PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Artem Korotkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Korotkov
vs
Mendez

190 cm
38
200 lbs
11 - 23 - 0

185 cm
24
185 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 23 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Korotkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Raul Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Korotkov pushes Mendez up against the cage in a clinch.
Korotkov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mendez walks away with a smile on his face. Korotkov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Korotkov misses with the combination.

Mendez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Korotkov to the mat! Korotkov manages to get full guard.

Mendez drops back looking for a leg! Korotkov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Korotkov manages to kick Mendez off! Mendez jumps back into Korotkov's guard.
Korotkov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mendez drops back looking for a leg! Korotkov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Korotkov manages to kick Mendez off! Mendez jumps back into Korotkov's guard.

Korotkov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mendez passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mendez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez is trying to work for a kimura but Korotkov is defending well.

Mendez is looking for a kimura here.

Mendez 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.
Korotkov is looking to control Mendez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Korotkov avoid being mounted?

That's two 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.
Korotkov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

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

Korotkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Mendez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mendez passes into side control, despite Korotkov's attempt to control the position.
You can see the frustration on Korotkov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Mendez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Korotkov is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korotkov can't do much from the bottom here.

Mendez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Korotkov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mendez working away.

Mendez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Korotkov, who protects the arm well.
Korotkov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mendez off and has taken his back!
Korotkov missing with strikes from the back.

Korotkov is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Mendez is defending well though. Korotkov let's go of the attempt for now.

Korotkov looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korotkov has the hooks in. Mendez is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Mendez preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Korotkov.
Mendez wants to escape the position.
Mendez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Korotkov's guard. Nice work there by Mendez.

Korotkov has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mendez 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 Korotkov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Korotkov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mendez tries for a kimura but Korotkov is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Mendez 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.

Mendez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Korotkov's half guard.

Korotkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendez pulls his head out easily.

Mendez seems to be working for a kimura but Korotkov defends the submission attempt.

Korotkov looking for submissions off his back.

Korotkov looking for subs from the bottom but Mendez mounts him!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mendez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Korotkov manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Korotkov sees it coming and defends easily.

Mendez is working for a submission of some sort.

Mendez is looking for a kimura here.

Korotkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendez pulls his head out easily.

Korotkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two 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.
Korotkov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Mendez in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Korotkov tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Mendez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Raul Mendez!
Raul Mendez took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.