PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hougar Christenssen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mendez
vs
Christenssen

200 cm
21
275 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

211 cm
23
272 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hougar Christenssen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendez moves out of range of the strikes.

Mendez closes the distance and clinches.
Christenssen is trying to break free.
Mendez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Christenssen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mendez tries for a takedown. No joy.

Christenssen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Christenssen throws a half hearted mid kick.

Mendez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mendez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mendez throwing shots but Christenssen is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendez thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Christenssen to regain full guard.

Christenssen pushes Mendez off and gets back to his feet.

Mendez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Christenssen wants to get back to his feet.
Christenssen taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christenssen wants to control but Mendez postures up.
Mendez 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.
Mendez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mendez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Christenssen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mendez off and has taken his back!
Christenssen doesn't have the hooks in and Mendez manages to turn into his guard.
Mendez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Christenssen wants to get back to his feet but Mendez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Christenssen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mendez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mendez is in close to Christenssen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mendez passes Christenssen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mendez lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christenssen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendez.
Christenssen wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy.

Mendez seems to be working for a kimura but Christenssen defends the submission attempt.
Christenssen trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mendez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Christenssen!
Mendez landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez landing strikes from the mount and Christenssen is in trouble!
Christenssen looks gassed!
Mendez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Mendez landing strikes, looking to finish!
Mendez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Christenssen?
Christenssen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Christenssen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Christenssen is rocked!
Christenssen tries to buck Mendez off but he can't manage it.
Mendez lands a nice shot to the head.
Christenssen is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Mendez with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez unloading with bombs!
Mendez 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.
Christenssen wants to hold on but Mendez pushes him away.
Mendez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Christenssen looks a forlorn figure.
Poor strikes thrown by Mendez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mendez in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Christenssen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mendez slips a nice elbow through Christenssen's hands, connecting with Christenssen's forehead.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mendez lands with a punch from half guard.
Mendez stops Christenssen from getting back to his feet.
Mendez throwing shots but Christenssen is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Mendez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Christenssen fails with the takedown

so Mendez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mendez lands a couple of elbows.
Christenssen looking for a sweep. Not yet Christenssen, not yet.
Mendez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mendez advances position into side control!
Mendez misses with the ground and pound.
Mendez is working Christenssen over with some ground and pound from side control.
Christenssen is breathing heavily.
Mendez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Mendez cracks Christenssen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
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!
Christenssen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Mendez working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez scoring with punches and elbows.
Christenssen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Tony Mendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendez advances to mount.
Mendez dominating with strikes here.
Christenssen is in a horrible position here. Mendez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mendez breaks from Christenssen's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Christenssen is still in real trouble! Can Mendez finish him?

It looks like Hougar Christenssen has been cut.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mendez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mendez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Christenssen can do to turn this around?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Mendez unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christenssen is bucking up trying to escape but Mendez cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mendez unloads with some shots from mount but Christenssen bucks and avoids them well.
Christenssen seems to have recovered his senses.
Christenssen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mendez slips a nice elbow through Christenssen's hands, connecting with Christenssen's forehead.
Mendez throwing shots but Christenssen is blocking nicely.
Mendez is pressing down on Christenssen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Christenssen is holding on for now.
Christenssen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mendez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Christenssen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mendez looks to land a strike but Christenssen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Mendez is looking to work some ground and pound but Christenssen has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christenssen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Christenssen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mendez is controlling him.
Mendez throws a strike but Christenssen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mendez trying to strike off his back.
Mendez trying to strike off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Christenssen throws the left hand but Mendez avoids the punch easily.
Mendez swings for the body but Christenssen moves out of range.
Christenssen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Mendez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mendez is looking to work some ground and pound but Christenssen has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez throws a strike but Christenssen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Christenssen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mendez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mendez wants to sweep but no luck.
Christenssen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Christenssen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendez wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Mendez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hougar Christenssen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mendez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mendez.
Christenssen can't break the clinch.
Mendez tries for a takedown but Christenssen manages to get underhooks.
Christenssen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Christenssen lands an uppercut.
Mendez has Christenssen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Christenssen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendez looking for a takedown.
Mendez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mendez takes a shot to the head.
Christenssen wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez leaning his opponent against the cage.
Christenssen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mendez avoiding damage as Christenssen throws knees to the body.
Christenssen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mendez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Christenssen wants to clinch

and Mendez counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christenssen wants a takedown but no success here.
Christenssen stalling against the cage.
Mendez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mendez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Christenssen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Christenssen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mendez pushes Christenssen up against the cage in a clinch.
Mendez has Christenssen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Christenssen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mendez wants a takedown but no success here.
Christenssen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mendez.
Mendez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Christenssen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mendez prevents Christenssen from breaking the clinch.

Mendez manages to break the clinch.
Christenssen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mendez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Christenssen won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Christenssen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Mendez connects with a decent elbow.
Mendez working the ground and pound.
Mendez in side control, throwing shots but Christenssen defends.
Christenssen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Christenssen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mendez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mendez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Christenssen down.
Mendez throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Mendez is putting a hurting on Christenssen here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mendez misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mendez lands a decent elbow from side control.
Mendez working the strikes but Christenssen uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Mendez lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is looking to pass Christenssen's guard but actually Christenssen recovers to full guard.
Mendez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Christenssen is pulling down on Mendez's head. It's preventing any offense from Mendez, at least for the moment.
Mendez is looking to work some ground and pound but Christenssen has wrist control.
Mendez throws a strike but Christenssen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mendez striking off his back but it's not causing Christenssen any problems.
Mendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mendez trying to strike off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mendez feints and as Christenssen raises his hands in defense, Mendez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Christenssen is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Christenssen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hougar Christenssen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendez with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Mendez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mendez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Mendez!