PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Fistle (ranked 724 p4p, 1918 weight class) and Joe Mendez (ranked 115 p4p, 265 weight class). The key to victory for Shaun Fistle has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Fistle
vs
Mendez

225 cm
26
265
5 - 1 - 0

188 cm
26
275
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Island Boys Nutrition

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shaun Fistle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joe Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mendez.
Mendez has control of an arm but Fistle manages to advance to Mendez's back!
Mendez tries to roll but Fistle sticks to his back.
Mendez is still trying to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fistle is trying to stick to Mendez's back but Mendez is turning into Fistle. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Fistle's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mendez.
Fistle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mendez.
Mendez throwing strikes from guard but Fistle blocks nicely.
Mendez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mendez slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fistle is looking for a sweep. Mendez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mendez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mendez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fistle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mendez.
Mendez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mendez lands with a punch from half guard.
Mendez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mendez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fistle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendez.
Fistle definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Fistle on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fistle tries to get out of the position.
Fistle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mendez.
Mendez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fistle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez lands strikes from half guard.
Mendez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mendez looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Mendez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mendez is looking to take a break and control but Fistle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mendez thows a huge punch but Fistle dodges it nicely.
Fistle is staying active underneath Mendez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mendez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mendez is trying to control. Fistle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendez swings away with a body shot that misses
and Fistle counters with a nice uppercut.
Mendez defending well as Fistle loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez throws a body shot but no joy.
Jab by Mendez.
Fistle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Mendez shoots in and bounces Fistle off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mendez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mendez throws an elbow that misses. Fistle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendez's guard. Nice move by Fistle!

Mendez has control of Fistle's left arm, preventing Fistle from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fistle is one step ahead there.
Mendez pulls Fistle in close to prevent any damage.
Fistle preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fistle is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Fistle is fighting to break Mendez's control of his arms but Mendez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Mendez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Fistle misses with an uppercut. Mendez saw that one coming.
Mendez is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Fistle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shaun Fistle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendez throws a body punch but Fistle moves out of range.
Fistle misses with a hook

and Mendez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Mendez.
Mendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fistle keeps working.
Mendez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fistle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mendez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Fistle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendez.
Fistle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez is nestled in close to Fistle, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mendez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mendez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mendez lands a nice short elbow.
Fistle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mendez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mendez is trying to control the action in half guard but Fistle is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mendez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mendez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is looking to advance position but Fistle won't allow it.
Mendez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fistle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fistle is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mendez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Fistle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mendez lands with a punch from half guard.
Mendez drops an elbow to the side of Fistle's head.
Mendez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez content to control rather than advance.
Fistle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mendez.
Mendez throwing shots but Fistle is blocking nicely.
Mendez throwing shots but Fistle is blocking nicely.
Mendez working the head and body with strikes.
Mendez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mendez thows a huge punch but Fistle dodges it nicely.
Mendez throwing shots but Fistle is blocking nicely.
Mendez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mendez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants to take a breather but Fistle is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mendez throws a right hand that Fistle ducks under and follows up with a left that Fistle also avoids with ease.
Fistle misses with a looping left.
Mendez changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Mendez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fistle knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mendez on the ground.
Fistle parries the strikes from Mendez easily there. Mendez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Fistle to escape.
Mendez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Fistle sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Mendez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The strikes coming from Mendez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Fistle dodges the ground and pound from Mendez.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The strikes coming from Mendez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Mendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A cross from Mendez lands.

Mendez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fistle was covering up waiting for the punch and Mendez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mendez throws a strike but Fistle rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mendez is on top in guard.

Mendez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fistle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendez throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendez throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez is working Fistle over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mendez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mendez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mendez stands up over Fistle, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fistle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mendez.
Mendez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Fistle's head.
Mendez postures up in Fistle's guard and throws a big left but Fistle blocks it.
Fistle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fistle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mendez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is working Fistle over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mendez postures up in Fistle's guard and throws a big left but Fistle blocks it.
Mendez is in close to Fistle's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fistle will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mendez looking to pass the guard.
Mendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mendez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mendez moves in looking to clinch but Fistle pushes him off.
Mendez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendez throws a series of punches but Fistle moves out of range.
Mendez moves out of range of the strikes.

Mendez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Fistle!
Fistle dodges the ground and pound from Mendez.
Joe Mendez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Mendez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Fistle gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Mendez punching from mount but Fistle doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mendez in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mendez unloads with some shots from mount but Fistle bucks and avoids them well.
Fistle really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mendez punching from mount but Fistle doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mendez misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez punching from mount but Fistle doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mendez pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mendez pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mendez landing strikes from the mount and Fistle is in trouble!
Mendez controlling his opponent.
Poor strikes thrown by Mendez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mendez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Mendez is landing with some decent strikes but Fistle is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Fistle is in a horrible position here. Mendez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Shaun Fistle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Mendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Fistle is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice elbow there by Mendez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Mendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mendez 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Joe Mendez!
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight for Joe Mendez!
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Joe Mendez!

Joe Mendez wins by unanimous decision!