PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Pinaglabanan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Mendez (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.

Pinaglabanan
vs
Mendez

171 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Pinaglabanan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pinaglabanan throws a head kick but Mendez moves out of range.

Pinaglabanan gets a takedown into half guard.
Pinaglabanan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Mendez looking for submissions off his back.
Pinaglabanan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mendez defending well though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mendez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pinaglabanan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mendez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pinaglabanan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinaglabanan postures up and lands a big shot to Mendez's brow.
Mendez is trying to keep Pinaglabanan in close.
Pinaglabanan lands a couple of digs.
Mendez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pinaglabanan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mendez working a defensive guard here.
Pinaglabanan stopping the sweep attempt from Mendez.
Pinaglabanan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinaglabanan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pinaglabanan won't allow Mendez to sweep him here.
Mendez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Mendez has his foot on Pinaglabanan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pinaglabanan works his way back into a safe position though.
Pinaglabanan works over Mendez with some ground and pound from guard.
Pinaglabanan distracts Mendez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pinaglabanan throws a big right hand that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pinaglabanan is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendez has wrist control.
Pinaglabanan postures up.
Mendez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Pinaglabanan haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinaglabanan's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pinaglabanan throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pinaglabanan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendez is keeping the position for now.
Pinaglabanan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mendez's head.
Pinaglabanan is stalling in the full guard.
Mendez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pinaglabanan preventing the sweep.
Pinaglabanan 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pinaglabanan misses with a body shot.
Pinaglabanan loads up on a big right hand but Mendez slips the punch.
Pinaglabanan just misses with a punch to the body.
Pinaglabanan tries a head kick but it misses.

Pinaglabanan shoots in and gets a takedown into Mendez's guard.
Mendez looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pinaglabanan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendez working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Pinaglabanan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pinaglabanan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mendez is trying to control but can't.
Mendez wants to improve his position but Pinaglabanan is controlling well.
Pinaglabanan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Mendez is pressing down on Pinaglabanan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mendez looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinaglabanan lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Pinaglabanan from controlling successfully.
John Pinaglabanan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pinaglabanan throws a strike but Mendez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pinaglabanan keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.
Mendez wants to pass the guard but Pinaglabanan is keeping the position.
Pinaglabanan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Pinaglabanan keeps moving.
Pinaglabanan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pinaglabanan tries to get out of the position.

Mendez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Pinaglabanan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Pinaglabanan has escaped and now he's on top!
Mendez working a defensive guard here.
Mendez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pinaglabanan controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinaglabanan trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
Pinaglabanan lands a couple of digs.
Pinaglabanan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pinaglabanan is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendez has wrist control.
Pinaglabanan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pinaglabanan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pinaglabanan trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Mendez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Mendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pinaglabanan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mendez trying to control but Pinaglabanan is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendez passes into half guard.
Mendez is pressing down on Pinaglabanan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pinaglabanan is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Pinaglabanan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mendez blocks a head kick by Pinaglabanan.
Pinaglabanan looks for the body kick but Mendez saw that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pinaglabanan. Mendez does a little dance to reset his feet.

Pinaglabanan looking to score a takedown here. Mendez is defending well but Pinaglabanan drives through and ends up in Mendez's guard.
Mendez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pinaglabanan is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pinaglabanan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pinaglabanan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mendez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pinaglabanan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mendez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mendez wants to control the position but Pinaglabanan says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pinaglabanan in particular looking to stall.
Mendez wants to get back to full guard but Pinaglabanan has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinaglabanan controlling from side mount.
Mendez is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Pinaglabanan scores with a couple of short elbows.
Mendez takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Pinaglabanan working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendez is being controlled here.
Mendez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants to control but Pinaglabanan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Pinaglabanan there.
Mendez is looking to improve his position.
Pinaglabanan wants to take a breather but Mendez is having none of it.
Pinaglabanan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pinaglabanan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mendez wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pinaglabanan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Mendez trying to control from the bottom.
Pinaglabanan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mendez regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Pinaglabanan.
Pinaglabanan is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendez has wrist control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mendez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Robert Mendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Pinaglabanan from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Pinaglabanan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pinaglabanan 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for John Pinaglabanan!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for John Pinaglabanan!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for John Pinaglabanan!

John Pinaglabanan wins by unanimous decision!