PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hunter Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Hunter Thompson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Thompson
vs
Mendes

167 cm
25
145 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

168 cm
29
145 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hunter Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mendes enables Thompson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mendes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Mendes working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.

Mendes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thompson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Mendes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.
Thompson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Mendes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thompson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Mendes working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Thompson is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.

Thompson stands up and beckons Mendes to join him on the feet.

Thompson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mendes sprawls well initially but Thompson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.
Thompson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Thompson wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mendes is looking for a sweep. Thompson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.

Thompson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mendes is just riding it out for now. Thompson eventually gives up the hold.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mendes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.
Mendes looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Thompson stands up from half guard.
Hunter Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Thompson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mendes napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mendes is trying to improve his position.

Thompson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mendes has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thompson working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mendes manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thompson's best efforts.
Thompson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Thompson winds up and cracks Mendes with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mendes is in trouble now - Thompson has advanced to mount!
Thompson lands a big shot there that rocks Mendes but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mendes is looking to improve his position but Thompson isn't that keen on the idea.
Mendes is squirming around, avoiding Thompson's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mendes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Thompson has hold of Mendes's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mendes manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendes working to try and regain half guard.
Thompson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mendes?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mendes is wriggling around trying to escape.

Thompson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mendes is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Thompson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thompson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thompson pushes Mendes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Thompson decides to pull guard.

Mendes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mendes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thompson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Mendes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thompson wants to sweep here but Mendes controlling him for the moment.
Mendes stands up out of Thompson's guard for a moment - Thompson manages to land a nice upkick.

Mendes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thompson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thompson has escaped and now he's on top!
Thompson working some strikes from top position.
Thompson forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Mendes has his foot on Thompson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thompson works his way back into a safe position though.

Mendes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thompson defends it easily.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Thompson drops back looking for a leg! Mendes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mendes manages to kick Thompson off! Thompson jumps back into Mendes's guard.
Thompson distracts Mendes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Mendes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mendes is proving hard to escape from.
Hunter Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendes keeping full guard, as Thompson tries to pass.

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

Mendes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Mendes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thompson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mendes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thompson has managed to get both his arms back between Mendes's legs - danger averted.
Mendes is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thompson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Mendes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendes working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
Thompson trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Thompson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mendes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Mendes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thompson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thompson stands up over Mendes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thompson chips away with some ground and pound.
Thompson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thompson advances to half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.

Mendes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Thompson is trying to work for a kimura but Mendes is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thompson is looking for a kimura here.
Thompson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mendes!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Thompson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thompson misses with a wild body shot.
Hunter Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thompson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mendes's guard.
Thompson postures up and lands a big shot to Mendes's brow.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Thompson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Mendes working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mendes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mendes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thompson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mendes's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.

Mendes is defending against the submission attempts here by Thompson.
Thompson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Mendes is desperately trying to improve his position but Thompson has a good base and remains in mount.
Thompson lands with some strikes.
Mendes is trying desperately to improve position.

Thompson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson looking to control but Mendes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thompson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mendes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thompson has control of Mendes's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mendes regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Thompson dominating with strikes here.
Thompson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Mendes hang on?
Mendes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to control the pace but Mendes is squirming around nicely.
A nice elbow there by Thompson.
Mendes is wriggling around trying to escape.
BOOM! Thompson connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Thompson looking for a guillotine from mount but Mendes is having none of it.
Thompson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Thompson landing punches.

Mendes is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson looking to control but Mendes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mendes is still in real trouble! Can Thompson finish him?
Mendes is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thompson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mendes looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson landing strikes from the mount.
Mendes is desperately trying to improve his position but Thompson has a good base and remains in mount.
Thompson looking to control but Mendes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Thompson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Thompson tries to control but Mendes wriggling away.
Mendes seems to have recovered his senses.
Mendes taking shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thompson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Mendes sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Chad Mendes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hunter Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendes is refusing to be controlled, as Thompson sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hunter Thompson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thompson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hunter Thompson!
Our winner, Hunter Thompson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.