PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mendes
vs
Melendez

168 cm
29
145 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

173 cm
22
158 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chad Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dante Melendez!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melendez scores with a body shot.
Melendez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jab from Melendez.
Melendez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mendes in his tracks.
Melendez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Melendez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mendes.
Melendez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Mendes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mendes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Mendes has hold of Melendez's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Melendez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes is working for a guillotine from mount but Melendez frees his head quite easily.

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

Melendez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mendes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Melendez has managed to get both his arms back between Mendes's legs - danger averted.

Melendez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Melendez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Melendez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mendes on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes looks for a takedown but Melendez sprawls well.
Mendes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Melendez lunges at Mendes with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mendes's hand.
Melendez scores with a nice strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mendes's hands.
Melendez lands a jab.
Melendez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Dante Melendez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Melendez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Melendez lands a lovely overhand right.
Mendes is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Melendez throws out a loose jab but Mendes uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Melendez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mendes.
Melendez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mendes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melendez slaps away a takedown attempt from Mendes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Melendez scores with a shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice uppercut lands for Melendez. That snapped Mendes's head back.
Mendes misses with a takedown
and Melendez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Melendez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mendes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Melendez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Melendez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Melendez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mendess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dante Melendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melendez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Melendez misses with a hook.
Mendes takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Melendez tries to bum rush Mendes with a series of wild strikes but Mendes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes shoots in and drives through. Melendez sprawls well.
Melendez scores with a body shot.
Melendez swings widly with a right hand

and Mendes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Melendez's guard now.
Mendes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Melendez is keeping the position for now.
Melendez wants to sweep but no luck.
Melendez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mendes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Mendes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Melendez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Melendez has escaped and now he's on top!
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Mendes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Melendez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Mendes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Melendez is aware though and is defending well.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Melendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melendez working some strikes from top position.
Melendez landing some decent shots from guard.
Melendez works over Mendes with some ground and pound from guard.
Melendez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Mendes looking for a guillotine here but Melendez defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melendez lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendes has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Melendez doesn't defend quickly enough and Mendes has managed to lock this one up! Can Melendez escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Mendes on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Chad Mendes!