PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Omer Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mendez
vs
Ferguson

183 cm
24
279 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Omer Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Melvin Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Dean Styles and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendez lands a nice shot that snaps Ferguson's head back.
Mendez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mendez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mendez tries to clinch up.
Mendez shoots in but Ferguson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ferguson tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ferguson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ferguson throws a head kick that misses
and Mendez counters with a straight right hand.
Ferguson moves to clinch but Mendez breaks away
and Mendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ferguson looks to clinch
enabling Mendez to counter with a crisp jab.
Ferguson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ferguson slaps away a takedown attempt from Mendez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ferguson circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson tries for a takedown but Mendez circles away easily
and Mendez counters with a stiff right hand.

Mendez scores with a takedown into Ferguson's guard.
Mendez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Mendez gets to his feet. Ferguson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A swing and a miss from Mendez.

Ferguson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ferguson lands in his opponent's guard.
Ferguson wants to stand but Mendez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ferguson trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ferguson is now in half guard.
Ferguson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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!
Ferguson trying to control from Mendez's half guard. Mendez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ferguson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mendez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ferguson wants to pass the guard but Mendez is keeping the position.
Mendez wants to control but Ferguson passes easily into half guard.
Ferguson is pressing down on Mendez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mendez is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mendez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ferguson wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ferguson stalling away here and it's allowed Mendez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ferguson stopping the sweep attempt from Mendez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Omer Mendez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mendez wants to clinch but Ferguson slips to the side
and Ferguson counters with a series of strikes. Mendez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Melvin Ferguson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendez wants to clinch up but Ferguson keeps it at a distance.
No luck for Ferguson with that takedown attempt.
Ferguson throws a nice looking combination but Mendez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ferguson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ferguson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ferguson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ferguson misses with a takedown attempt - Mendez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A punch lands to the side of Ferguson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Mendez slips a straight right by Ferguson.
Ferguson shoots in for a double leg but Mendez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Omer Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melvin Ferguson.
Ferguson shoots in for a takedown but Mendez shows good takedown defense.
Ferguson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mendez counters with a nice body shot.
Ferguson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Mendez misses.
Mendez blocks a head kick by Ferguson.
Mendez is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ferguson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mendez counters with a straight right hand.

Ferguson has Mendez up against the cage in a clinch.
Mendez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ferguson walks away with a smile on his face. Mendez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Mendez forces Ferguson back against the cage and clinches.
Mendez trying to land knees to the body.
Ferguson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mendez has him pressed against the cage.
Ferguson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Mendez gets control of Ferguson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mendez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ferguson trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
Mendez trying to keep a closed guard but Ferguson is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ferguson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ferguson darts in looking for a takedown but Mendez gets double underhooks and turns Ferguson into the cage.

Mendez gets control of Ferguson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mendez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mendez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mendez uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson with a poor takedown
and Mendez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ferguson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ferguson is looking to clinch.

Mendez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ferguson to the ground. Mendez is now in Ferguson's guard.
Mendez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mendez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Mendez stands up from Ferguson's guard - Mendez perhaps looking for a knockout.

Mendez closes the distance and pushes Ferguson back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mendez can't find room to land a body shot as Ferguson controls the action.
Mendez is looking to take this one to the mat.
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!
Mendez taking a breather.
Ferguson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ferguson fails to pull guard.

Ferguson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mendez dives in and grabs Ferguson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ferguson pushes down on Mendez's head and hops out.

Mendez gets caught flat footed, as Ferguson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ferguson wants to stand but Mendez is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ferguson looking to sit in guard and control but Mendez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Omer Mendez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Mendez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ferguson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Ferguson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mendez to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Mendez gets to his feet. Ferguson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ferguson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ferguson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mendez.
Mendez is looking to clinch.

Mendez moves into the clinch.
Mendez tries to work over Ferguson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ferguson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Ferguson pulls Mendez into guard.
Mendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ferguson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ferguson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mendez.
Ferguson looking to control.
Mendez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ferguson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ferguson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ferguson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mendez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ferguson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mendez, into his guard.
Ferguson stands and throws Mendez's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson is looking to take a break and control but Mendez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A control attempt from Mendez but he's now mounted!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson throwing strikes but Mendez recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Ferguson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendez keeps working.
Ferguson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries to pass to full mount but Mendez defends it.

Mendez actively working from the bottom here.
Mendez is refusing to be controlled, as Ferguson sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Omer Mendez.
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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Omer Mendez!