PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karlos Mendieta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Shipman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Mendieta
vs
Shipman

220 cm
24
280 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karlos Mendieta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Shipman!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shipman gets a clinch.

Shipman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendieta swats away the attempt to clinch by Shipman.

Shipman clinches up with Mendieta and pushes him back against the cage.
Mendieta is trying to pull guard but Shipman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Shipman tries to pull guard but Mendieta won't allow it.

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

Shipman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Shipman trying to control but Mendieta is working from the bottom.

Mendieta working for a triangle but Shipman defends it easily.
Mendieta will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shipman tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendieta is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendieta wants to sweep here but Shipman controlling him for the moment.
Mendieta is trying to control the position but Shipman postures up.
Shipman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendieta swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendieta keeping moving, preventing Shipman from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Karlos Mendieta wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Shipman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mendieta.

Shipman gets tackled into the cage by Mendieta. Mendieta maintains the clinch.
Mendieta tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shipman smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karlos Mendieta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendieta shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shipman defends it nicely.
Shipman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mendieta paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mendieta blocks a head kick by Shipman.
Mendieta fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mendieta has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendieta is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shipman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shipman moves in looking to clinch but Mendieta pushes him off.
Shipman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mendieta sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shipman somewhat.

Shipman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mendieta to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Shipman trying to keep a closed guard but Mendieta is proving a slippery customer.
Shipman trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendieta thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shipman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Shipman working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mendieta has passed into half guard!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shipman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Don Shipman will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mendieta shoots in looking for a takedown. Shipman tries to sprawl out of it but Mendieta keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shipman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Mendieta drives through and clinches with Shipman against the cage.
Mendieta is trying to pull guard but Shipman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Shipman connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Karlos Mendieta has been cut.

Mendieta pulls guard successfully.

Shipman has gone for a leg lock! Mendieta slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shipman's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shipman wants to stand and escape but Mendieta is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendieta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shipman is keeping the position for now.
Shipman wants to improve his position but instead Mendieta has moved into half guard.
Shipman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shipman wants to control but Mendieta passes into side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shipman wants to control but Mendieta postures up.
Shipman is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Mendieta is staying active.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Don Shipman was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Shipman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mendieta tries to avoid it but Shipman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mendieta to the ground. Mendieta escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Karlos Mendieta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shipman tries to keep at a distance but Mendieta has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shipman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mendieta lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shipman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mendieta fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mendieta shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shipman sprawls well. Shipman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mendieta gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karlos Mendieta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Shipman misses the target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mendieta.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mendieta looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shipman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mendieta sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shipman somewhat.
Mendieta closes the distance and clinches up with Shipman, looking for a takedown. Mendieta pushes Shipman against the cage but Shipman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Shipman closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mendieta to the mat! Mendieta manages to get full guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Shipman. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Mendieta tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shipman looking to sit in guard and control but Mendieta gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shipman wants to get back to his feet but Mendieta passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Shipman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Karlos Mendieta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shipman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mendieta to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Mendieta 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.
Shipman keeping moving, preventing Mendieta from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shipman is looking for a triangle here but Mendieta uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Mendieta is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shipman has escaped the position, nice work there.

Mendieta is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Shipman looks calm but he's in trouble here. Mendieta gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Shipman is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Mendieta lets go of the hold and Shipman can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Karlos Mendieta!
Karlos Mendieta thanked the fans post fight for their support.