PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Buddy Sutton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Sutton
vs
Mendes

198 cm
23
151 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

174 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Buddy Sutton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sutton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sutton throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Mendes works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Sutton really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sutton lands strikes from half guard.
Mendes is pressing down on Sutton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sutton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Mendes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sutton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes controls Sutton momentarily but Sutton frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sutton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mendes is trying to keep Sutton in close.
Mendes looks winded!
Mendes is controlling Sutton's posture.

Mendes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sutton connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sutton is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendes has wrist control.
Sutton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sutton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sutton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sutton throws a strike but Mendes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mendes throwing strikes but missing.
Sutton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sutton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mendes defends it easily.
Sutton keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.

Sutton has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mendes is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sutton.
Mendes landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mendes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sutton keeps working.
Mendes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sutton haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four 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.
Sutton is looking to regain half guard here but Mendes keeps moving and retains side control.

Mendes goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sutton rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mendes's guard! Nice work there by Sutton!
Sutton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mendes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendes looking to control.
Sutton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sutton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sutton won't allow Mendes to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buddy Sutton dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sutton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mendes shoots in and drives through. Sutton sprawls well.

Mendes rushes Sutton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mendes is looking to control Sutton's arms but Sutton gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mendes has his back to the cage.
Mendes tries for a takedown but Sutton manages to get underhooks.

Sutton has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Mendes is trying to keep an underhook but Sutton manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Mendes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sutton is working away from the top position though.
Mendes is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sutton connects with a nice short shot to Mendes's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutton drops an elbow to the side of Mendes's head.

Sutton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sutton working Mendes over with strikes.

Sutton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sutton prevents Mendes from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sutton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Sutton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mendes sees it coming and defends easily.
Mendes tries to roll over but Sutton keeps him under control.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sutton thows a huge punch but Mendes dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes missing with punches from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sutton avoids it really well and circles away.
Buddy Sutton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Mendes.
Sutton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mendes as he avoids it easily.

Sutton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mendes!
Mendes wants to get back to his feet but Sutton is dominant here and he's now got Mendes's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sutton trying to control momentarily.
Mendes trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Sutton.

Sutton is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Mendes is defending well though. Sutton let's go of the attempt for now.
Sutton loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Mendes hold on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buddy Sutton dominated that second round.
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!

The fight stays on the outside here - Mendes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Buddy Sutton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sutton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mendes tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sutton is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mendes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes is trying to stall.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mendes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutton is struggling to control the position.
Sutton is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mendes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sutton stalling the fight.
Sutton has Mendes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mendes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mendes tries to pull guard but Sutton won't allow it.
Buddy Sutton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Mendes.
Sutton is trying to pull guard but Mendes has him pressed against the cage.
Mendes is trying to drag Sutton to the mat but Sutton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sutton's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sutton avoiding damage as Mendes throws knees to the body.
Sutton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mendes smiles and moves away.

Sutton drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Mendes manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sutton tries to pull guard but Mendes won't allow it.

Sutton manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mendes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sutton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sutton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mendes can do to turn this around?

Mendes gets to his feet. Sutton looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Sutton closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mendes did well to prevent Sutton getting side control.
Mendes wants to sweep but Sutton has passed to side control!
You can see the frustration on Mendes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sutton looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mendes is avoiding damage well.
Sutton lands a nice forearm strike.
Sutton cracks Mendes with a big right hand but Mendes just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Mendes is looking to reverse the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sutton is working Mendes over with some ground and pound from side control.
Chad Mendes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Buddy Sutton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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!
Sutton lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buddy Sutton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sutton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buddy Sutton!