PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edgar Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Roberts
vs
Mendoza

182 cm
30
154 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

178 cm
27
155 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Jeff Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Edgar Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Mendoza throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Roberts drives through with a takedown into guard.

Mendoza has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Roberts has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Roberts fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Roberts tries to pull guard but Mendoza holds him up against the cage and eventually Roberts drops back down to his feet.
A short right from Mendoza.
Roberts is working for takedown but Mendoza is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mendoza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mendoza takes a swing at Roberts's ribcage but misses.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Mendoza circles away easily
and Mendoza counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Mendoza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mendoza throws a body punch but Roberts moves out of range.
Mendoza leaves Roberts with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Roberts looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Jeff Roberts has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts slips under a jab from Mendoza.
Horrible takedown attempt by Roberts or perhaps it was just good defense by Mendoza, which made it look bad.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mendoza enables Roberts to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mendoza manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Mendoza uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Roberts dives in and scores a takedown into Mendoza's guard.
Mendoza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Roberts.
Roberts with a flurry of punches that miss.
Our spies down at at Bonsai Club MMA inform us that Mendoza has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Mendoza is looking to stand up but Roberts isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Roberts works over Mendoza with some ground and pound from guard.
Mendoza wants to stand and escape but Roberts is having none of it.
Roberts chips away with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roberts trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Roberts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Roberts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendoza is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Roberts is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Roberts scoring with some ground and pound.
Roberts with a flurry of punches that miss.

Mendoza pushes Roberts off and scrambles back to his feet.
Mendoza throws a good cross that connects.
Edgar Mendoza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts takes one on the button.
Roberts slips a jab from Mendoza.
Roberts fails with the takedown.
Roberts moves away from the strike by Mendoza.
Roberts gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt - Mendoza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mendoza misses with a double jab.
Mendoza lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Mendoza shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Roberts eats them both and turns towards Mendoza to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Mendoza shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza throws a right and a left that Roberts avoids nicely.
Roberts changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mendoza swings widly with a right hand

and Roberts decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mendoza's guard.

Mendoza manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mendoza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Roberts with that takedown attempt.
A nice side step and Mendoza releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Mendoza misses the jab.
Roberts attempts a counter takedown but Mendoza avoids it well and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Mendoza. No joy for Roberts on that attempt.
No luck for Roberts with that takedown attempt.
Roberts is breathing heavily.
Mendoza lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Roberts tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mendoza defends well and Roberts ends up having to push Mendoza into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Edgar Mendoza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Roberts steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mendoza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgar Mendoza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jeff Roberts's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mendoza connects with a crisp jab.
Roberts on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The fighters circling - Mendoza throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Horrible takedown attempt by Roberts or perhaps it was just good defense by Mendoza, which made it look bad.
Mendoza misses with a straight right.
Roberts throws a quick counter head kick but Mendoza was just out of range.
Mendoza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roberts.
Mendoza swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Roberts attempts a counter takedown but Mendoza avoids it well and moves away.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt.
Mendoza let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendoza changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Mendoza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mendoza looks to land a combination but Roberts avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza slaps away a takedown attempt from Roberts, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendoza lands with a shot to the body.
Roberts shoots and misses
and Mendoza counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mendoza sprawls well. Mendoza wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Roberts gets slowly back to his feet.
Roberts has his takedown stuffed
and Mendoza cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mendoza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mendoza moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Roberts fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza lands with a straight right. Roberts didn't see that one coming.
Mendoza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roberts.
Roberts gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mendoza.
Good standup being displayed there by Mendoza as he connects with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendoza listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mendoza throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mendoza lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mendoza swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Mendoza circles away easily
and Mendoza counters with a right hand to the body.
Roberts with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mendoza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts misses with a takedown
and Mendoza counters with a straight right hand.
A nice combination there by Mendoza.
Roberts shoots in for a double leg but Mendoza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mendoza scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Roberts is rocked!
Nice uppercut there from Mendoza.
Oh Roberts is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mendoza lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Mendoza scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Roberts doesn't seem bothered though.
Roberts seems to have got his legs back now.
Jeff Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendoza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendoza lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Mendoza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mendoza lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mendoza throws out a counter right but Roberts avoids it with no problem.
Roberts takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mendoza dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mendoza lunges at Roberts with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Roberts's hand.
Mendoza swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Roberts.
A cross from Mendoza lands.
Roberts avoids a punch combination nicely.
Roberts half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A big right from Mendoza misses.
Roberts attempts a counter takedown but Mendoza avoids it well and moves away.
Mendoza cracks a nice hook into Roberts's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgar Mendoza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jeff Roberts's cut.
That's time! Roberts's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mendoza looks to land a combination. Roberts sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The fighters circling - Mendoza throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mendoza scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Roberts walks into a stiff left hand from Mendoza.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendoza but Mendoza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mendoza throws out a loose jab but Roberts uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roberts attempts a counter takedown but Mendoza avoids it well and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Roberts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendoza scores with a body shot.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt.
It seemed like Mendoza was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza looks to land a left hand but Roberts moved out of range nicely.
Roberts throws a right hand that misses
and Mendoza counters with a series of strikes. Roberts will be more careful next time no doubt.

Jeff Roberts's cut is getting worse.
Roberts walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Roberts shoots in but no luck this time.
Mendoza stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Roberts will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A little jabbing left from Mendoza on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Roberts shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mendoza is trying to defend but Roberts finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Mendoza makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendoza works over Roberts's head and body with a nice combination.
Mendoza lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Roberts tries for a takedown but Mendoza circles away easily
and Mendoza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mendoza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mendoza connects with a crisp jab.
Mendoza scores with a jab. Roberts acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Roberts's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mendoza connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Roberts scrambles back to his feet.
Mendoza looks to land a combination. Roberts sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A punch combination from Mendoza misses.

Roberts shoots in and bounces Mendoza off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Roberts throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza wants to stand up but Roberts is controlling him.

Mendoza kicks Roberts off and gets to his feet.
Mendoza looks to score with a jab to the body but Roberts is just out of range.
Roberts moves away from the strike by Mendoza.
Roberts dodges the punch combination from Mendoza.
Roberts goes for a double leg but Mendoza avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mendoza continues to drive forward.
Roberts shoots in but no luck this time.
Roberts keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mendoza.
Roberts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mendoza is fending him off so far but Roberts persists. Nope, Mendoza circles away and we're back to standing.
Mendoza lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Roberts on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Roberts fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mendoza scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendoza misses with a hook. Roberts ducked under it nicely.
Mendoza dips to his left and cracks Roberts with an uppercut!
Mendoza scores with a hook to the body. Roberts takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mendoza pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mendoza throws a right hand that Roberts ducks under and follows up with a left that Roberts also avoids with ease.
Roberts drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mendoza sprawls and moves away.
Danga de danga de dang - Mendoza scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roberts takes one on the button.
Jeff Roberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edgar Mendoza is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Roberts shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendoza pinned against the cage. Mendoza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edgar Mendoza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mendoza has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 25:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 25:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edgar Mendoza!