PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ray James (ranked 25231 p4p, 6529 weight class) and Alvaro Mendoza (ranked 506 p4p, 452 weight class). Ray James has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

James
vs
Mendoza

200 cm
25
145
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
18
145
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ray James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alvaro Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Mendoza. That's going to slow James down.
Mendoza thumps James with a low kick.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mendoza sprawls well. Mendoza wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.

Mendoza closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.
Mendoza looking to pass the guard.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mendoza is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mendoza wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
Mendoza must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Let's hope that Mendoza has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
James shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendoza but Mendoza pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mendoza throws a front kick that sends James stumbling back into the cage.
James really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
James shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendoza but Mendoza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendoza throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mendoza.
James tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mendoza defends well and James ends up having to push Mendoza into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mendoza pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mendoza scores with a head kick.
Mendoza shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James has a takedown stuffed.
James is breathing heavily.
Mendoza moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Mendoza throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mendoza goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza tries a head kick but it misses.
Mendoza bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Mendoza misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mendoza fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mendoza's waist but Mendoza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Mendoza on that attempt.
James on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mendoza. Mendoza obviously looking to wear him down.
Mendoza throws a nice head kick!
We've been informed that Mendoza has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
James has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Mendoza.
Mendoza scores with a push kick.
James on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mendoza. Mendoza obviously looking to wear him down.
James is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mendoza.
James tries for a takedown but Mendoza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mendoza fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and James has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
An inside leg kick lands from Mendoza.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mendoza is defended easily by James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
Mendoza throws a head kick that James semi-blocks.
Mendoza fakes the leg kick and cracks James in the body.

Mendoza closes the distance and clinches.
Mendoza manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Mendoza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mendoza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mendoza stalks James and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into James's face. James staggers backwards, shaken.
Mendoza lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alvaro Mendoza dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A jab from Mendoza finds it's way through James's defenses.
Mendoza goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mendoza as he avoids it easily.
Mendoza paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mendoza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

James drives through with a takedown into Mendoza's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mendoza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mendoza is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst James is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James won't allow Mendoza to sweep him here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mendoza can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mendoza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James won't allow Mendoza to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James being controlled here momentarily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
James scoring with some ground and pound.
James being controlled here momentarily.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
James throws a big elbow that misses.
James is working Mendoza over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mendoza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James throwing strikes but missing.
Mendoza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
James throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendoza moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Mendoza goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mendoza.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mendoza turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mendoza lands a body shot.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendoza.

Mendoza gets a clinch.
Mendoza drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendoza misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is looking for a takedown.
James has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mendoza avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mendoza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James takes one to the chin there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mendoza.

Mendoza manages to get an easy takedown there - catching James on his heels. He'll look to pass James's guard now, I'm sure.
Mendoza tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James being controlled here, momentarily.
Mendoza really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mendoza tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Mendoza is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alvaro Mendoza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendoza pinned against the cage. Mendoza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Alvaro Mendoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendoza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from James.
Mendoza scores with a kick to the body.
Mendoza throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mendoza plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mendoza unleashes a big counter combination but James bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendoza chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Mendoza looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for James!

Mendoza has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mendoza lands with a kick to the temple. James shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Mendoza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around James's waist but James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mendoza off to one side.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Mendoza tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mendoza manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.
Mendoza shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mendoza lands with a kick to the temple. James shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Mendoza is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
Mendoza throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Mendoza takes the fight into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mendoza - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Mendoza is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mendoza jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as James walks away with a smile on his face. Mendoza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mendoza throws a series of strikes that have James backpedaling.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendoza lands a head kick. James smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Mendoza throws a head kick that half lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendoza shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mendoza tries to clinch up.
Mendoza lands a high kick!
Mendoza tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mendoza lets loose with a powerful body kick. James will feel that in the morning.

Mendoza rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
Mendoza looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James can't get the takedown.
Mendoza looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
Mendoza tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
Mendoza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
Mendoza tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
Mendoza tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendoza crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James blocks an uppercut.
Mendoza looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
James will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Mendoza lands a knee to the body.
Mendoza tries for a takedown but James manages to get underhooks.
Mendoza connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Ray James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendoza is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alvaro Mendoza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mendoza has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 26:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30

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