PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fidel Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ante Gardasevic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gardasevic is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPUSG9feE6k. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Mendez
vs
Gardasevic

170 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158
Merciless Gladiators

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fidel Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ante Gardasevic!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mendez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mendez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Mendez trying to control from half guard but Gardasevic is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendez is pressing down on Gardasevic's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gardasevic is holding on for now.
Gardasevic pushes Mendez off looking to stand but Mendez dives back in and keeps control.
We've been hearing that Mendez has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Mendez trying to control from half guard but Gardasevic is working away.
Gardasevic has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Mendez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mendez is stalling here. Gardasevic is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Mendez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gardasevic has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Gardasevic easily slips into full mount!
Mendez is looking to improve his position but Gardasevic isn't that keen on the idea.
Mendez regains half guard.
Mendez pushes Gardasevic off looking to stand but Gardasevic dives back in and keeps control.
Mendez is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gardasevic is pressing down on Mendez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mendez is holding on for now.
Mendez trying to control but Gardasevic postures up.

Gardasevic decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez doesn't manage to clinch there - Gardasevic circles away.
Gardasevic throws a right hand that Mendez ducks under and follows up with a left that Mendez also avoids with ease.
Gardasevic misses with a two punch combination.

Mendez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mendez stalling away here and it's allowed Gardasevic to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendez preventing the sweep.
Mendez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mendez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants to pass the guard but Gardasevic is keeping the position.
Mendez connects with a couple of short punches.
Gardasevic is trying to control the position but Mendez postures up.
Mendez is in close to Gardasevic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gardasevic wants to sweep here but Mendez controlling him for the moment.
Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gardasevic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gardasevic has control of Mendez's left arm, preventing Mendez from doing any damage.
Gardasevic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gardasevic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fidel Mendez.

Mendez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gardasevic is trying to stand up here but Mendez is controlling him well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendez throwing shots but Gardasevic is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fidel Mendez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mendez clinches with his opponent.
Mendez tries a knee to the head but Gardasevic blocks it.
Mendez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gardasevic wants to stall.
Gardasevic is trying to break the clinch but Mendez is controlling him.
Gardasevic blocks an elbow strike.
Gardasevic blocks an uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mendez obliges.
Mendez throws a punch but it's blocked by Gardasevic.
Mendez throws an elbow that misses.

Gardasevic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mendez throws a body punch but Gardasevic moves out of range.
Mendez is looking to clinch.

Mendez pushes Gardasevic up against the cage in a clinch.
Mendez misses with a punch on the inside.
Mendez misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gardasevic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Gardasevic.
Gardasevic with a nice cross.

Mendez drives through with a takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gardasevic holds on and takes a little breather.
Mendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gardasevic is keeping the position for now.
Mendez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mendez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is in close to Gardasevic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mendez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gardasevic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mendez swivels and escapes.
Gardasevic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gardasevic throws a lazy uppercut
and Mendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gardasevic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mendez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Mendez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gardasevic manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mendez trying to control but Gardasevic is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Gardasevic is retaining full guard.
Mendez stands up over Gardasevic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gardasevic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mendez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mendez throws a big elbow that misses.
Mendez trying to control but Gardasevic is working from the bottom.
Mendez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardasevic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mendez controls the pace.
Mendez trying to control but Gardasevic is working from the bottom.
Fidel Mendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mendez chips away with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mendez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fidel Mendez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Mendez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gardasevic sprawls well initially but Mendez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gardasevic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mendez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gardasevic taking some punishment here, with Mendez in his half guard.
Mendez lands strikes from half guard.
Still in half guard, Mendez seems content to control.
Mendez is trying to control the action in half guard but Gardasevic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mendez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gardasevic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mendez is trying to control. Gardasevic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mendez trying to control the pace.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mendez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gardasevic can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez with the ground and pound but Gardasevic uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Mendez trying to control but Gardasevic is working from the bottom.
Mendez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mendez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gardasevic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mendez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up because Fidel Mendez just wasn't active enough.
Gardasevic loads up on a big right hand but Mendez slips the punch.
Gardasevic missing with a left hand there. Mendez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Mendez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mendez staying calm.
Gardasevic struggling a bit here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gardasevic regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mendez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mendez wants to control but Gardasevic is keeping him busy.
Gardasevic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendez.
Gardasevic works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gardasevic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardasevic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mendez.

Gardasevic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ante Gardasevic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendez throwing strikes but missing.
Mendez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gardasevic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gardasevic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendez is one step ahead there.
Fidel Mendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendez controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fidel Mendez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mendez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fidel Mendez!
After winning the bout, Fidel Mendez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.