PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ackmud Muhammad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neil Mendoza is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Muhammad
vs
Mendoza

165 cm
23
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

168 cm
20
151 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ackmud Muhammad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Neil Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Muhammad drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Muhammad tries for a kimura but Mendoza is defending well.
Mendoza parries the strikes from Muhammad easily there. Muhammad is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mendoza to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Muhammad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Muhammad trying to control the position but Mendoza is working away.

Muhammad tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Muhammad goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mendoza has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Muhammad but great work by Mendoza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhammad striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Mendoza tries to stand but Muhammad is controlling his head.
Muhammad tries to buck Mendoza off but Mendoza is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Muhammad's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice shot lands for Mendoza.
Muhammad displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mendoza throws out the jab.
Mendoza tries to bum rush Muhammad with a series of wild strikes but Muhammad uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Muhammad scores with a takedown into Mendoza's guard.
Muhammad pushes down on Mendoza's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Mendoza is trying to stand up here but Muhammad is controlling him well.
Mendoza looks gassed!

Muhammad looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Muhammad is working for a kimura but Mendoza is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mendoza's head.

Muhammad is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Muhammad is looking for a kimura but Mendoza is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Muhammad to get the leverage.
Muhammad sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Muhammad seems to be working for a kimura but Mendoza defends the submission attempt.

That's four 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
No joy there for Mendoza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mendoza swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mendoza misses with a jab, cross combination.

Muhammad gets the takedown into side control.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ackmud Muhammad!