PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tomek Faza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carter Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carter Mendoza is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Faza
vs
Mendoza

179 cm
24
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tomek Faza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carter Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faza shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mendoza defends it nicely.
Mendoza misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Mendoza gets caught napping as Faza dives in and scores a takedown. Mendoza manages to retain guard.
Faza throws an elbow that misses. Mendoza uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Faza's guard. Nice move by Mendoza!

Mendoza tries to stand but Faza is controlling from the bottom.
Faza is trying to control the position but Mendoza postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Faza is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Faza avoiding damage as Mendoza throws knees to the body.
Mendoza working Faza over with knees to the body.
Faza is trying to drag Mendoza to the mat but Mendoza just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Mendoza jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faza trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mendoza's guard.
Mendoza trying to keep a closed guard but Faza is proving a slippery customer.
Mendoza keeping moving, preventing Faza from controlling successfully.
Mendoza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Faza wants to get up but he can't break Mendoza's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Faza trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendoza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Faza throws a big elbow that misses.
Mendoza trying to keep a closed guard but Faza is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendoza stuffs the takedown attempt from Faza. Faza gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomek Faza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendoza doesn't manage to clinch there - Faza circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mendoza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mendoza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mendoza throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Faza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Mendoza moves into the clinch.

Mendoza jumps guard and drags Faza to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Faza throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendoza 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.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Faza throwing strikes from guard but Mendoza blocks nicely.
Faza connects with a couple of short punches.

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

Mendoza throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza tries to advance to mount but Faza denies him.
Faza tries to bench press Mendoza off him but Mendoza keeps the position.
Mendoza throws a strike aimed at the side of Faza's head but Faza avoids it well.
Faza is not content to let Mendoza control the position.
Mendoza misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
What's Faza going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Faza is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Mendoza decides to stand back up. Mendoza steps back and let's Faza get back to his feet.
Mendoza scores with a nice body kick.
Mendoza misses with a wild combination.
Mendoza throws a left and a right that both miss

and Faza decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mendoza's guard.
Faza is breathing heavily.
Faza is looking to stand up but Mendoza won't let him.
Faza trying to control but Mendoza is working from the bottom.
Faza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mendoza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Faza preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Mendoza dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mendoza pushes Faza up against the cage in a clinch.
Mendoza lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mendoza prevents the takedown attempt.

Faza has Mendoza pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Faza pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mendoza tumbling to the mat - Faza dives into Mendoza's guard.
Faza is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendoza has wrist control.
Mendoza throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mendoza wants to stand up but Faza is controlling him.
Faza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faza chips away with some ground and pound.

Faza decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Carter Mendoza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faza slips a jab and a cross from Mendoza.
Faza tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mendoza defends well and Faza ends up having to push Mendoza into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendoza turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mendoza manages to end up in side control.
Mendoza scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Faza to see if he's OK.

Mendoza decides to stand up, so the ref orders Faza to his feet.
Faza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Faza takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Mendoza shoots in but Faza avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Mendoza gets a takedown into half guard.

Faza is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mendoza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Faza is just riding it out for now. Mendoza eventually gives up the hold.

Faza manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faza fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomek Faza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendoza throws a head kick that misses.
Tomek Faza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Faza fails to land the takedown.
Mendoza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Faza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mendoza is trying to maintain the position but Faza is very close to passing his half guard.
Faza wants to stand up but Mendoza has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Mendoza throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faza working over Mendoza with some ground and pound. Mendoza looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mendoza tries to kick Faza off but Faza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Faza is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mendoza is looking to improve his position.
Faza working the head and body with strikes.
Faza trying to advance position but Mendoza counters by regaining guard.

Mendoza looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Faza working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mendoza's head.
Mendoza keeping moving, preventing Faza from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faza postures up in Mendoza's guard and throws a big left but Mendoza blocks it.
Faza scoring with some ground and pound.
Mendoza trying to control the position here.
Mendoza wants to get back to his feet but Faza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Faza looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mendoza keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Faza thows a huge punch but Mendoza dodges it nicely.
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 Tomek Faza 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. This is the final round!

Faza throws a combination. Mendoza tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Faza circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mendoza clinches.
Mendoza can't get the takedown.
Faza wants to take the fight to the mat but Mendoza manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mendoza lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mendoza jumps guard but Faza turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Faza is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mendoza pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mendoza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Faza blocks it with crossed arms.

Faza works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Mendoza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faza is one step ahead there.
Faza trying to control but Mendoza is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faza stops Mendoza from standing up.
Tomek Faza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mendoza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendoza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Faza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Faza wants to stand and escape but instead Mendoza has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Mendoza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Faza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Faza pushes Mendoza off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Faza fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mendoza sprawls well initially but Faza persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mendoza taking some punishment here, with Faza in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Faza.
Faza has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza pushes Faza off looking to stand but Faza dives back in and keeps control.

Faza looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mendoza trying to control here.
Mendoza is trying to control but Faza passes into side control!

Faza tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Faza has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza tries to buck Faza off but Faza is having none of it.
Faza scores with a couple of short elbows.
Mendoza is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Faza lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Faza scores with punches from side control.
Faza landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Faza is putting a hurting on Mendoza here, landing some big shots from side control.
Faza passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Mendoza!
Faza raining down shots from the mount!

Mendoza is rocked!
Faza lands a nice shot to the head.
Mendoza is still in real trouble! Can Faza finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faza blocks Mendoza's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Faza is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mendoza can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Mendoza is wriggling around trying to escape.
Faza postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Mendoza in real trouble here! The ref calls for Mendoza to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tomek Faza!