PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Braddick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mendez
vs
Braddick

180 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, BJ Braddick!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Braddick punishes Mendez's body with a nice straight punch.
No luck for Braddick with that takedown attempt.
Mendez blocks a head kick by Braddick.
Braddick fails with an attempt to clinch.
Braddick closes the distance but Mendez moves to the side

and Mendez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mendez.

Mendez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Braddick throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Braddick slaps away a takedown attempt from Mendez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Braddick with a jab.
Mendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Braddick sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mendez somewhat.
Braddick dodges the punch combination from Mendez.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Braddick fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Braddick tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Mendez counters with a takedown into side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Mendez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mendez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Braddick swivels and escapes.
Mendez throws a head kick but Braddick moves out of range.
Braddick tries to clinch up.
Mendez moves out of range of the body kick from Braddick.
Braddick walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mendez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Braddick motions for Mendez to come forward. Braddick throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Braddick tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mendez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Braddick fails in his attempt to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Braddick misses with an attempted mid kick.
Braddick missing with a left hand there. Mendez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Braddick throws a front kick aimed at Mendez's knee but Mendez avoids it well.
Mendez closes the distance and clinches up with Braddick, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes Braddick against the cage but Braddick circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Braddick throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but Braddick shows good takedown defense.
Mendez is breathing heavily.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sloppy strikes from Braddick. Those never looked like landing.
A clash of legs there as Mendez blocks the low kick.
Braddick moves to clinch but Mendez breaks away

and Mendez counters with a shoot takedown. Braddick fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mendez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Braddick for as long as he can get away with.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Thiago Mendez just wasn't active enough.
Braddick stuffs the takedown attempt from Mendez. Mendez gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez misses with a two punch combination.
Mendez lands a jab to Braddick's midsection.
Braddick shoots for a double leg takedown but Mendez sprawls well. He's pushed Braddick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Braddick thows a body shot but no joy.
Mendez throws a sloppy head kick and Braddick moves out of range easily.
Mendez tries to land a leg kick but Braddick saw it coming and moves away.

Mendez moves into the clinch successfully.
Mendez lands a body shot in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendez tries to score a body lock takedown but Braddick shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Mendez breaks from the clinch.
Mendez shoots in and drives through. Braddick sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Mendez dominated that 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.

Mendez checks a leg kick nicely.
BJ Braddick seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Mendez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Braddick's guard.
Mendez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mendez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Braddick working a defensive guard here.
Mendez pushes down on Braddick's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Braddick won't allow Mendez to pass to mount.
Braddick is breathing heavily.
Braddick has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mendez is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendez throws a low kick but it's checked well by Braddick.
Thiago Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mendez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mendez landing strikes.
Braddick is letting Mendez control him for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Braddick looking for a sweep but Mendez has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Mendez is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Mendez extends the arm and Braddick is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thiago Mendez!