PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Mendez (ranked 3048 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jari Aarnio (ranked 6513 p4p, 0 weight class). Jari Aarnio has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mendez
vs
Aarnio

175 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

165 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Carlos Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jari Aarnio!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Bart Greer and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendez throws a combination that misses
and Aarnio counters with a low kick, right behind Mendez 's knee.
Aarnio's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Aarnio's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Mendez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Aarnio has time to react.
Mendez definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Aarnio thows a leg kick but Mendez checks it
and Mendez counters with a nice uppercut.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mendez.
Mendez throws a series of punches but Aarnio avoids them all with ease.
A shot to the liver by Mendez. Beautiful body shot.
Aarnio tries to clinch but Mendez is having none of it.
Aarnio tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Mendez to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez looks to throw the jab but Aarnio is out of range.
Mendez connects with a body shot that sends Aarnio's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aarnio shoots and misses
and Mendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A low kick from Aarnio is predictable there
and Mendez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Aarnio throws a leg kick
and Mendez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A cross from Mendez lands.
A head kick by Aarnio misses
and Mendez counters with a straight right hand.
Aarnio pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mendez throwing a counter right hand but Aarnio manages to avoid it.
Mendez slaps away a takedown attempt from Aarnio, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Aarnio fails with the takedown
and Mendez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Carlos Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jari Aarnio.
Aarnio thows a leg kick but Mendez checks it
and Mendez counters with a right hand to the body.
Mendez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aarnio shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Mendez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Aarnio backs up against the cage.
Aarnio shoots and misses
and Mendez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mendez lands with a good body shot.
Aarnio takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mendez throws a nice looking combination but Aarnio bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mendez misses the shot to the body.
Mendez is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
An inside leg kick from Aarnio misses.
Aarnio shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendez pinned against the cage. Mendez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Mendez.
Aarnio is looking to clinch.
Mendez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Carlos Mendez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aarnio throws a leg kick that misses.
Aarnio throws a leg kick
and Mendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mendez.
Mendez just misses with a punch to the body.
Aarnio feints the counter takedown.
Mendez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Aarnio walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Aarnio does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio thows a leg kick but Mendez checks it
and Mendez counters with a one-two to the body.
Mendez throws a series of punches but Aarnio moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aarnio moves in looking to clinch but Mendez pushes him off.
Aarnio with a poor takedown
letting Mendez counter with a right hand.
Aarnio tries to land a leg kick but Mendez saw it coming and moves away.
It looked like Mendez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Aarnio takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aarnio is defended easily by Mendez.
A low kick from Aarnio misses
and Mendez counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Mendez dominated that round.
That's time! Mendez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Aarnio misses with a leg kick
and Mendez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Aarnio takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Aarnio tries to clinch
and Aarnio takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aarnio throws a leg kick
and Mendez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Carlos Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A solid body kick from Aarnio.
Aarnio takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mendez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aarnio throws a leg kick that is checked
and Mendez counters with a straight right hand.
Aarnio swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Carlos Mendez is winning the standup battle so far.
Aarnio throws a head kick that misses
and Mendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Aarnio takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendez throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Aarnio connects with a solid leg kick.
Aarnio scores with a kick to the midsection.
Mendez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aarnio.
Aarnio doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mendez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Aarnio under the eye.
Mendez scores with a hook.
No joy there for Mendez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mendez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Aarnio. Aarnio obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio throws a lazy head kick
and Mendez counters with a stiff right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aarnio closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mendez scores with a one two! Aarnio had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Aarnio misses with a takedown attempt
and Mendez counters with a left to the body.
Mendez swings for the body but Aarnio moves out of range.
Aarnio misses with a kick to the body
and Mendez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Aarnio lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mendez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mendez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A bone on bone clash there as Mendez blocks the leg kick.
Mendez is looking for a counter combo.
Mendez lands a jab to Aarnio's midsection.
Aarnio tries for a takedown but Mendez circles away easily
and Mendez counters with a stiff right hand.
Carlos Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jari Aarnio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio has his takedown stuffed
and Mendez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Aarnio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Mendez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mendez lunges at Aarnio with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Aarnio's hand.
Aarnio has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mendez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Aarnio back to the cage. Mendez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Aarnio drops his hands momentarily and Mendez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mendez throws a good cross that connects.
A low kick from Aarnio is predictable there
and Mendez counters with a stiff right hand.
Aarnio throws a leg kick
and Mendez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mendez blocks a low kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aarnio manages to avoid it.
Mendez swings for the body but Aarnio moves out of range.
Mendez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Aarnio.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendez connects with a single shot there.
A low kick from Aarnio is predictable there
and Mendez counters with a straight right hand.
Mendez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mendez lands with an uppercut that bounces Aarnio off the cage and back into range.
Aarnio throws a lazy head kick
and Mendez counters with a one-two to the body.
Mendez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Aarnio tries a low kick but Mendez avoids it.
It looked like Mendez was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Aarnio.
Mendez throws a series of strikes that have Aarnio backpedaling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Mendez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mendez checks a low kick from Aarnio.
Aarnio throws the kick towards the body but Mendez avoids it.
Aarnio fails with a takedown attempt.
Mendez lands a jab to the nose.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aarnio misses with a leg kick
and Mendez counters with a two punch combo.
Aarnio throws a leg kick
and Mendez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aarnio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mendez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aarnio is trying desperately to land a takedown but Mendez is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Aarnio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aarnio moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Aarnio on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Aarnio on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mendez scores with a jab to the jaw.
Aarnio fails with the takedown
and Mendez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mendez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mendez backing away here, and Aarnio unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Mendez misses with a series of wild punches.
Mendez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Carlos Mendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez checks the leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Mendez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A jab from Mendez finds it's way through Aarnio's defenses.
Aarnio throws a leg kick but Mendez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Aarnio thows a leg kick but Mendez checks it
and Mendez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aarnio tried to score with a low kick but Mendez checks it.
Mendez is looking for a counter combo.
Aarnio is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mendez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Carlos Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jari Aarnio.
Aarnio takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Aarnio takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mendez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aarnio can do to turn this around?
Aarnio with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Aarnio takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio connects with an inside leg kick.
Aarnio looks to throw a body kick
and Mendez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mendez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mendez lands a lovely overhand right.
Mendez scores with a jab. Aarnio acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Aarnio dodges the punch combination from Mendez.
Aarnio with the counter takedown but Mendez avoids it easily.
Jari Aarnio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A bone on bone clash there as Mendez blocks the leg kick.
Mendez lands a jab to the nose.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Aarnio might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Mendez has got the better of the exchanges.
Mendez throws a nice looking combination but Aarnio bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez throws a right and a left that Aarnio avoids nicely.
Aarnio throws a leg kick that is checked
and Mendez counters with a straight right hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A bone on bone clash there as Mendez blocks the leg kick.
Jari Aarnio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aarnio gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mendez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mendez scores with a jab. Aarnio acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Aarnio throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mendez scores with a jab to the body.
Mendez connects with a crisp jab.
A low kick from Aarnio is predictable there
and Mendez counters with a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Mendez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mendez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:25
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Mendez!