PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Jorge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jorge comes to the cage accompanied by Back in black. 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.

Jorge
vs
Mendes

170 cm
39
163 lbs
27 - 23 - 1

180 cm
23
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 23 - 1, fighting out of London, James Jorge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricardo Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jorge dives in and scores a takedown into Mendes's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mendes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jorge has passed into side control.
Mendes is looking for a sweep.
Mendes is trying to control Jorge's posture but Jorge avoids it.
Mendes is not content to let Jorge control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendes tries to bench press Jorge off him but Jorge keeps the position.
Jorge looks up at the clock and then as Mendes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Jorge smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Jorge cracks Mendes with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Jorge looks up at the clock and then as Mendes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Jorge smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jorge wants to control but Mendes is keeping him busy.
Jorge controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jorge in side control lands a decent elbow.
Mendes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jorge wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mendes managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Jorge.
Jorge lands a nice forearm strike.
Jorge landing strikes.

Jorge tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Jorge looks up at the clock and then as Mendes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Jorge smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mendes manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jorge throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mendes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mendes trying to keep a closed guard but Jorge is proving a slippery customer.
Jorge trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mendes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Jorge passes into side control.
Mendes looks to move to half guard but instead Jorge has passed into mount! Damn!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Jorge fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Jorge prevents Mendes from getting the reversal.
Jorge postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mendes looks a forlorn figure.
Mendes gets back to half guard.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mendes wants to stand back up but Jorge manages to pass into side control.
Mendes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jorge wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mendes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
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!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jorge controlling the position.
Jorge working the body and head with strikes.
Mendes manages to get back to half guard.
Mendes wants to get back to full guard but Jorge has passed into side control.
Jorge cracks Mendes with a big right hand but Mendes just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jorge landing strikes.
Jorge lands a nice forearm strike.
Mendes is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mendes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jorge's guard.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Jorge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendes looking to sit in guard and control but Jorge gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mendes is trying to keep Jorge in close.

Mendes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jorge can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
James Jorge overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jorge is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mendes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mendes is trying to keep Jorge in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jorge scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jorge seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jorge won't allow Mendes to sweep him here.

Jorge avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jorge with a nice head shot there.
Jorge wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Mendes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jorge is one step ahead there.

Mendes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jorge defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jorge postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jorge is in close to Mendes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Jorge tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendes is retaining full guard.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Jorge from controlling successfully.
Mendes wants to sweep but no luck.
Mendes wants to hit a switch here but Jorge passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Mendes there!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jorge prevents Mendes from getting the reversal.
Jorge lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Jorge is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mendes can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jorge is landing with some decent strikes but Mendes is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mendes is looking to get to half guard.
Jorge trying to control but Mendes is having none of it.
Jorge takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jorge landing strikes, looking to finish!
Mendes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mendes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Jorge cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mendes swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Jorge can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mendes is looking to escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jorge fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Jorge trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jorge fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Jorge controlling the pace for now.
Jorge avoids the attempt from Mendes to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jorge controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Jorge dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mendes works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Mendes slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jorge scores with a one two! Mendes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Jorge misses with a few strikes there.
Ricardo Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jorge fails with a takedown attempt.
Mendes misses with a hook to the body
and Jorge connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jorge darts in looking for a takedown but Mendes gets double underhooks and turns Jorge into the cage.
Jorge is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Jorge jumps into guard, dragging Mendes to the mat.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Jorge keeps moving.
Jorge wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Jorge wants to sweep here but Mendes controlling him for the moment.

Mendes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jorge looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jorge looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jorge!
Mendes tries to bench press Jorge off him but Jorge keeps the position.
Jorge moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Jorge thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jorge landing a few strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jorge is looking to take a break and control but Mendes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jorge lands a nice forearm strike.
Mendes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Jorge off and has taken his back!
You can see the frustration on Jorge's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Mendes tightening his grip on Jorge, looking for the choke.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mendes is looking for a rear naked choke here but Jorge reverses the position brilliantly into Mendes's guard!
Jorge lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mendes looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendes, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jorge keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mendes's head.
Jorge loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jorge is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jorge trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jorge stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jorge trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
James Jorge is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jorge postures up and lands a big shot to Mendes's brow.
Jorge trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.

Mendes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jorge defends it easily.
Ricardo Mendes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jorge slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Jorge is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mendes wants to sweep but no luck.

Mendes has his foot on Jorge's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jorge works his way back into a safe position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jorge has passed into side control.
Jorge is looking to take a break and control but Mendes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Jorge showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jorge 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Jorge!
James Jorge thanked the fans post fight for their support.