PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Salazar Mendez (ranked 5534 p4p, 4174 weight class) and James Spavin (ranked 0 p4p, 454 weight class). James Spavin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mendez
vs
Spavin

176 cm
23
155
0 - 2 - 1

182 cm
25
164
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salazar Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Spavin!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spavin is looking to clinch but Mendez is avoiding it.
Spavin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendez pinned against the cage. Mendez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mendez breaks the clinch.
Mendez doesn't manage to clinch there - Spavin circles away.
Spavin shoots in for a double leg but Mendez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spavin swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendez.
Spavin throws out a counter right but Mendez avoids it with no problem.
Mendez moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Spavin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Spavin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salazar Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Spavin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spavin scores with a jab to the body.
Mendez is breathing heavily.
Mendez throws a series of punches but Spavin avoids them all with ease.
Spavin wants to clinch.
Spavin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Spavin works the jab nicely.
Spavin doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendez circles away.
Spavin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendez pinned against the cage. Mendez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mendez stuffs the takedown.
Spavin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mendez defends well and Spavin ends up having to push Mendez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spavin throws out a leg kick but Mendez moves out of range and Spavin only half commits.
Spavin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mendez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mendez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
No luck for Spavin with that takedown attempt.
Spavin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Spavin fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick misses from Spavin.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mendez!
Spavin misses with a takedown attempt - Mendez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mendez feints and then cracks Spavin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Spavin down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Spavin.
Spavin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mendez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Salazar Mendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spavin tries to clinch but Mendez moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Mendez.
Mendez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Spavin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mendez defends it nicely.
Spavin with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spavin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mendez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A quick step to the side and Mendez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spavin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Spavin dives in for a single leg takedown but Mendez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Spavin.
Nice takedown defense from Mendez. No joy for Spavin on that attempt.
Mendez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mendez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Spavin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mendez avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Salazar Mendez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Spavin fails to land the takedown.
Mendez shoots in and drives through. Spavin sprawls well.
Spavin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Spavin doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendez circles away.
Mendez stuffs the takedown.
Mendez throws a big counter combination but Spavin scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Spavin blocks a head kick by Mendez.
Spavin is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Salazar Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spavin throws a one two combo.
We've been told by Mendez's head coaches at Cozad MMA Las Vegas that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Spavin moves into range and clinches up with Mendez.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Spavin walks away with a smile on his face. Mendez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Spavin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Spavin darts in looking for a takedown but Mendez gets double underhooks and turns Spavin into the cage.
Salazar Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Spavin.
Spavin tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mendez appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spavin shoots in but no luck this time.
Spavin is looking to clinch but Mendez is avoiding it.
Mendez misses with the combination.
Spavin fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mendez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spavin can do to turn this around?
Mendez is looking to take this one to the mat.

Spavin breaks from the clinch.
Spavin shoots in for a double leg but Mendez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mendez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Spavin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Spavin throws a head kick but Mendez moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spavin dives in and grabs Mendez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes down on Spavin's head and hops out.
Some wild striking there from Mendez.
Spavin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mendez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Spavin somewhat.
Spavin dives in for a single leg takedown but Mendez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mendez tries to close the distance and clinch but Spavin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mendez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Spavin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Spavin back to the cage. Mendez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Spavin looks for a takedown but Mendez sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez scores with a one two! Spavin had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Spavin throws a half hearted mid kick.
Spavin wants to land a leg kick but Mendez is out of range.
Mendez drops down looking for a counter takedown but Spavin sprawls and moves away.
Spavin lands a body shot.
Spavin darts in looking for a takedown but Mendez gets double underhooks and turns Spavin into the cage.
Spavin throws a chopping leg kick but Mendez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Spavin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mendez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mendez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mendez leaves Spavin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mendez connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spavin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mendez.
Spavin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendez but Mendez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Spavin misses with the combination.
Spavin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mendez. Mendez obviously looking to wear him down.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mendez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Spavin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Mendez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mendez wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Mendez. No joy for Spavin on that attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Salazar Mendez dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Mendez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Spavin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mendez tries to avoid it but Spavin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mendez to the ground. Mendez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Spavin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mendez avoids it really well and circles away.
Mendez is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Mendez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Spavin fails with a takedown attempt.
Salazar Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Spavin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spavin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spavin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Spavin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mendez swivels and escapes.
Mendez throws a big counter combination but Spavin scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mendez throws a head kick but Spavin moves out of range.
Mendez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spavin circles away quickly and effectively.
Mendez keeps the fight on the outside.
Mendez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It looked like Mendez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Salazar Mendez is winning the standup battle so far.
Spavin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mendez misses with a few strikes there.
Mendez misses with a double jab.
Spavin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mendez tries to avoid it but Spavin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mendez to the ground. Mendez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Mendez finds it's way through Spavin's defenses.
Mendez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Spavin.
Spavin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spavin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Spavin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mendez.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendez leaves Spavin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Spavin tries for a takedown but Mendez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mendez closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Spavin shoots in and drives through. Mendez sprawls well.
Spavin shoots in looking for a takedown. Mendez tries to sprawl out of it but Spavin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mendez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez takes a swing at Spavin's ribcage but misses.
Spavin throws a one two combo.
Spavin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendez but Mendez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mendez lands a leg kick that knocks Spavin off balance momentarily.
Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Spavin tries to clinch there but Mendez circles away.
Spavin shoots for a double leg takedown but Mendez sprawls well. He's pushed Spavin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Spavin or perhaps it was just good defense by Mendez, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spavin dodges the punch combination from Mendez.
Spavin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mendez slaps away a takedown attempt from Spavin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mendez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Spavin.
Nice takedown defense from Mendez. No joy for Spavin on that attempt.
Mendez tries to bum rush Spavin with a series of wild strikes but Spavin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Spavin is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Mendez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
James Spavin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salazar Mendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Spavin shoots in and drives through. Mendez sprawls well.
Spavin throws a series of punches but Mendez moves out of range.
Mendez throws a big counter combination but Spavin scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salazar Mendez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mendez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

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