PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taek Jo Lee (ranked 6693 p4p, 6234 weight class) and Raul Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lee
vs
Mendoza

197 cm
19
218
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
221
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taek Jo Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raul Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lee drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lee not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lee stays in close to Mendoza's body and controls the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mendoza looks for a takedown but Lee sprawls well.
Mendoza misses with a takedown attempt

and Lee counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mendoza being controlled here, momentarily.
Mendoza is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Lee looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Lee wants to pass the guard but Mendoza is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Lee sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mendoza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mendoza is defended easily by Lee.
Taek Jo Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raul Mendoza.
Lee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendoza pinned against the cage. Mendoza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee shoots in for a takedown but Mendoza shows good takedown defense.
Mendoza stuffs the takedown attempt from Lee. Lee gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendoza shoots in looking for a takedown but Lee manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mendoza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Mendoza moves into range and clinches up with Lee.
Lee prevents Mendoza from breaking the clinch.
Lee has Mendoza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mendoza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mendoza taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Lee gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mendoza tries to kick Lee off but Lee keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Still in half guard, Lee seems content to control.
Mendoza moves into full guard.
Mendoza is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is looking to stand back up but Lee counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mendoza.
Lee trying to control the action but Mendoza is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mendoza looking for submissions off his back.
Lee not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lee scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mendoza is trying to control but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Taek Jo Lee dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Mendoza.
Mendoza swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mendoza tries to clinch there but Lee circles away.
Lee misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mendoza stuffs the takedown.
Mendoza throws a nice looking combination but Lee bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mendoza tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lee defends well and Mendoza ends up having to push Lee into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Mendoza closes the distance and pushes Lee back into the cage.
Lee is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mendoza is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taek Jo Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mendoza pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lee tries to pull guard but Mendoza forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mendoza misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mendoza avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mendoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mendoza taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Lee wants a takedown but no success here.
Lee is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lee wants a takedown but no success here.
Mendoza is pressed up against the cage. Lee has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mendoza down to the mat. Mendoza avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lee has a takedown stuffed.
Mendoza is looking to clinch but Lee is avoiding it.
Lee feinted with a counter takedown.
Lee dives in for a single leg takedown but Mendoza sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza jumps guard but Lee stands there with Mendoza around his waist. Mendoza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mendoza is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lee is defending well for now.
Lee is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mendoza pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mendoza tries to break free but Lee pushes him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Mendoza.
Mendoza is struggling to control the position.
The referee calls for Mendoza to work.
Mendoza prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee prevents Mendoza from breaking the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Mendoza scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lee is trying to push Mendoza away but Mendoza has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Mendoza ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mendoza no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mendoza is trying to keep Lee in close.
Mendoza wants to stand and escape but Lee is having none of it.
Mendoza is pulling down on Lee's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee won't allow Mendoza to sweep him here.
Lee slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mendoza is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lee is controlling him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mendoza tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
No luck for Mendoza with that takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendoza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lee swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Lee closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mendoza quickly recovers to half guard.
Mendoza is trying to escape back to his feet but Lee uses the scramble to pass into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Mendoza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lee looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mendoza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lee seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mendoza wants to stand and escape but Lee is having none of it.
Lee postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza is looking to stand up but Lee isn't so interested in that idea.
Lee wants to control from the top but Mendoza keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendoza misses with a double jab.

Mendoza has managed to clinch.
Mendoza looking for a takedown.
Lee changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mendoza fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lee gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mendoza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lee shoots in but Mendoza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taek Jo Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lee shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mendoza sprawls well. Mendoza wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lee gets slowly back to his feet.
And Mendoza tries to counter it with a takedown but Lee pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Lee fails with the takedown
and Mendoza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lee with a poor takedown
and Mendoza counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lee thinking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Come on Mendoza - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Mendoza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lee goes for a takedown attempt but Mendoza pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lee but Lee pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No luck for Mendoza with that takedown attempt.
Lee fails with the takedown.

Lee fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mendoza to the ground. Lee is now in Mendoza's guard.
Lee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendoza has his hands on Lee's head, controlling the position.
Lee showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Taek Jo Lee overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lee looking to sit in guard and control but Mendoza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mendoza prevents Lee from getting back to his feet.

Mendoza stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Mendoza instigates a clinch.
Lee keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mendoza's efforts to push away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lee being controlled against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Mendoza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mendoza 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raul Mendoza!