PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Mendes (ranked 3467 p4p, 337 weight class) and Marc Manuel (ranked 4047 p4p, 384 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mendes
vs
Manuel

177 cm
25
159 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

183 cm
24
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fernando Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marc Manuel!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendes scores with a takedown into Manuel's guard.

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

Mendes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mendes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manuel swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Manuel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Manuel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mendes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Manuel pulls Mendes in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manuel is keeping the position for now.
Manuel looking for a sweep. Not yet Manuel, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mendes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mendes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Mendes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

Manuel wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.

Mendes working for a triangle but Manuel defends it easily.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mendes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Manuel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Manuel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Manuel looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Mendes throws his legs up looking for a submission but Manuel uses it to pass to side control.
Mendes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Manuel is looking to take a break and control but Mendes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Manuel scores with a couple of short elbows.
Mendes is trying to work for a sweep but Manuel has mounted him!
Manuel cracks Mendes with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes is looking to improve his position but Manuel isn't that keen on the idea.
Manuel tries to control but Mendes wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel working the ground and pound effectively.
Manuel landing strikes from the mount and Mendes is in trouble!
Mendes working to try and regain half guard.
Mendes looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Mendes is trying to break free.
Manuel missing with strikes.
Mendes tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Manuel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mendes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Manuel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Manuel is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Mendes has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manuel is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Manuel misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Manuel.
Manuel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mendes is looking to escape.
Mendes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mendes is working hard here to advance position.
Manuel with good strikes from the mount here!
Mendes is working to get back to half guard.
Manuel wants to control the pace but Mendes is squirming around nicely.
Mendes bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mendes drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Manuel dives on top into guard.

Manuel wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Manuel tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendes is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Manuel dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mendes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Mendes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Manuel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Mendes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Manuel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Manuel manages to get back to half guard.

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

Mendes seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mendes is working for a submission of some sort.
Manuel holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes wants to work for an arm triangle but Manuel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Manuel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mendes is working away from the top position though.

Mendes is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Manuel wants to get back to full guard.
Mendes trying to mount his opponent but Manuel defends it.

Mendes is trying to work for a kimura but Manuel is defending well.
Manuel is trying to control but can't.

Mendes 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is positioning himself well to prevent Mendes advancing to mount.
Manuel is pressing down on Mendes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mendes passes Manuel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Mendes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Manuel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mendes.

Mendes wants to work for an arm triangle but Manuel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Fernando Mendes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mendes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Manuel defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is pressing down on Mendes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Manuel trying to control the position.

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

Mendes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Manuel tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendes is retaining full guard.

Mendes is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Manuel has his hands clasped together but Mendes extends and breaks Manuel's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Mendes.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Fernando Mendes!
A very excited looking Fernando Mendes made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.