PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Hua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendes has chosen Steve McQueen as his entrance music. 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.

Hua
vs
Mendes

176 cm
39
155 lbs
25 - 14 - 1

170 cm
37
125 lbs
40 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
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 25 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xiao Hua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hua throws a right hand that Mendes ducks under and follows up with a left that Mendes also avoids with ease.
Mendes blocks a head kick by Hua.
A combination from Hua does no damage.
Hua misses with a head kick.
Hua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hua moves in looking to clinch but Mendes pushes him off.
Mendes cracks a nice hook into Hua's ribs.
Hua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hua tries a head kick but it misses.
Hua throws a hook but Mendes avoids it easily.
Hua throws a head kick but Mendes moves out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Mendes there.
Hua tries to clinch but Mendes is having none of it.
A jab from Mendes finds it's way through Hua's defenses.
Mendes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hua. Hua circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
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!
Mendes works over Hua's head and body with a nice combination.
Xiao Hua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mendes is defending well for now.
Hua swings wildly with an uppercut but Mendes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hua throws a punch but it's blocked by Mendes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes lands a shot to the body.
We've been hearing reports that Hua has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Hua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mendes avoids it.
Hua has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mendes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hua swings wildly with an uppercut but Mendes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hua goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mendes prevents it.
Mendes looking to slow down the pace here.
Mendes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Mendes breaks the clinch.
Mendes works Hua's body with a nice hook.
Mendes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No joy there for Hua, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hua throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hua works the jab nicely.
Hua throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hua tries to clinch but Mendes is having none of it.
Mendes scores with a punch to the head.
Hua looks to clinch
and Mendes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hua rushes Mendes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mendes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hua or not.
Hua makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Mendes.

Mendes manages to break the clinch.
Hua misses with a series of wild punches.
Hua throws a series of punches but Mendes moves out of range.
Mendes connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mendes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hua tries to bum rush Mendes with a series of wild strikes but Mendes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mendes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Good exchange - Mendes coming out on top.
Mendes tests Hua's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hua works Mendes's body with a nice hook.
Mendes swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes digs a good hook to Hua's body.
Hua closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mendes counters with a stiff right hand.
Mendes checks the leg kick.
Hua misses with a head kick.
Hua throws a head kick that misses.
Hua takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mendes lunges at Hua with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hua's hand.

Mendes darts in and clinches Hua up against the cage.
Hua lands with a short shot to the head.
Mendes swings wildly with an uppercut but Hua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hua can't find room to land a body shot as Mendes controls the action.
Hua misses with an elbow strike.
Hua stalling.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Mendes lands a hook that snaps the head of Hua backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendes lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hua is trying to maintain a safe position but Mendes gets an underhook and turns Hua into the cage.
A body shot lands from Mendes.
Hua tries to land knees in the clinch but Mendes avoids the damage to the body.
Hua scores with a shot to the side of Mendes's head.
Mendes lands a shot to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hua.
Hua trying to land knees to the body.
Hua tries to stall but Mendes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mendes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hua throws a punch but it's blocked by Mendes.
Hua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hua is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mendes avoiding damage as Hua throws knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes 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.

Mendes blocks a head kick by Hua.
Hua throws a jab when Mendes was well out of range.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mendes. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Hua throws a head kick that misses.
Hua throws a sloppy head kick and Mendes moves out of range easily.

Hua closes the distance and clinches.
Hua tries a knee to the head but Mendes blocks it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mendes takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mendes as Hua tries to tie him up.
Mendes stalling.
Hua misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Mendes breaks the clinch.
Chad Mendes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mendes clobbers Hua with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Xiao Hua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendes scores with a jab. Hua acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hua tries a head kick but it misses.
Hua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendes moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mendes lands a right hook to the body.
Mendes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mendes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A jab lands there for Mendes.
Mendes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mendes lands a nice hook to Hua's body. Hua takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Mendes gets a clinch.
Hua trying to control the position but instead, Mendes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hua into the cage.
Mendes stops a takedown attempt from Hua.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendes has Hua pushed against the cage.
Mendes lands a shot to the body.
Mendes managing to block the knees to the body from Hua.
Hua cracks Mendes with a nice body shot.
Hua lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hua prevents a body shot from Mendes.
Mendes blocking some punches.
Mendes being controlled against the cage.
Mendes works on Hua's body with a couple of short punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hua.
A short body shot lands from Mendes as the two fighters clinch.
Hua tries a knee to the head but Mendes blocks it.
Hua slowing the pace effectively.
Mendes misses with a punch on the inside.
Mendes stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hua tries to land a knee to the head but Mendes blocks with his arms.
Mendes stalling in the clinch but Hua improves position.
Mendes throws a head punch that misses.
Hua prevents a body shot from Mendes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Good body shot from Mendes.
Hua wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xiao Hua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendes has had enough of the clinch but Hua keeps him there for the moment.
Mendes prevents a body shot from Hua.
Hua misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mendes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mendes stalling in the clinch but Hua improves position.
Hua trying to land knees to the body.
Mendes misses with a body punch.
Mendes pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mendes being controlled against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is trying to break free.
Hua tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mendes blocks a body shot from Hua.
Hua tries to land a knee to the head but Mendes blocks with his arms.
Hua changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mendes fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hua defending well as Mendes loads up on a big left hand.
Mendes catches Hua with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hua throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mendes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mendes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hua throws a combination that misses
and Mendes counters with a thumping low kick.
Mendes throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A shot to the liver by Mendes. Beautiful body shot.
Mendes takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mendes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hua backs up against the cage.
Mendes with a hook.
Mendes lands a head shot.

Mendes closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hua throws a head kick but Mendes moves out of range.
No joy there for Mendes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hua tries to move into range but Mendes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hua misses with a kick to the body.
Good leg kick by Mendes there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hua looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hua tries to clinch up.
Mendes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hua's calf.
Hua throws a right and a left that Mendes avoids nicely.
Hua tries to clinch but Mendes moves out of range.
Mendes lands a nice shot that snaps Hua's head back.
Mendes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mendes connects with a looping right hand.

Hua is rocked!
Mendes cracks Hua on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Hua falls backwards against the cage. Mendes follows up with more strikes that drop Hua to his knees. Mendes keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Hua! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chad Mendes!
After the big win, Chad Mendes made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Namunamu Clothing and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.