PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Oliveira Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeus Esteban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendez comes to the cage accompanied by Rihanna - We Found Love ft. Calvin Harris. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Oliveira Mendez
vs
Esteban

190 cm
25
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Oliveira Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zeus Esteban!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esteban ducks under a wild hook from Mendez.
Esteban throws a push kick but Mendez slaps the foot to one side.
Esteban keeps the fight on the outside.

Esteban rushes Mendez and presses him up against the cage.
Mendez wants to break the clinch but can't.

Mendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendez swinging wildly here.
Esteban shoots for a double leg takedown but Mendez sprawls well. He's pushed Esteban's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mendez is looking to clinch.

Esteban darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Esteban slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez is trying to stand.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zeus Esteban was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Esteban misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mendez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Esteban pushes Mendez up against the cage in a clinch.
Esteban tries to score a body lock takedown but Mendez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mendez tries to break the clinch but Esteban is controlling the position.
Mendez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esteban has him pressed against the cage.
Mendez prevents the takedown attempt.
Ricardo Oliveira Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeus Esteban.
Esteban looking for a takedown.

Esteban gets control of Mendez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Esteban will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mendez throws a strike but Esteban rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Esteban trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esteban content to stall in guard here.

Esteban thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Esteban controlling from the top position.
It looks like Esteban might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zeus Esteban.
Nice sprawl there from Mendez as Esteban shoots in.

Esteban gets a takedown into half guard.
Esteban is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeus Esteban dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Esteban throws a head kick but Mendez moves out of range.
Ricardo Oliveira Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mendez wants it to stay on the feet.

Esteban has closed the distance and engaged Mendez in a clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Esteban. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Esteban taking a breather.

Mendez breaks from the clinch.
Mendez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Mendez gets a clinch.

Mendez breaks from the clinch.
Mendez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Esteban.
Esteban gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mendez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Esteban takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mendez wants it to stay on the feet.
Ricardo Oliveira Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeus Esteban.
Esteban is breathing heavily.
Mendez works the jab nicely.
Esteban swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendez.
Mendez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Esteban's sensitive parts.
Mendez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Esteban eats them both and turns towards Mendez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Ricardo Oliveira Mendez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Esteban changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mendez tries to avoid it but Esteban manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mendez to the ground. Mendez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ricardo Oliveira Mendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mendez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Esteban circles away quickly and effectively.
Mendez wants to clinch up but Esteban keeps it at a distance.
Mendez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Esteban eats them both and turns towards Mendez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mendez tries to clinch up.
Mendez wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mendez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ricardo Oliveira Mendez is winning the standup battle so far.

Mendez has closed the distance and engaged Esteban in a clinch.

Mendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendez tries to clinch up but Esteban circles away and keeps his distance.
Esteban shoots in for a double leg but Mendez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mendez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Mendez misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez works over Esteban's head and body with a nice combination.

Esteban is rocked!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mendez is trying to force a seperation but Esteban has the dominant position.

Mendez breaks the clinch.
Mendez misses with a double jab.
Mendez checks a low kick from Esteban.
Mendez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Esteban's head.
Mendez throws a head kick that half lands.
Mendez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Esteban manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Esteban dodges the punch combination from Mendez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez lands a head shot.
Mendez swinging wildly here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendez swinging wildly here.
Esteban circles away from the clinch attempt.
Esteban with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mendez to score with a decent uppercut.
Mendez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mendez looks to land a combination but Esteban avoids it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Mendez closes the distance and pushes Esteban back into the cage.
Esteban dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Mendez breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Oliveira Mendez dominated that second round.
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!

Mendez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mendez slaps away a takedown attempt from Esteban, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Esteban closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Esteban working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Mendez tries to escape but Esteban is in control.
A lull in the action here as Esteban stalls from top position.
Mendez pushes Esteban away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Esteban gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Esteban controls the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Zeus Esteban hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mendez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Esteban swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Esteban throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mendez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Esteban moves into the clinch.
Esteban wants a takedown.
Esteban takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mendez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Esteban lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esteban managing to block the knees to the body from Mendez.
Mendez misses with an elbow strike.
Esteban tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Esteban can't get the takedown.
Ricardo Oliveira Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeus Esteban.

Mendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Esteban shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendez tries to clinch but Esteban is having none of it.
Mendez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esteban takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mendez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mendez swinging wildly here.
Mendez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez tries to clinch up.
Esteban shoots for a takedown but Mendez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Mendez. No joy for Esteban on that attempt.
Mendez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mendez tries to clinch up but Esteban circles away and keeps his distance.
Esteban tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mendez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mendez misses with a few strikes there.
Mendez tries to clinch up but Esteban circles away and keeps his distance.
Mendez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mendez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mendez lands a really nice looking cross but Esteban seems unphased.
Mendez cracks Esteban with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mendez moves in looking to clinch but Esteban pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Esteban closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mendez quickly recovers to half guard.
Mendez wants to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Esteban is keen to just control but Mendez is a slippery customer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Zeus Esteban hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mendez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mendez lands a jab-cross combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mendez closes the distance and clinches.

Mendez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mendez lands a slapping body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Oliveira Mendez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mendez 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Oliveira Mendez!
A victorious Ricardo Oliveira Mendez thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.