PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maverick Syndal (ranked 3305 p4p, 350 weight class) and Guilherme Mendes (ranked 3648 p4p, 382 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Syndal
vs
Mendes

180 cm
29
155 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

160 cm
29
158 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maverick Syndal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Guilherme Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes throws a body punch but Syndal moves out of range.

Mendes clinches up against the cage.
Syndal throws a punch but it's blocked by Mendes.
Syndal gets through Mendes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Syndal lands a nice shot to the body.
Mendes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Syndal is defending well.
A frustrated look appears on Syndal's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mendes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Syndal pulls his leg out and moves away.
Syndal lands a body shot.
Guilherme Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendes throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mendes shoots in for a takedown but Syndal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Maverick Syndal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guilherme Mendes.
Mendes throws a head kick that misses
and Syndal counters with a nice body shot.
Mendes thumps Syndal with a low kick.
Mendes throws a half hearted mid kick.
Syndal was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes throws a poor cross that misses
and Syndal counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mendes thinking.

Mendes drives through with a takedown into Syndal's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Syndal manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mendes manages to get himself to full guard.

Syndal is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mendes trying to control the position.
Mendes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Syndal has passed into side control.
Mendes prevents Syndal from moving into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes wants to control but Syndal postures up.
Mendes is trying to improve his position.
Mendes wants to control but Syndal postures up.
Mendes is looking for a sweep.
Syndal gets to mount! Mendes was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Mendes wants to hold on but Syndal pushes him away.
Mendes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maverick Syndal dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mendes misses with a head kick.
Mendes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Syndal is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Mendes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Syndal manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Syndal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Mendes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Syndal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes 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.
Mendes keeps trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Syndal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Syndal prevents Mendes from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Syndal won't allow Mendes to sweep him here.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Syndal from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mendes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Syndal manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Syndal is keeping the position for now.
Mendes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice jab there from Syndal.

It looks like Guilherme Mendes has been cut.
Syndal staying out of range there.
Mendes shoots and misses
and Syndal makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Syndal leaves Mendes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Syndal throws a body shot but no joy.
Mendes wants to counter the offense by Syndal and move into the clinch position.

Mendes drives through and clinches with Syndal against the cage.
Syndal lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mendes is looking to take this one to the mat.
Maverick Syndal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guilherme Mendes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Syndal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
Syndal working aggressively here.
A shot in the inside from Syndal.
Syndal prevents a takedown attempt there.
Syndal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Syndal prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syndal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mendes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mendes takes a shot to the head.
Mendes tries to score a body lock takedown but Syndal shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Syndal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Syndal throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mendes on the side of the head.
Syndal slips a jab and a cross from Mendes.
Syndal scores with a sloppy right hand. Mendes should have avoided that one.
Mendes misses with a takedown
and Syndal counters with an inside leg kick.
Mendes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mendes tries to clinch but Syndal moves away
and Syndal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Syndal ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendes moves away.
Mendes moves in looking to clinch but Syndal pushes him off.

Mendes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Syndal's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Syndal keeping full guard, as Mendes tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syndal has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Syndal wants to hit a switch here but Mendes passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Syndal there!
Syndal is squirming around, avoiding Mendes's attempts to control the action.

Mendes swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Syndal is now in Mendes's guard. A big mistake from Mendes there, giving up the dominant position!

And that's the end of the fight!
Maverick Syndal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Syndal 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maverick Syndal!
After winning the bout, Maverick Syndal thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.