PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cody Garbrandt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cody Garbrandt has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Garbrandt
vs
Mendes

185 cm
25
193 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
192 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

KnockOut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cody Garbrandt!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Alyssa Summers and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Garbrandt.
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Mendes.
Garbrandt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mendes looks to score with a jab to the body but Garbrandt is just out of range.
Garbrandt moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Mendes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Garbrandt fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mendes has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Garbrandt uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A shot to the body from Mendes misses
and Mendes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Garbrandt has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Garbrandt throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mendes on the side of the head.
Garbrandt swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Garbrandt connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mendes momentarily.
A telegraphed right hand from Garbrandt misses the target.
Mendes takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed right hand from Garbrandt misses the target.
Garbrandt takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Garbrandt moves away.
Mendes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Garbrandt.
Mendes is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Garbrandt with a body shot.
Garbrandt throws a series of punches but Mendes moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Garbrandt throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A countering left hand to the body from Mendes misses.
Garbrandt misses with a straight left.
A nice side step and Mendes releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Garbrandt is looking to chop away at Mendes's legs.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Garbrandt bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Garbrandt throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice straight punches there by Garbrandt. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Garbrandt.
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
Garbrandt just misses with a punch to the body.
Mendes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Garbrandt looks to throw the jab but Mendes is out of range.
Garbrandt moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mendes misses with a wild body shot.
Cody Garbrandt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendes swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes slips under a jab.
Mendes ducks under a wild hook from Garbrandt.
A slow jab from Garbrandt misses its intended target.
Mendes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Garbrandt missing with a left hand there. Mendes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Garbrandt stalks Mendes and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mendes's face. Mendes staggers backwards, shaken.
Mendes is looking to chop away at Garbrandt's legs.
Mendes takes a swing at Garbrandt's ribcage but misses.
Mendes misses with a body shot.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mendes is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Garbrandt with a body shot.
Mendes moves away from the strike by Garbrandt.
Mendes lands a jab to Garbrandt's midsection.
Garbrandt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Mendes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mendes takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Mendes punishes Garbrandt's body with a nice straight punch.
Nice shot by Garbrandt.
Mendes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mendes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Garbrandt is looking to counter punch.
Mendes is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Garbrandt rather than just go for the knockout.
Garbrandt throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mendes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Garbrandt manages to avoid it.
Garbrandt wants to land a leg kick but Mendes is out of range.
Mendes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mendes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Garbrandt on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mendes. Mendes obviously looking to wear him down.
Mendes lands a right hook to the body.
Garbrandt misses with an uppercut. Mendes saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Garbrandt.
Garbrandt misses with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garbrandt misses with a lunging right hand
and Mendes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mendes slips under a jab from Garbrandt.
Nice shot lands for Garbrandt.
Garbrandt throws a sloppy body shot
and Mendes counters with a right hand to the body.
Garbrandt is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Garbrandt is breathing heavily.
Mendes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mendes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Garbrandt attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Garbrandt misses with a straight left.
Garbrandt cracks Mendes with an open hand slap.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendes lands a nice shot to the body.
Mendes takes one to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Garbrandt dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Garbrandt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mendes.
A slow jab from Garbrandt misses its intended target.
Mendes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garbrandt was well out of range. Poor timing from Mendes.
A big right from Garbrandt misses.
Mendes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Garbrandt tests Mendes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mendes lands a right hook to the body.
Garbrandt clobbers Mendes with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cody Garbrandt is winning the standup battle so far.
No joy there for Mendes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Garbrandt scores with a hook.
Garbrandt throws the left hand but Mendes avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garbrandt throws a lazy right hand but Mendes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Mendes might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Garbrandt has got the better of the exchanges.
Mendes throws a predictable looking body shot
and Garbrandt counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Garbrandt misses with a double jab.
A nice side step and Mendes releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Mendes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Garbrandt looks to score with a jab to the body but Mendes is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbrandt throws an overhand right that lands on Mendes's shoulder, as Mendes tries to avoid the shot.
Sloppy strikes from Mendes. Those never looked like landing.
Mendes lands with a good body shot.
Garbrandt is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mendes can do to turn this around?
Garbrandt throws a leg kick but Mendes checks it.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendes throws a body shot but no joy.
Garbrandt throws a big counter combination but Mendes scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Garbrandt misses with a looping left.
Mendes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Garbrandt misses the target.
Mendes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mendes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Garbrandt avoids the body shot from Mendes.
Mendes moves out of range of the leg kick from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt throws a lazy uppercut
and Mendes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Garbrandt thinking.
Garbrandt throws a big shot that misses.
A nice side step and Mendes releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mendes takes a swing at Garbrandt's ribcage but misses.
A shot to the body from Mendes misses
and Garbrandt counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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 moves out of range of the strikes.
