PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Junior Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Trap Door. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dos Santos
vs
Mendez

196 cm
22
172 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

184 cm
51
180 lbs
39 - 36 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Junior Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 36 - 0, fighting out of London, Tiago Mendez!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dos Santos is looking to counter the offense by Mendez and move into the clinch.

Mendez looking to score a takedown here. Dos Santos is defending well but Mendez drives through and ends up in Dos Santos's guard.

Dos Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendez looking to pass the guard.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mendez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dos Santos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mendez has managed to get both his arms back between Dos Santos's legs - danger averted.

Dos Santos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dos Santos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mendez with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez connects with a couple of short punches.
Dos Santos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mendez is controlling him.
Mendez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dos Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mendez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dos Santos is proving hard to escape from.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dos Santos is on top in guard.

Dos Santos throws a big elbow that misses.
Dos Santos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Mendez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dos Santos stops Mendez from standing up.
Mendez wants to sweep here but Dos Santos controlling him for the moment.
Dos Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos postures up.
Mendez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dos Santos.
Mendez keeping full guard, as Dos Santos tries to pass.
Dos Santos trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
Mendez is trying to control the position but Dos Santos postures up.
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Dos Santos from controlling successfully.

Dos Santos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dos Santos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dos Santos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mendez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dos Santos wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mendez swivels and escapes.
Mendez wants to counter the offense by Dos Santos and move into the clinch position.
Mendez wants to clinch.
Dos Santos tries to counter with a takedown but Mendez is quick to defend against it.

Mendez gets the takedown into side control.
Dos Santos has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Dos Santos gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dos Santos manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.
Mendez wants to pass the guard but Dos Santos is keeping the position.

Dos Santos looking for a guillotine here but Mendez defends easily.
Mendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.

Dos Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dos Santos has his foot on Mendez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mendez works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Junior Dos Santos will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Dos Santos was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Dos Santos goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mendez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Dos Santos's guard! Nice work there by Mendez!
Mendez wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
Dos Santos is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Junior Dos Santos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dos Santos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mendez sees it coming and defends easily.
Dos Santos missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mendez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dos Santos is working away from the top position though.
Mendez is trying to get back to full guard.

Dos Santos wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Mendez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mendez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dos Santos is aware though and is defending well.
Dos Santos wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.
Mendez looking to control.

Dos Santos postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mendez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dos Santos, into his guard.

Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez landing some decent shots from guard.

Dos Santos working for a triangle but Mendez defends it easily.
Mendez connects with a couple of short punches.
Dos Santos is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Dos Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dos Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mendez scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez lands a couple of elbows.
Dos Santos has momentary wrist control but Mendez slips an elbow through the middle.

Dos Santos is looking to cinch up a triangle. Mendez throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Dos Santos's body to avoid the submission. Dos Santos has instead reached around Mendez's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Dos Santos arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Junior Dos Santos!
Junior Dos Santos was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.