PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Steve McQueen. Paniikki has chosen N'sync - Bye Bye Bye as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Pelle Paniikki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mendes
vs
Paniikki

170 cm
36
110 lbs
38 - 20 - 0

165 cm
36
155 lbs
21 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniikki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mendes stuns Paniikki with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Paniikki tries for a takedown but Mendes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Paniikki has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt.

Mendes gets caught napping as Paniikki dives in and scores a takedown. Mendes manages to retain guard.

Paniikki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Paniikki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Paniikki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mendes dives on top into guard.

Paniikki isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Mendes stacks Paniikki on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Mendes!
Paniikki is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki sneaks back into half guard.

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.
Paniikki tries to get to full guard but Mendes has control of the leg.

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.

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.
Paniikki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mendes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Paniikki on the ground.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.
Mendes tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Paniikki.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendes pulls his head out easily.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.
Mendes wants to stand up but Paniikki is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mendes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Paniikki.
Paniikki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mendes.
Mendes throws a jab but it's blocked by Paniikki.
Mendes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four 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.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Paniikki is defended easily by Mendes.
Chad Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
A clash of legs there as Paniikki blocks the low kick.
Mendes misses with an uppercut.

Paniikki shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Paniikki showed some decent athleticism there.
Mendes wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Paniikki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paniikki wants to free his trapped foot but Mendes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
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 Chad Mendes will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mendes misses with a body punch
and Paniikki counters with a nice uppercut.

Paniikki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Paniikki lands in his opponent's guard.
Paniikki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paniikki stops Mendes from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paniikki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mendes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mendes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mendes!

Paniikki tries to buck Mendes off but Mendes is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki looks to move to half guard but instead Mendes has passed into mount! Damn!
Paniikki tries to reverse the position but Mendes maintains control.
Mendes is looking to stand but Mendes has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Paniikki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Paniikki gets back to half guard.
Pelle Paniikki has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paniikki.

Paniikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Paniikki wants to sweep here but Mendes controlling him for the moment.
Mendes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki 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.

Paniikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mendes wants to stand and escape but instead Paniikki has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Paniikki is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mendes is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mendes has escaped and now he's on top!

Paniikki looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Mendes has picked Paniikki up and slammed him! Paniikki can't keep hold of the triangle and Mendes manages to pass to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Paniikki looks to move to half guard but instead Mendes has passed into mount! Damn!
Paniikki is trying desperately to improve position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pelle Paniikki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Mendes.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendes but Mendes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Paniikki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mendes lands the left hand.
Mendes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Paniikki with that takedown attempt.
Chad Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Paniikki.
Paniikki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mendes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mendes slaps away a takedown attempt from Paniikki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Paniikki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mendes tries to avoid it but Paniikki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mendes to the ground. Mendes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paniikki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes stuns Paniikki with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Paniikki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Paniikki there as he acknowledges the shot.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown but Mendes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Chad Mendes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendes fails to land with a series of punches.
Mendes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Paniikki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Mendes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Paniikki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mendes scores with a jab to the body.
Mendes looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Paniikki takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Paniikki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mendes swivels and escapes.

Mendes has closed the distance and engaged Paniikki in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paniikki is trying to pull guard but Mendes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mendes has Paniikki pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mendes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Paniikki jumps guard but Mendes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A shot in the inside from Mendes.
Paniikki is trying to pull guard but Mendes has him pressed against the cage.
Mendes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A right handed body shot lands from Mendes.
Paniikki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mendes effectively controlling the action here.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mendes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mendes misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mendes content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mendes.
Mendes is working Paniikki over against the cage.

Mendes manages to break the clinch.
Paniikki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mendes avoids it really well and circles away.

Mendes clinches with his opponent.
Paniikki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mendes walks away with a smile on his face. Paniikki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Paniikki shoots in looking for a takedown. Mendes tries to sprawl out of it but Paniikki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mendes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mendes throws an overhand right that lands on Paniikki's shoulder, as Paniikki tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki defending well as Mendes loads up on a big left hand.
Paniikki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Paniikki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Paniikki shoots in and drives through. Mendes sprawls well.
Mendes swings for the body but Paniikki moves out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Paniikki or perhaps it was just good defense by Mendes, which made it look bad.
Mendes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mendes loads up on a big right hand but Paniikki slips the punch.
Chad Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paniikki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mendes's waist but Mendes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Paniikki off to one side.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Mendes here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Paniikki fails with a takedown attempt.
Paniikki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes dips to his left and cracks Paniikki with an uppercut!
Mendes throws a right hand that misses

and Paniikki counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Mendes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mendes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Mendes!
Chad Mendes took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Namunamu Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.