Garbrandt swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mendes appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Garbrandt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mendes ducks under a wild hook from Garbrandt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mendes. Garbrandt does a little dance to reset his feet.
Garbrandt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mendes circles away quickly and effectively.
Mendes jabs at Garbrandt's body.
Mendes lands a nice shot to the body.
Mendes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Garbrandt connects with a solid leg kick.
Mendes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes swings for the body but Garbrandt moves out of range.
Garbrandt scores with a hook.
Garbrandt jabs Mendes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Garbrandt's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mendes under the eye.
Garbrandt throws a jab but it's blocked by Mendes.
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
Mendes misses with a body punch
enabling Garbrandt to counter with a crisp jab.
Garbrandt looks to land a right hand but Mendes moved out of range.
Mendes stuns Garbrandt with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mendes lands a body shot.
Mendes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mendes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Garbrandt throws a chopping leg kick but Mendes manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mendes looks to score with a jab to the body but Garbrandt is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt misses with a looping right.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mendes throws a body punch but Garbrandt moves out of range.
Mendes cracks a nice hook into Garbrandt's ribs.
A low kick from Garbrandt misses
and Mendes counters with a two punch combo.
Mendes lands a body shot.
Mendes takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Garbrandt thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sloppy strikes from Mendes. Those never looked like landing.
Garbrandt throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mendes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Garbrandt throws a leg kick but Mendes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Garbrandt lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mendes just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jose Mendes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Garbrandt ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendes moves away.
Decent striking displayed by Garbrandt there.
Mendes looks to score with a jab to the body but Garbrandt is just out of range.
Mendes throws a body punch but Garbrandt moves out of range.
Mendes slips under a jab from Garbrandt.
Mendes scores with a push kick.
Garbrandt throws a right hand that misses
and Mendes counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Garbrandt is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mendes.
Mendes cracks a nice hook into Garbrandt's ribs.
Mendes throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garbrandt throws a hook to the side of Mendes's head but Mendes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mendes is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Garbrandt with a body shot.
Mendes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mendes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garbrandt was well out of range. Poor timing from Mendes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garbrandt throws a low kick but Mendes avoids it.
Mendes throws a big counter head kick but Garbrandt avoids it with no problem.
Garbrandt throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mendes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Garbrandt's sensitive parts.
Mendes just misses with a punch to the body.
Mendes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Garbrandt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mendes.
Garbrandt throws a lazy uppercut
and Mendes counters with a left and a right that stings Garbrandt.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Garbrandt doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mendes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mendes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Garbrandt takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
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!
A good leg kick by Mendes.
Mendes is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes jabs at Garbrandt's body.
Mendes moves out of range as Garbrandt strikes.
Garbrandt scores with the left hand. Mendes knows he should have avoided that one.
Garbrandt takes a swing at Mendes's ribcage but misses.
Mendes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mendes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mendes throws a nice looking combination but Garbrandt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick and Garbrandt moves out of range easily.
Mendes slips a straight right by Garbrandt.
Mendes lands with a good body shot.
Mendes moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A big left from Garbrandt misses.
Mendes is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Garbrandt with a body shot.
Mendes ducks under a wild hook from Garbrandt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garbrandt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Garbrandt misses with a leg kick.
Garbrandt throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mendes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Garbrandt fails to land with a series of punches.
A countering left hand to the body from Mendes misses.
Mendes works Garbrandt's body with a nice hook.
Garbrandt sizes up Mendes with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mendes scores with a shot to the body.
Garbrandt throws out a loose jab but Mendes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mendes throws a predictable looking body shot
and Garbrandt counters with a stiff right hand.
Mendes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Garbrandt looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mendes cracks a nice hook into Garbrandt's ribs.
Mendes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garbrandt was well out of range. Poor timing from Mendes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt scores with a sloppy right hand. Mendes should have avoided that one.
Garbrandt takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendes digs a good hook to Garbrandt's body.
Garbrandt swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mendes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mendes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Garbrandt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mendes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Garbrandt manages to avoid it.
Garbrandt waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mendes.
Mendes lands a nice hook to Garbrandt's body. Garbrandt takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
Garbrandt lands with a straight right. Mendes didn't see that one coming.
Garbrandt doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Mendes really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Garbrandt throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mendes.
A countering left hand to the body from Mendes misses.
Garbrandt throws a leg kick but Mendes checks it.
Mendes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mendes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A clash of legs there as Mendes blocks the low kick.
Mendes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Garbrandt missing with a left hand there. Mendes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mendes appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Mendes ducks under a wild hook from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mendes staying out of range there.
Mendes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garbrandt was well out of range. Poor timing from Mendes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mendes has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Garbrandt.
Mendes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Mendes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes digs a good body shot into Garbrandt's ribs.
