PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phil Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Palmer Gerrard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Mendes could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Palmer Gerrard's chin.

Mendes
vs
Gerrard

189 cm
25
242 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
238 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Phil Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Palmer Gerrard!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Phil Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendes tries for a takedown but Gerrard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gerrard is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mendes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gerrard defends well and Mendes ends up having to push Gerrard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mendes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gerrard.

It looks like Phil Mendes has been cut.
Gerrard throws a half hearted mid kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mendes misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Gerrard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gerrard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mendes looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerrard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gerrard slows the pace down.

Gerrard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gerrard wants to control but Mendes is keeping him busy.
Mendes is trying to escape the position but Gerrard is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mendes managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gerrard.
Mendes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Gerrard is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mendes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gerrard passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Mendes!
Mendes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gerrard on the ground.
Mendes is wriggling around trying to escape.
Poor strikes thrown by Gerrard there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mendes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mendes working to try and regain half guard.
Gerrard punching from mount but Mendes doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mendes tries to improve his position but instead Gerrard has taken his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gerrard thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Mendes defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Gerrard trying to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries to break free.

Mendes is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Gerrard gets his way!
Gerrard biding his time, looking for the opening.
Mendes is keeping busy.

Gerrard looking to break Mendes's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Mendes remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gerrard will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Mendes's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mendes just trying to survive but Gerrard is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Palmer Gerrard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Phil Mendes's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gerrard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mendes trying to control the position.
Mendes wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Gerrard is now in half guard.
Mendes wants to get back to full guard.
Palmer Gerrard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gerrard is keen to just control but Mendes is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes is trying to get back to full guard.

Gerrard seems to be working for a kimura but Mendes defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gerrard is working away from the top position though.
Gerrard is taking a breather. Mendes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Gerrard wants to take a breather but Mendes is having none of it.
Mendes is looking for a sweep. Gerrard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mendes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mendes tries to get out of the position.
Mendes trying to hold on to Gerrard's head to control him but Gerrard postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gerrard stuffs the takedown attempt from Mendes. Mendes gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gerrard tries a head kick but it misses.
Mendes feinted with a counter takedown.

Gerrard shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mendes napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gerrard throws a strike aimed at the side of Mendes's head but Mendes avoids it well.
Mendes is trying to escape the position but Gerrard is controlling the position.

Gerrard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gerrard trying to control the action but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Gerrard working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard is looking to take a break and control but Mendes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gerrard decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mendes with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gerrard counters with a straight right hand.
Mendes dives in for a single leg takedown but Gerrard sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gerrard defends well and Mendes ends up having to push Gerrard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Gerrard gets a takedown into half guard.
Gerrard wants to take a breather but Mendes is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Gerrard is looking for a kimura but Mendes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gerrard to get the leverage.

Gerrard decides to stand up.

Gerrard looking to score a takedown here. Mendes is defending well but Gerrard drives through and ends up in Mendes's guard.
Mendes wants to control but Gerrard passes easily into half guard.
Gerrard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendes is trying to control but Gerrard manages to pass to mount!
Gerrard wants to control the pace but Mendes is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Palmer Gerrard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Phil Mendes's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mendes gets caught napping as Gerrard dives in and scores a takedown. Mendes manages to retain guard.
Mendes controlling Gerrard's posture.
Mendes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gerrard wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gerrard preventing the sweep.
Gerrard slips nicely into half guard.

Gerrard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mendes has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes wants to get back to full guard but Gerrard has mounted him!
Gerrard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gerrard tries to control but Mendes wriggling away.
Mendes is looking to improve his position but Gerrard isn't that keen on the idea.
Phil Mendes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Gerrard trying to control but Mendes is having none of it.
Gerrard controlling the pace for now.

Gerrard looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard trying to control but Mendes is having none of it.
Mendes is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mendes tries to hold on but Gerrard postures up.

Gerrard is working for a guillotine from mount but Mendes frees his head quite easily.
Gerrard punching from mount but Mendes doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gerrard looking to control but Mendes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Gerrard is working for a guillotine from mount but Mendes frees his head quite easily.
Gerrard looking to control but Mendes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mendes wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gerrard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Palmer Gerrard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gerrard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 26:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Palmer Gerrard!