PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roger Cantor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ricardo Mendes was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Cantor
vs
Mendes

175 cm
28
163 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

180 cm
29
163 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roger Cantor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Ben Hemmingworth and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cantor sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Mendes scores with a nice head shot.
Cantor throws a chopping leg kick but Mendes manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mendes lands with a right hand.
Cantor doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendes circles away.
Cantor moves forwards but Mendes connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cantor looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Mendes lands with a right hand.
Cantor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mendes.
Mendes throws a right hand that misses

and Cantor counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes manages to get back to half guard.
Cantor stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes is trying to get back to full guard.
Cantor trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantor is looking to take a break and control but Mendes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mendes is trying to control but can't.
Cantor prevents Mendes from improving his position.
Cantor wants to take a breather but Mendes is having none of it.
Cantor is looking to stall here but Mendes recovers full guard.
Cantor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mendes wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Cantor works over Mendes with some ground and pound from guard.
Cantor trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cantor's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cantor looking to sit in guard and control but Mendes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cantor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mendes is looking to work some ground and pound but Cantor has wrist control.
Cantor trying to control the position.
Mendes throws a big elbow that misses.
Mendes looking to pass the guard.
Mendes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mendes trying to move into half guard but instead Cantor has managed to sweep!

Mendes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantor trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Our spies down at at Tri-Force MMA inform us that Mendes has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Cantor tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendes is retaining full guard.
Cantor distracts Mendes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cantor trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Mendes striking off his back but it's not causing Cantor any problems.

Mendes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cantor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cantor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Mendes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cantor forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cantor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cantor postures up in Mendes's guard and throws a big left but Mendes blocks it.
Mendes is trying to keep Cantor in close.
Cantor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mendes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cantor trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cantor is looking to pass into half guard but Mendes pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Mendes is in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Mendes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mendes takes the fight into the clinch.

Cantor jumps guard.

Cantor working for a triangle but Mendes defends it easily.
Cantor looking for a sweep. Not yet Cantor, not yet.
Mendes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cantor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cantor keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cantor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mendes defends well.
Mendes trying to control but Cantor is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Mendes as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Cantor screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Mendes! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Ricardo Mendes!