PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shogun Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Mendez's choice of entrance music: Three Days Grace - Are You Ready?. This should be fireworks!

Rua
vs
Mendez

190 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
222 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shogun Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charlie Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua tries to clinch there but Mendez circles away.
Shogun Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice takedown defense from Mendez. No joy for Rua on that attempt.
Mendez avoids the head kick by Rua.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mendez tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mendez to the ground. Mendez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rua fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shogun Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mendez manages to avoid it.
Horrible takedown by Mendez or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.
Rua doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mendez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mendez.
Mendez is working for takedown but Rua is calmly controlling the position for now.

Mendez gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Mendez is very close to passing his half guard.
Mendez wants to pass to mount but Rua is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua controlling the position well.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Mendez has control of the leg.
Mendez works his way into full mount!

Mendez is working for a guillotine from mount but Rua frees his head quite easily.

Mendez wants to finish this one by submission but Rua is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mendez.
Rua is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rua is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Mendez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Rua defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Mendez.
Rua is looking to get to half guard.
Rua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Mendez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez takes Rua's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Rua is in trouble.

Mendez looking for the choke from the back.

Mendez is looking for the choke from the back position but Rua is controlling his hands well.

Mendez has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rua has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Mendez keeps control of the position as Rua tries to break free.

Rua defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Rua defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mendez's arms.

Rua defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mendez's arms.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendez looking for the choke but no joy.
Rua tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Mendez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Mendez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rua is surviving well by controlling Mendez's body position as best he can.
Mendez moves to the back position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Mendez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mendez shoots in for a double leg but Rua sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rua with a poor takedown

so Mendez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendez passes into half guard.
Mendez prevents Rua from improving his position.
Rua trying to control here.
Rua manages to get to full guard.
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.
Mendez is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua striking off his back, scoring a few points.

Mendez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rua is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rua has escaped and now he's on top!

Rua stands up from Mendez's guard - Rua perhaps looking for a knockout.

Rua gets the takedown into side control.
Mendez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mendez regains half guard.
Charlie Mendez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mendez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mendez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rua is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rua controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rua wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.

Mendez working for submissions but it's allowed Rua to get to half guard.
Rua perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mendez wants to get back to full guard.
Rua trying to control the pace.
Mendez manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Mendez.

Mendez working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.
Mendez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Charlie Mendez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rua clinches but Mendez breaks the clinch

and Mendez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mendez looking to pass the guard.
Rua is pulling down on Mendez's head to control his posture.
Rua keeping full guard, as Mendez tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mendez manages to get himself to full guard.
Rua is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua passes into half guard.
Rua looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rua is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Rua is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mendez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rua.
Mendez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rua's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rua's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua breaks Mendez's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Mendez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rua wanted to stand there but Mendez had control of the position.

Mendez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rua slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.
Rua trying to control the pace.
Mendez wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.
Rua controlling the pace.
Mendez tries to roll over but Rua keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rua is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mendez tries to reverse the position but Rua maintains control.
Mendez regains half guard.
Mendez wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.

Mendez with the active half guard here but Rua passes nicely into side control.
Mendez tries to buck Rua off but Rua is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Charlie Mendez.
I've got Mendez 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

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