PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Aurelius (ranked 2924 p4p, 322 weight class) and Guilherme Mendes (ranked 19960 p4p, 617 weight class). Guilherme Mendes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aurelius
vs
Mendes

167 cm
23
156 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

160 cm
28
158 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Dark Knight Nutrition

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcus Aurelius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Guilherme Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aurelius shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mendes is positioning himself well to prevent Aurelius advancing to mount.
Mendes is trying to stand up here but Aurelius is controlling him well.
Mendes wants to control but Aurelius is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Aurelius is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mendes gets back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelius postures up.
Aurelius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendes is keeping the position for now.
Mendes is trying to control the position but Aurelius postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendes is keeping the position for now.
Mendes is pulling down on Aurelius's head to control his posture.
Mendes keeping full guard, as Aurelius tries to pass.
Mendes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aurelius's guard.

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

Mendes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aurelius.
Aurelius postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mendes pulls Aurelius in close to prevent any damage.
Aurelius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendes, not yet.
Mendes is trying to keep Aurelius in close.

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

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

Mendes has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendes trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Aurelius dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mendes swings away with a body shot that misses
and Aurelius counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mendes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aurelius manages to avoid it.
Aurelius appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mendes fails to land with a series of punches.
Aurelius feinted with a counter takedown.

Mendes clinches up against the cage.
Mendes wants a takedown.

Aurelius gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Aurelius postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Aurelius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mendes working a defensive guard here.
Aurelius trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aurelius.
Aurelius is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mendes can do to turn this around?
Aurelius tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendes is retaining full guard.

Mendes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aurelius is aware though and is defending well.
Mendes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mendes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aurelius's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelius keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.
Aurelius wants to improve his position but instead Mendes has moved into half guard.

Aurelius is defending against the submission attempts here by Mendes.
Mendes scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mendes wants to work for an arm triangle but Aurelius is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mendes is pressing down on Aurelius's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aurelius is holding on for now.

Mendes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Aurelius is trying to stand back up but Mendes is controlling him
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendes is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Aurelius!
Aurelius blocking the ground and pound.
Mendes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilherme Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Mendes misses the target.
Mendes misses with a body punch
and Aurelius connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Aurelius shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mendes napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mendes is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Mendes gets back to full guard.
Mendes keeping full guard, as Aurelius tries to pass.
Mendes looking to control.
Mendes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aurelius is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes managing to control the position.
Aurelius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mendes is pulling down on Aurelius's head to control his posture.
Mendes keeping full guard, as Aurelius tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aurelius slips nicely into half guard.
Aurelius throwing shots but Mendes is blocking nicely.
Mendes wants to get back to his feet.
Mendes is doing well to control the position and prevent Aurelius from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Aurelius is thwarting Mendes's attempts to control the position.
Aurelius is looking to advance position but Mendes won't allow it.
Mendes is pressing down on Aurelius's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Aurelius throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aurelius pushes down on Mendes's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Aurelius is working for a submission of some sort.
Mendes manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Aurelius showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aurelius 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Aurelius!
Marcus Aurelius managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Dark Knight Nutrition, into his post fight interview.