PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Omar Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Cejudo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry Cejudo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Omar Mendes's chin.

Mendes
vs
Cejudo

158 cm
30
144 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

165 cm
20
140 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Wolfpack Threadz

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Omar Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Henry Cejudo!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cejudo.
A combination from Mendes does no damage.
Nice straight punches there by Mendes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mendes.
Cejudo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mendes.

Cejudo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cejudo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mendes regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cejudo.
Cejudo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cejudo postures up in Mendes's guard and throws a big left but Mendes blocks it.
Cejudo throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cejudo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cejudo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Cejudo from controlling successfully.
Mendes is pulling down on Cejudo's head to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cejudo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cejudo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cejudo trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Cejudo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Henry Cejudo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mendes scores with a three punch combo!

Cejudo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mendes!
Cejudo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Cejudo trying to control but Mendes is having none of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cejudo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Mendes is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Mendes and Cejudo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Mendes tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cejudo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cejudo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendes keeps working.
An elbow from Cejudo crashes against the mat.
Mendes struggling a bit here.
Cejudo working the strikes but Mendes uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cejudo is just content to waste time from the top position. Mendes takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cejudo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cejudo is looking to advance position but Mendes has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Cejudo tries to hold on but Mendes pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes looking to control but Cejudo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sloppy strikes from Mendes. Those never looked like landing.
Mendes lands a jab to the head.
Cejudo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendes pinned against the cage. Mendes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Cejudo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cejudo wants a takedown.
Mendes is pressed up against the cage. Cejudo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mendes down to the mat. Mendes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Omar Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Cejudo.

Cejudo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cejudo throws an elbow that misses. Mendes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cejudo's guard. Nice move by Mendes!
Cejudo controlling Mendes's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Omar Mendes just wasn't active enough.
Mendes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cejudo under the eye.
Omar Mendes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendes misses with a double jab

and Cejudo counters with a single leg into guard. Mendes didn't expect that.
Cejudo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cejudo trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Cejudo content to stall in guard here.
Mendes controls Cejudo momentarily but Cejudo frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mendes has momentary wrist control but Cejudo slips an elbow through the middle.
Cejudo wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Cejudo throws an elbow that misses. Mendes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cejudo's guard. Nice move by Mendes!
Cejudo 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Omar Mendes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mendes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cejudo circles away quickly and effectively.
Mendes throws a series of strikes that have Cejudo backpedaling.

Cejudo gets the takedown into side control.
Cejudo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Mendes is looking for a sweep.
Mendes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cejudo on the ground.
Mendes taking a bit of punishment here - Cejudo scoring with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cejudo 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cejudo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Cejudo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cejudo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Cejudo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Cejudo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Cejudo from controlling successfully.
Mendes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cejudo is trying desperately to improve position.
Henry Cejudo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes controlling from the full mount.
Cejudo tries to lock up and control but Mendes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mendes prevents Cejudo from getting the reversal.
Cejudo gets back to half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mendes trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Omar Mendes.
Mendes fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cejudo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mendes throws out the jab.
A combination from Mendes does no damage.
Mendes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mendes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cejudo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cejudo fails with a takedown attempt.
Mendes misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cejudo tries for a takedown but Mendes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cejudo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mendes as he avoids it easily.
Omar Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Cejudo.

Cejudo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cejudo trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Omar Mendes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cejudo forces his way into half guard.
Mendes is in trouble now - Cejudo has advanced to mount!
Mendes is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Cejudo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cejudo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

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