PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paco Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heimo Vesa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Heimo Vesa has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Paco Mendoza's chin.

Mendoza
vs
Vesa

165 cm
20
156 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Paco Mendoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Heimo Vesa!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Vesa.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mendoza.
Vesa fails with the takedown.
Vesa throws the left hand but Mendoza avoids the punch easily.
Vesa tries to clinch but Mendoza is having none of it.
Mendoza looks to land a left hand but Vesa moved out of range nicely.
Vesa drops his hands momentarily and Mendoza takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vesa is defended easily by Mendoza.
Mendoza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vesa blocks a jab.

Vesa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mendoza manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Vesa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendoza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mendoza tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesa content to stall in guard here.
Vesa looking to pass the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mendoza holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Paco Mendoza wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Mendoza checks a low kick from Vesa.
Mendoza is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Vesa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mendoza.
A bone on bone clash there as Mendoza blocks the leg kick.
Vesa thows a body shot but no joy.
Vesa just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice jab there from Mendoza.
Vesa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mendoza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza looks to land a combination but Vesa avoids it well.
Vesa fails with a takedown attempt.
Paco Mendoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heimo Vesa.
Mendoza misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice takedown defense from Mendoza. No joy for Vesa on that attempt.
Mendoza throws a hook but Vesa avoids it easily.
Vesa catches Mendoza with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Vesa lands a nice shot to the body.
Vesa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vesa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendoza pinned against the cage. Mendoza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vesa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vesa closes the distance and clinches up with Mendoza, looking for a takedown. Vesa pushes Mendoza against the cage but Mendoza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vesa throws a leg kick but Mendoza sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Mendoza thuds a left hand into Vesa's body.
Mendoza swings for the body but Vesa moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza scores with a jab to the jaw.
Vesa throws an overhand right that lands on Mendoza's shoulder, as Mendoza tries to avoid the shot.
Vesa has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mendoza takes a swing at Vesa's ribcage but misses.
Vesa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Vesa thows a body shot but no joy.
Mendoza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vesa misses with a takedown attempt - Mendoza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vesa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Mendoza. Those never looked like landing.
Mendoza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vesa.
Mendoza misses with a wild combination.
Vesa throws an off balance right hand
and Mendoza counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Vesa misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Mendoza counters with a nice uppercut.
A jab lands there for Vesa.
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!
Mendoza misses with the combination.
Mendoza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vesa is defended easily by Mendoza.
Vesa missing with a left hand there. Mendoza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mendoza misses with a few strikes there.
Mendoza lands a slapping body shot.
Mendoza slips under a jab from Vesa.
Vesa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vesa shoots in looking for a takedown. Mendoza tries to sprawl out of it but Vesa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mendoza manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vesa blocks a jab.
Mendoza fails to land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendoza throws a combination that misses
and Vesa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vesa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mendoza finds it's way round the side to connect with Vesa's head.

Vesa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mendoza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paco Mendoza will probably get the nod.
That's time! Mendoza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mendoza slaps away a takedown attempt from Vesa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vesa shoots in but no luck this time.
Vesa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mendoza.

Vesa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mendoza keeping full guard, as Vesa tries to pass.
Vesa passes Mendoza's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Vesa uses his free foot to push down on Mendoza's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mendoza.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendoza wants to control but Vesa is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vesa working for a guillotine from mount but Mendoza is in no mood to give up.

Vesa is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Mendoza has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Mendoza!

Vesa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mendoza throwing strikes but missing.
Mendoza postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza wants to stand and escape but instead Vesa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Vesa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mendoza is not content to let Vesa control the position.
Vesa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesa looking to control but instead Mendoza has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Mendoza looking for submissions off his back.
Vesa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vesa passes to side control.
Vesa is looking to take a break and control but Mendoza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vesa is trying to get an arm triangle but Mendoza is defending well.
Mendoza is trying to control Vesa's posture but Vesa avoids it.

Vesa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mendoza knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mendoza knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vesa on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vesa wants to control for a moment but Mendoza uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heimo Vesa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Vesa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mendoza fails to land with a series of punches.
Mendoza throws a series of punches but Vesa moves out of range.

Vesa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mendoza manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Vesa advances position into side control!
Mendoza seems a little lost for a moment, as Vesa dominates the positioning.
Mendoza is not content to let Vesa control the position.

Vesa working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza can't do much from the bottom here.
Vesa is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Mendoza will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Vesa working the ground and pound but Mendoza is defending the strikes.
Vesa in side control, throwing shots but Mendoza defends.
Mendoza manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Mendoza thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vesa's head.
Mendoza is trying to control the action in half guard but Vesa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mendoza controls from within his opponent's guard.
Vesa pulls Mendoza in close to prevent any damage.
Mendoza slips nicely into half guard.
Well, if Mendoza is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Vesa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mendoza is thwarting Vesa's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesa is pressing down on Mendoza's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Mendoza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vesa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mendoza has managed to get both his arms back between Vesa's legs - danger averted.
Vesa working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendoza wants to control from the top but Vesa keeps moving.
Vesa keeping full guard, as Mendoza tries to pass.
Mendoza throws a big elbow that misses.
Vesa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mendoza is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vesa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Vesa is looking to take a break and control but Mendoza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vesa is thwarting Mendoza's attempts to control the position.

Vesa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mendoza has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mendoza blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vesa.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vesa wants to control but Mendoza is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heimo Vesa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vesa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heimo Vesa!