PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Romulo Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drake Vendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Mendes
vs
Vendo

190 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Romulo Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Drake Vendo!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Vendo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mendes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vendo is working away from the top position though.
Vendo is trying to control the action in half guard but Mendes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mendes is looking to control Vendo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mendes avoid being mounted?
Vendo stops Mendes from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mendes manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes pulls Vendo in close to prevent any damage.
Vendo wants to stand but Mendes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mendes darts in and clinches Vendo up against the cage.
Mendes is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Vendo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mendes is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Vendo to the mat. Vendo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Vendo is pulling down on Mendes's head to control his posture.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Vendo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vendo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mendes throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Mendes has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mendes pulls guard effortlessly.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vendo postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mendes holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Vendo from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Romulo Mendes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mendes has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Vendo finds it's way round the side to connect with Mendes's head.

Mendes shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mendes is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is trying to control. Vendo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Romulo Mendes wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Mendes has closed the distance and engaged Vendo in a clinch.

Mendes manages to pull guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mendes has his foot on Vendo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vendo works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes seems keen to control Vendo's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romulo Mendes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vendo misses with a body kick.
Vendo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Vendo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mendes is trying to defend but Vendo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mendes tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Vendo has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Vendo manages to capitalize on a mistake by Mendes to take his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vendo is trying to stick to Mendes's back but Mendes is turning into Vendo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Vendo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mendes.
Mendes stands and throws Vendo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mendes misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mendes wants to control but Vendo is keeping him busy.
Vendo tries to bench press Mendes off him but Mendes keeps the position.
Vendo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Mendes stands up and beckons Vendo to his feet.
Vendo tries to clinch there but Mendes circles away.
Romulo Mendes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vendo tries to clinch but Mendes is having none of it.
Vendo shoots for a takedown but Mendes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Mendes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mendes passes to full mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendes controlling the pace for now.
Mendes tries to control but Vendo wriggling away.
Romulo Mendes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vendo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Vendo is looking to improve his position but Mendes isn't that keen on the idea.
Vendo is bucking up trying to escape but Mendes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Vendo regains half guard.
Mendes prevents Vendo from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendes stands up out of the half guard.

Mendes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mendes lands in his opponent's guard.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Vendo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mendes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romulo Mendes dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mendes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mendes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vendo trying to control the position.
Mendes passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mendes working away.
Mendes remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Mendes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vendo keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vendo tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Mendes presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Mendes wants to control the pace but Vendo is squirming around nicely.
Mendes controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vendo is looking to escape.

Mendes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Vendo is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vendo is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Mendes has taken his back.

Vendo fending off the submission attempt from Mendes.

Mendes is cranking Vendo's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Vendo! He's tightened the choke and Vendo is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Romulo Mendes!