PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salvatore Mendoza (ranked 25098 p4p, 0 weight class) and Satoshi Nakamoto (ranked 5514 p4p, 0 weight class). Satoshi Nakamoto will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mendoza
vs
Nakamoto

166 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
225 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Salvatore Mendoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Satoshi Nakamoto!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendoza pushes Nakamoto up against the cage in a clinch.

Mendoza pulls guard successfully.
Nakamoto trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Mendoza manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Mendoza is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nakamoto is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nakamoto has escaped and now he's on top!

Mendoza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nakamoto is one step ahead there.
Mendoza seems keen to control Nakamoto's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamoto throws a big elbow that misses.
Mendoza is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza seems keen to control Nakamoto's posture.
Mendoza wants to sweep here but Nakamoto controlling him for the moment.

Mendoza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nakamoto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nakamoto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nakamoto wants to pass the guard but Mendoza is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mendoza working a defensive guard here.
Nakamoto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mendoza is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Nakamoto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nakamoto wants to control but Mendoza is keeping him busy.

Mendoza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mendoza really is a fat lump.
Nakamoto passes to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamoto tries to advance to mount but Mendoza denies him.

Nakamoto goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mendoza rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Nakamoto's guard! Nice work there by Mendoza!

Nakamoto throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mendoza uses it to pass to side control.

Mendoza stands up and beckons Nakamoto to his feet.

Nakamoto closes the distance and clinches.
Mendoza takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Salvatore Mendoza has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamoto is trying to maintain a safe position but Mendoza gets an underhook and turns Nakamoto into the cage.

Mendoza gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamoto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Mendoza gets to his feet - Nakamoto follows without any prompting.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mendoza.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendoza works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The strikes coming from Mendoza are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Nakamoto gets back to half guard.
Mendoza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nakamoto defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Mendoza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Salvatore Mendoza's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nakamoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nakamoto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Mendoza looking to score a takedown here. Nakamoto is defending well but Mendoza drives through and ends up in Nakamoto's guard.
Mendoza is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mendoza landing with the ground and pound.
Nakamoto will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Nakamoto looking for a guillotine here but Mendoza defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakamoto working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mendoza has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamoto wants to get back to full guard.
Nakamoto has a hand on Mendoza's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Mendoza takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Mendoza working for a submission but Nakamoto is keeping him at bay.
Nakamoto is trying to escape the mount.
Nakamoto is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamoto keeps trying to improve his position.
Mendoza lands a couple of good shots and Nakamoto has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Nakamoto breaks Mendoza's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Nakamoto looking to pass the guard.
Mendoza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nakamoto can do to turn this around?
Nakamoto won't allow Mendoza to sweep him here.
Nakamoto wants to control from the top but Mendoza keeps moving.
Nakamoto won't allow Mendoza to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamoto with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nakamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Mendoza.
Nakamoto trying to control but Mendoza is working from the bottom.

Mendoza is looking for a triangle but Nakamoto pushes his legs off easily.
Nakamoto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Nakamoto has gone for a leg lock! Mendoza slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nakamoto's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamoto takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Nakamoto is looking to reverse the position.
Nakamoto regains half guard.
Mendoza lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Nakamoto looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Mendoza pushes past his half guard into mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Mendoza dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Salvatore Mendoza's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mendoza drives through with a takedown into Nakamoto's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nakamoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nakamoto tries to strike from the bottom.
Mendoza slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Salvatore Mendoza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nakamoto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mendoza defends it easily.

Nakamoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mendoza gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nakamoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendoza stands up over Nakamoto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Nakamoto has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mendoza 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 Nakamoto.
Nakamoto is looking for a sweep.
Mendoza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nakamoto keeps working.
Nakamoto looks to move to half guard but instead Mendoza has passed into mount! Damn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Mendoza jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nakamoto manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Mendoza scoring with punches and elbows.
Nakamoto sneaks back into half guard.

Mendoza is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Mendoza is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendoza is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mendoza seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

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.

Nakamoto with the active half guard here but Mendoza passes nicely into side control.
Nakamoto misses with a strike from the bottom.
Mendoza lands a decent elbow from side control.
Nakamoto is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mendoza off and has taken his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendoza tries to escape but Nakamoto has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Nakamoto scores with punches and elbows.
Satoshi Nakamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salvatore Mendoza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Salvatore Mendoza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mendoza, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

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