PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Via Dios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Omar Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dios comes to the cage accompanied by Sandstorm. Via Dios has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dios
vs
Mendes

185 cm
38
141 lbs
28 - 18 - 0

158 cm
34
144 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Via Dios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Omar Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dios looks to land a combination but Mendes avoids it well.
Dios falls off balance throwing a combination
and Dios takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dios really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dios lands a nice shot to the body.
A big left from Dios misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Mendes blocks the leg kick.
Dios misses with a few strikes there.
Via Dios seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dios lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mendes circles away quickly and effectively.
Dios throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Omar Mendes has been cut.
Mendes misses with a body kick.
Dios tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mendes takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Dios fails to land with a series of punches.
Dios shoots in for a takedown but Mendes shows good takedown defense.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No joy there for Mendes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mendes scoring well with a low kick there.
Dios misses with an uppercut
and Mendes counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Mendes misses.
Dios doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendes circles away.
Dios wants to clinch.
Dios throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mendes counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Mendes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dios.
Dios scores with a sloppy right hand. Mendes should have avoided that one.
Mendes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dios doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendes circles away.
Dios lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mendes backs up against the cage.
No joy there for Dios, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dios misses with a series of wild punches.
Dios looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Mendes blocks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes slips under a jab from Dios.
Mendes swinging wildly here.
Dios wants to clinch.
Dios misses with a jab to the body
and Mendes counters with a stiff right hand.
Dios misses with a wild body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dios misses with a looping left.
A head kick misses from Mendes.
No joy there for Mendes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mendes thuds a left hand into Dios's body.
Mendes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dios scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Dios takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Dios swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dios takes a swing at Mendes's ribcage but misses.
Dios moves out of range of the body kick.
Dios swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dios connects with a body shot.
Dios tries to clinch up.
Dios misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mendes misses with a few strikes there.
Dios with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mendes looks to land a combination but Dios avoids it well.
Dios looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mendes is fending him off so far but Dios persists. Nope, Mendes circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Via Dios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dios will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dios is breathing heavily.
No joy there for Dios, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dios has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A combination from Mendes does no damage.
Omar Mendes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dios throws a sloppy body shot
and Mendes counters with a nice uppercut.
Mendes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Dios backs up against the cage.
Dios falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mendes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mendes throws a head kick that Dios semi-blocks.
Dios will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mendes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mendes's corner calls for a 1-2. Mendes obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Mendes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mendes slaps away a takedown attempt from Dios, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dios dodges the punch combination from Mendes.
A combination from Mendes does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Omar Mendes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Omar Mendes's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dios is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mendes.
No luck for Dios with that takedown attempt.
Mendes throws a right and a left that Dios avoids nicely.
Dios fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mendes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dios.
Via Dios is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mendes.
Mendes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Dios takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Dios shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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!
Dios trying to mount his opponent but Mendes defends it.
Dios is trying to control. Mendes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mendes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dios's guard.
Mendes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mendes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Via Dios wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Dios slips a jab and a cross from Mendes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dios swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Omar Mendes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dios lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mendes circles away quickly and effectively.
Mendes keeps the fight on the outside.
Dios fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mendes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dios.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Via Dios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dios swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mendes counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dios throws a hook to the side of Mendes's head but Mendes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dios throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendes scores with a three punch combo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dios throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mendes counters with a head kick.
Dios takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Mendes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Dios.

Dios is rocked!
Mendes swinging wildly here.
Oh Dios is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dios throws a leg kick but Mendes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Dios seems to have got his legs back now.
Dios throws a jab when Mendes was well out of range.
Dios fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mendes has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Dios throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mendes counters with a three punch combo that has Dios backing up. Dios nods at Mendes to acknowledge the strikes.
Mendes punishes Dios's body with a nice straight punch.
Mendes takes a jab right on the kisser.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dios.

Dios shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mendes's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dios tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendes is retaining full guard.
Mendes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mendes trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Dios is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendes pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes trying to control the action but Dios is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Omar Mendes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Mendes.
Mendes throws a right and a left that Dios avoids nicely.
Dios throws a head kick that misses.
Dios throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dios has a takedown stuffed.
Mendes is looking to land body kicks.
Mendes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dios looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Dios shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendes but Mendes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dios misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A jab from Mendes does it's job there.
Mendes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes dodges the punch combination from Dios.
Dios closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mendes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dios misses with a looping right.
Dios throws a jab but it's blocked by Mendes.
Mendes moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dios misses with a combination
and Mendes counters with a series of strikes. Dios will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dios looks to throw the jab but Mendes is out of range.
Mendes throws a series of strikes that have Dios backpedaling.
Dios misses with a looping left.
Dios fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mendes misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dios takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes lands a jab-cross combination.
Mendes feints a jab promting Dios to slip. Mendes then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Dios slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Mendes throws a body kick that misses.
Dios looks to land a combination. Mendes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Mendes stuns Dios with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Dios looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Dios tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mendes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dios misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mendes dodges the punch combination from Dios.
Dios misses with a hook to the body
and Mendes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Dios thinking.
Mendes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dios takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Mendes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dios misses the shot to the body.
Mendes lands a high kick!
Mendes shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Dios eats them both and turns towards Mendes to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Dios throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dios shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mendes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Via Dios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dios throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mendes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mendes lands a head kick!
Mendes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dios circles away quickly and effectively.
Dios misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes misses with a head kick.
Dios looks to land a combination but Mendes avoids it well.
Dios tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mendes was well out of range. Poor timing from Dios.
Omar Mendes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dios misses with an uppercut.
Mendes throws a head kick that misses.
Dios throws a poor cross that misses
and Mendes counters with a head kick. That will keep Dios thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Mendes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Via Dios has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendes dodges the punch combination from Dios.
Mendes delivers a nice body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes tries a head kick but it misses.
Dios throws a series of punches but Mendes avoids them all with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Omar Mendes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mendes 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Omar Mendes!
Omar Mendes decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.