Garbrandt thows a leg kick but Mendes checks it
and Mendes counters with a right hand to the body.
Mendes misses with a wild body shot.
Garbrandt tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mendes was well out of range. Poor timing from Garbrandt.
Mendes scores with a hook to the body. Garbrandt takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Garbrandt lands a glancing blow to the side of Mendes's head.
Mendes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mendes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Garbrandt manages to avoid it.
Garbrandt scores with a body shot.
Mendes slips under a jab.
Mendes lands a slapping body shot.
Mendes moves out of range of the strikes.
Mendes let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Mendes throws a body punch but Garbrandt moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt lands with a nice combination. Mendes backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garbrandt looks to throw the jab but Mendes is out of range.
Mendes misses with a body shot.
Garbrandt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mendes.
Mendes throws a head kick that misses.
Garbrandt is looking to counter punch.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick and Garbrandt moves out of range easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Garbrandt. That snapped Mendes's head back.
Nice uppercut there from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mendess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Garbrandt lands with a thumping leg kick.
Garbrandt looks to land a combination. Mendes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Garbrandt darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Garbrandt uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mendes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Garbrandt swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Garbrandt's corner calls for a 1-2. Garbrandt obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Mendes blocks a jab.
Mendes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Garbrandt avoids the body shot from Mendes.
Mendes takes one on the button.
Mendes lands a high kick!
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick
and Mendes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Garbrandt lands a head shot.
Garbrandt misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendes slips under a jab from Garbrandt.
Jab, jab by Garbrandt - just one landing.
Mendes lands a nice shot to the body.
A low kick from Garbrandt is predictable there
and Mendes counters with a nice body shot.
Mendes has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt takes a swing at Mendes's ribcage but misses.
Mendes now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Garbrandt throws a jab but it's blocked by Mendes.
Mendes moves out of range of the leg kick from Garbrandt.
Mendes throws a body shot but no joy.
Jab from Garbrandt.
Sloppy strikes from Garbrandt. Those never looked like landing.
Garbrandt takes a body punch but keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Cody Garbrandt will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mendes lands a nice looking body shot.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Garbrandt moves away.
Garbrandt throws a shot from downtown. Mendes moves away and avoids it.
Mendes lands a slapping body shot.
Garbrandt misses with an uppercut.
Garbrandt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mendes.
Garbrandt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mendes.
Mendes punishes Garbrandt's body with a nice straight punch.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garbrandt throws a right hand that Mendes ducks under and follows up with a left that Mendes also avoids with ease.
Mendes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Garbrandt.
Garbrandt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mendes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Mendes swings for the body but Garbrandt moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbrandt looks to throw the jab but Mendes is out of range.
Garbrandt loads up on a big right hand but Mendes slips the punch.
Garbrandt throws the left hand but Mendes avoids the punch easily.
Mendes tries a quick counter leg kick but Garbrandt is wise to it.
Garbrandt connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mendes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Garbrandt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A countering left hand to the body from Mendes misses.
Mendes works Garbrandt's body with a nice hook.
Garbrandt darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Mendes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mendes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Garbrandt lands with a good body shot.
Mendes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Garbrandt.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Garbrandt doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Garbrandt.
Mendes is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Garbrandt with a body shot.
Mendes throws a body punch but Garbrandt moves out of range.
Garbrandt throws a big counter combination but Mendes scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mendes misses with a wild body shot.
Mendes slips a jab from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt lands a really nice looking cross but Mendes seems unphased.
Mendes throws a body punch but Garbrandt moves out of range.
Garbrandt chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jab, jab by Garbrandt - just one landing.
Garbrandt turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mendes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Garbrandt goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt lands a nice shot that snaps Mendes's head back.
Mendes moves out of range of the strikes.
Mendes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Garbrandt.
Mendes dodges the punch combination from Garbrandt.
A countering left hand to the body from Mendes misses.
Mendes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Garbrandt doesn't seem bothered though.
Garbrandt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mendes manages to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Garbrandt throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mendes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt missing with a left hand there. Mendes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mendes takes a swing at Garbrandt's ribcage but misses.
Mendes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Garbrandt stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mendes let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Garbrandt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mendes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Garbrandt throws a hook to the side of Mendes's head but Mendes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mendes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mendes misses with a body shot.
Mendes throws a series of punches but Garbrandt avoids them all with ease.
Garbrandt throws a hook but Mendes avoids it easily.
Mendes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Garbrandt.
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 throws a head kick but Garbrandt moves out of range.
Mendes tries to move into range but Garbrandt moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mendes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Garbrandt to score with a decent uppercut.
A jab from Garbrandt does it's job there.
Mendes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Garbrandt showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Garbrandt has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 48:47
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 48:47
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Garbrandt!
Cody Garbrandt retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Cody Garbrandt, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.