PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Mendez (ranked 4401 p4p, 5240 weight class) and Buster Hyman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Mendez
vs
Hyman

180 cm
21
150
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
150
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryan Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Buster Hyman!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hyman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mendez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mendez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Hyman.

Hyman clinches up with Mendez and pushes him back against the cage.
Hyman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mendez walks away with a smile on his face. Hyman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Hyman has managed to clinch.
Mendez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hyman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mendez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hyman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mendez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez throws a body punch but Hyman moves out of range.
Mendez closes the distance and clinches up with Hyman, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes Hyman against the cage but Hyman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hyman fails with the takedown.
Ryan Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buster Hyman.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hyman, pushing him back against the cage.
Mendez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Mendez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hyman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mendez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but Hyman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hyman dives in and grabs Mendez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes down on Hyman's head and hops out.

Mendez gets a clinch.
Hyman is trying to break the clinch but Mendez has him pressed against the cage.
Hyman controlling the action here for a moment.

Mendez jumps guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hyman won't allow Mendez to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hyman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendez is keeping the position for now.
Mendez pulls Hyman in close to prevent any damage.
Hyman won't allow Mendez to sweep him here.
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Hyman from controlling successfully.
Mendez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez advances to half guard.
Hyman trying to hold on to Mendez's head to control him but Mendez postures up.
Mendez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hyman is defending against the submission attempts here by Mendez.
Mendez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Mendez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mendez prevents Hyman from improving his position.
Hyman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mendez is working away from the top position though.
Mendez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hyman is looking to control Mendez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hyman avoid being mounted?

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hyman throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mendez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hyman is in Mendez's guard.

Mendez manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendez avoids the head kick by Hyman.
Mendez feinted with a counter takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Mendez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A punch combination from Mendez misses.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hyman is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mendez lands with a nice body kick.
Hyman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mendez as he avoids it easily.
Mendez lands a head kick!

Hyman takes the fight into the clinch.

Mendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hyman wants to counter the offense by Mendez and move into the clinch position.

Hyman drives through and clinches with Mendez against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez jumps guard and drags Hyman to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hyman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendez is keeping the position for now.
Mendez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hyman preventing the sweep.
Hyman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hyman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mendez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hyman is looking to stand up but Mendez won't let him.
Hyman advances position into side control!
Mendez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hyman's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hyman wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mendez is looking to escape.
Mendez gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hyman wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.
Mendez is trying to control the position but Hyman postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mendez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mendez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hyman to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hyman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Mendez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hyman defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hyman is working Mendez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hyman wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hyman working some strikes from top position.

Hyman drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mendez dives on top into guard.

Hyman looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hyman keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.
Ryan Mendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendez won't allow Hyman to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ryan Mendez 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!

Mendez tries for a takedown but Hyman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hyman lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hyman but Hyman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hyman drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mendez defends it well.
Mendez checks a leg kick.
Mendez goes for a double leg but Hyman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hyman continues to drive forward.
A little jabbing left from Hyman on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mendez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mendez throws a right and a left that Hyman avoids nicely.

Hyman closes the distance and pushes Mendez back into the cage.
Hyman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mendez to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hyman wants to take the fight to the mat but Mendez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Mendez decides to pull guard.
Hyman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hyman trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hyman defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hyman trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mendez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mendez is working an open guard so Hyman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Mendez gets caught flat footed, as Hyman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hyman with a nice head shot there.
Mendez looking to control.
Hyman is stalling in the full guard.

Hyman stands and steps away. Mendez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mendez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hyman drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mendez defends it well.
Hyman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Hyman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Mendez throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Ryan Mendez is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hyman shoots in and drives through. Mendez sprawls well.
Hyman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mendez on the side of the head.
Mendez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hyman drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mendez defends it well.

Hyman changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mendez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Hyman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Hyman looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez gets back to half guard.
Hyman wants to free his trapped foot but Mendez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hyman not doing much here.
Hyman tries to stand and escape but Mendez is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Buster Hyman.
I think Mendez 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Mendez!