance and clinches up with Wood, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes Wood against the cage but Wood circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wood lands a high kick!
Wood throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mendez's head.
Wood throws a sloppy head kick and Mendez moves out of range easily.
Wood fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mendez.
Wood lands a leg kick that knocks Mendez off balance momentarily.
Skyler Mendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wood throws a quick inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Wood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wood has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 45:50
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 45:49
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Wood!
Nathan Wood is the new lightweight champion!