PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Efren Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sorge Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sorge Mendes has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Efren Baird's chin.

Baird
vs
Mendes

176 cm
24
141 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Efren Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sorge Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baird, pushing him back against the cage.
Baird prevents a body shot from Mendes.
Baird can't get the takedown.

Baird pulls guard effortlessly.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Mendes is looking to work some ground and pound but Baird has wrist control.
Mendes landing with the ground and pound.

Baird is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Mendes presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Mendes misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mendes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Baird is working for takedown but Mendes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Baird is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mendes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efren Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Baird breaks from the clinch.
Mendes wants to clinch but Baird slips to the side
and Baird counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes closes the distance but Baird moves to the side

and Baird holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mendes working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mendes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Baird blocks an uppercut.
Mendes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Mendes fails to land.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Baird blocks an uppercut.
Baird lands with a left to the head.
Mendes tries to work over Baird's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendes taking a breather.
Mendes throws a punch but it's blocked by Baird.
Baird is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mendes is defending well.
Mendes trying to stall but Baird improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Baird or not.
Mendes tries to throw a body punch but Baird avoids it by throwing Mendes back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Mendes fails to land.
Baird blocking some punches.
Baird blocks a body shot from Mendes.

Baird breaks from the clinch.
Baird circles away from the clinch attempt

and Baird holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mendes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Baird can't get the takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Baird has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mendes after a bit of a struggle.

Baird manages to break the clinch.
Mendes doesn't manage to clinch there - Baird circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Baird counters by moving into the clinch.
Mendes is trying to stall.

Baird manages to break the clinch.
Mendes tries to clinch there but Baird circles away.

Mendes rushes Baird and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baird fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mendes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mendes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mendes pushes Baird back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mendes lands a body punch.
Mendes misses with some punches.
Mendes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mendes misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is trying to break the clinch but Baird is controlling him.
Mendes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Baird keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mendes's efforts to push away.
Mendes misses with some punches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Baird.
Mendes misses with a punch on the inside.
Mendes misses with an elbow strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mendes is looking to break free of the clinch but Baird has double underhooks.
Mendes tries to throw a body punch but Baird avoids it by throwing Mendes back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Baird will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mendes up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sorge Mendes dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mendes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Baird counters with a series of strikes. Mendes will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mendes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baird closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mendes circles away.
Mendes moves to clinch but Baird breaks away
and Baird counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mendes thinking.
Mendes wants to clinch but Baird slips to the side

and Baird counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Baird.
Baird tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mendes smiles and moves away.
Baird circles away from the clinch attempt

and Baird holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mendes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Baird has Mendes pressed against the cage, preventing Mendes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Baird blocks an uppercut.
Sorge Mendes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes wants to stall.
Baird blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mendes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mendes misses with a punch to the body.
Baird is trying to pull guard but Mendes has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efren Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baird prevents a body shot from Mendes.
Mendes struggles to land a body shot inside as Baird controls his hands.
Baird jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mendes walks away with a smile on his face. Baird gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mendes tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Baird moves into the clinch.

Baird jumps guard.
Mendes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mendes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Baird keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baird is keeping the position for now.
Baird throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Baird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sorge Mendes has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Baird moves into the clinch.
Baird has Mendes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mendes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice left hand lands by Mendes.
Mendes being controlled against the cage.
Mendes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mendes throws a punch but it's blocked by Baird.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Baird using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mendes misses with a body punch.

Baird pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendes tries to clinch but Baird moves away
and Baird counters with a leg kick.
Mendes closes the distance but Baird moves to the side

and Baird counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Baird.
Mendes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Baird keeps control of Mendes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mendes misses with some punches.
Baird drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendes is trying to break free.
Baird is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mendes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries a body shot but Baird blocks it.
Mendes wants to stall.
Mendes has a couple of punches blocked by Baird.
Baird looking for a takedown.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Baird as Mendes tries to tie him up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mendes.
Mendes throws a head punch that misses.
Baird jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mendes walks away with a smile on his face. Baird gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Baird misses with a kick to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baird goes for a double leg but Mendes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mendes continues to drive forward.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Mendes.
Mendes stalling in the clinch but Baird improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sorge Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Baird fails to land the takedown.
Mendes wants to clinch

and Baird counters by clinching up.
Mendes has a couple of punches blocked by Baird.
Mendes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Baird is keeping busy.
Mendes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Baird.
Baird blocking some punches.
Mendes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mendes lands a shot to the body.
Mendes throws a head punch that misses.
Mendes working hard to break the clinch.
Baird prevents a body shot from Mendes.
Mendes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mendes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efren Baird. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baird tries a knee to the head but Mendes blocks it.
Baird drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mendes pulls his leg out and moves away.
Efren Baird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendes closes the distance looking to clinch

and Baird holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mendes tries to circle away but Baird has him pinned against the cage.

Baird's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mendes wants to clinch but Baird slips to the side

and Baird holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mendes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Baird jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mendes walks away with a smile on his face. Baird gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Baird closes the distance and clinches up with Mendes, looking for a takedown. Baird pushes Mendes against the cage but Mendes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendes tries to clinch but Baird moves out of range.
Mendes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Baird counters with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes looks to clinch
and Baird counters with a solid body kick.
Mendes moves to clinch but Baird breaks away

and Baird moves into the clinch.
Mendes trying to control the position but instead, Baird has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mendes into the cage.
Baird tries to work over Mendes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendes tries a body shot but Baird blocks it.
Mendes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Baird pulls his leg out and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mendes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes swats away the attempt to clinch by Baird.
Mendes tries to clinch
and Baird makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mendes tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Baird counters with a nice body shot.
Mendes wants to clinch

and Baird counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Baird stalls.
Baird blocks a body shot from Mendes.
Mendes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mendes wants to break free but Baird has control.
Mendes wants to get back to striking at distance but Baird won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baird.
Baird drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mendes pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Baird manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mendes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Baird sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mendes somewhat.
Mendes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mendes looks to clinch
and Baird counters with a big head kick but Mendes shrugs it off.
Baird tries to land a front kick but Mendes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mendes wants to clinch but Baird slips to the side

and Baird holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Baird looking for a takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee calls for Baird to work.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baird.
Efren Baird has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sorge Mendes.
Well Mendes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sorge Mendes!