PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kelly Ewing (ranked 24421 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Mendez (ranked 4771 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ewing
vs
Mendez

204 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Kelly Ewing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Diego Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ewing avoids a punch combination nicely.

Mendez has managed to clinch.

Mendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Mendez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Mendez decides to stand back up. Mendez steps back and let's Ewing get back to his feet.
Ewing fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mendez drives through with a takedown into guard.

Ewing uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego Mendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mendez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Mendez escapes and gets back to his feet.

Mendez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ewing lands a left hand.

Mendez gets control of Ewing's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mendez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mendez looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendez, not yet.
Mendez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mendez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez 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.
Mendez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ewing.
Ewing scoring with some ground and pound.
Ewing throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendez is looking to stand back up but Ewing counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mendez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ewing sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mendez defending well though.
Mendez trying to control from the bottom.

Ewing postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mendez to stand up.
Mendez stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ewing's guard.
Ewing utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ewing scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ewing on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Mendez looks winded!

Ewing has closed the distance and engaged Mendez in a clinch.

Mendez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ewing clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Ewing wants to escape the position.
Ewing is trying to get back to his feet but Mendez has full control of the position and if anything, Ewing has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendez is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Ewing has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendez not allowing Ewing to control his hands.
Ewing is trying to stand back up.
Ewing looking very determined here, making life difficult for Mendez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Diego Mendez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mendez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Ewing pushes Mendez off and gets back to his feet.

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

Ewing has one foot on Mendez's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ewing tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mendez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ewing somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez clinches.

Mendez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mendez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ewing lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Ewing stands up and waves to Mendez to follow him.

Mendez rushes Ewing and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ewing breaks from the clinch.

Mendez forces Ewing back against the cage and clinches.
Ewing can't break the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mendez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ewing wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Ewing jumps guard.
Ewing looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendez is one step ahead there.
Mendez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ewing looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mendez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Mendez controlling the action here.
It looks like Mendez is going to stand back up.
Mendez is taking a breather. Ewing says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Mendez stops Ewing from getting back to his feet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mendez slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Mendez does no damage.
Mendez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mendez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ewing's guard.
Mendez trying to control but Ewing is working from the bottom.
Kelly Ewing overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendez is breathing heavily.
Mendez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Ewing has his feet on Mendez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kelly Ewing will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Mendez. No joy for Ewing on that attempt.

Mendez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ewing is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mendez looking to control but instead Ewing has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Ewing trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez is looking to advance position but Ewing won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ewing is looking for a sweep. Mendez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mendez stalling.
Mendez is continuing to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Ewing shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendez pinned against the cage. Mendez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Mendez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ewing's guard.
Ewing trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Ewing is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ewing wants to sweep here but Mendez controlling him for the moment.
Ewing keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.

Mendez gets to his feet. Ewing looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Mendez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ewing's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants to control but Ewing is keeping him busy.
Mendez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ewing tries to roll over but Mendez keeps him under control.
Mendez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ewing defending well though.

Mendez stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ewing to get to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Mendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mendez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Diego Mendez!