PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ishikaze Washiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filipe Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Washiri
vs
Mendes

185 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
190 lbs
8 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ishikaze Washiri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Filipe Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mendes has a takedown stuffed.

Washiri shoots in and bounces Mendes off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Washiri avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Washiri throws and elbow that misses. Mendes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Washiri's guard. Nice move by Mendes!
Washiri is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Mendes stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mendes has his takedown stuffed

and Washiri counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Washiri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendes, not yet.
Washiri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Washiri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Washiri wants to get up but he can't break Mendes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Washiri from controlling successfully.
Mendes trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
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.
Washiri gets full guard.
Washiri is pulling down on Mendes's head to control his posture.
Washiri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Mendes won't allow Washiri to get back to his feet.
Washiri is breathing heavily.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Washiri keeps moving.
Mendes passes Washiri's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Washiri looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mendes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mendes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Mendes is thwarting Washiri's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Washiri does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Washiri is looking to control Mendes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Washiri avoid being mounted?
Washiri is looking to escape.
Washiri tries to roll over but Mendes keeps him under control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mendes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Washiri looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Washiri from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is trying to keep Washiri in close.
Washiri slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Mendes.
Washiri stops Mendes from getting back to his feet.

Mendes is defending against the submission attempts here by Washiri.

Washiri is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mendes is just riding it out for now. Washiri eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mendes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Washiri misses with a takedown

and Mendes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Washiri keeps moving.
Washiri is pulling down on Mendes's head to control his posture.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Washiri working a defensive guard but Mendes passes into half guard.
Washiri tries to roll over but Mendes keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Washiri doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mendes.
Washiri wants to control the action here but instead Mendes manages to pass to full mount!
Washiri keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Washiri sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Washiri is not content to let Mendes control the position.
Washiri trying to hold on to Mendes's head to control him but Mendes postures up.
Washiri is trying to stand.
Washiri is refusing to be controlled, as Mendes sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washiri trying to hold on to Mendes's head to control him but Mendes postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Mendes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Washiri is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mendes has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Mendes controls the position from side control.
Filipe Mendes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Washiri is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Mendes is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendes working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Washiri keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mendes looking to control but Washiri is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Washiri tries to hold on but Mendes postures up.

Mendes looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filipe Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Washiri clinches up against the cage.

Washiri breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Filipe Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Washiri has his takedown stuffed

and Mendes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Mendes lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mendes controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Washiri wants to get back to full guard.
Mendes controlling the pace.
Mendes prevents Washiri from standing back up.
Mendes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washiri makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Washiri.
Washiri is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Washiri is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Mendes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Washiri working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mendes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mendes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mendes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mendes sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Washiri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Mendes gets to his feet. Washiri looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Mendes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mendes in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Washiri wants to control but Mendes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washiri is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Washiri's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Washiri is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mendes working the ground and pound from side control.
Washiri tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mendes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Washiri wants to control but Mendes postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mendes gets caught flat footed, as Washiri shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Washiri gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washiri tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mendes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mendes.
Washiri looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendes is one step ahead there.
Mendes postures up.
Mendes landing some decent shots from guard.
Washiri is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Mendes gets to his feet. Washiri looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Filipe Mendes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mendes 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

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