PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Mendoza (ranked 738 p4p, 1084 weight class) and James Hackett (ranked 56 p4p, 81 weight class). Hackett is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Foe Tha Love of Money. Luiz Mendoza had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Mendoza
vs
Hackett

164 cm
33
136
19 - 13 - 1

175 cm
38
146
27 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Luiz Mendoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 16 - 1, fighting out of London, James Hackett!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendoza misses with a hook. Hackett ducked under it nicely.
And Hackett responds with a good body kick, but Mendoza manages to step out the way in time.
Hackett throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mendoza's head.
Hackett ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mendoza seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Hackett throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mendoza was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hackett misses with a hook

and Mendoza counters with a single leg into guard. Hackett didn't expect that.
Hackett is wriggling around but Mendoza manages to pass to half guard.

Mendoza is trying to control the action in half guard but Hackett is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hackett is looking for a sweep. Mendoza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mendoza keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hackett is trying to control but can't.
Mendoza prevents Hackett from improving his position.
Mendoza thows a huge punch but Hackett dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendoza misses with a head shot. Hackett uses the momentum to regain guard.
Mendoza preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hackett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hackett is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mendoza postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mendoza distracts Hackett with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mendoza wants to control from the top but Hackett keeps moving.
Mendoza showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Hackett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mendoza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mendoza looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hackett takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Hackett.
Hackett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mendoza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hackett just misses with a punch to the body.
Mendoza uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hackett.
Hackett throws a head kick that misses
and Mendoza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hackett walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mendoza.
Hackett lands a nice hook to Mendoza's body. Mendoza takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hackett takes a swing at Mendoza's ribcage but misses.
Hackett throws a head kick but Mendoza moves out of range.
Mendoza is looking for a counter combo.
Hackett lands a head kick. Mendoza smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hackett ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendoza moves away.
Mendoza cracks Hackett with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendoza throws a leg kick but Hackett checks it.
Hackett takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hackett takes a swing at Mendoza's ribcage but misses.
Hackett misses with a kick to the body

and Mendoza counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mendoza.
Mendoza trying to control but Hackett is working from the bottom.
Hackett controls Mendoza momentarily but Mendoza frees himself.
Mendoza 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.
Hackett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendoza is one step ahead there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Mendoza 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.

Mendoza throws a quick inside leg kick.
Luiz Mendoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendoza connects with an inside leg kick.
Mendoza with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hackett with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mendoza uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hackett.
Hackett cracks a nice hook into Mendoza's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hackett uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mendoza.
Hackett throws out a counter right but Mendoza avoids it with no problem.
Hackett throws a sloppy head kick and Mendoza moves out of range easily.
Mendoza looks to land a combination but Hackett avoids it well.
Mendoza takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza misses with a wild body shot.
Hackett pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mendoza connects with a body shot that sends Hackett's belly button to the back.
Nice defenses there by Hackett.
Hackett looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mendoza scores with a sloppy right hand. Hackett should have avoided that one.
Mendoza throws a leg kick
and Hackett counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hackett tries a head kick but it misses.
Mendoza moves out of range of the strikes.
Hackett misses with a kick to the body

and Mendoza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Luiz Mendoza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendoza is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hackett wants to sweep here but Mendoza controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza wants to control from the top but Hackett keeps moving.

Mendoza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hackett has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mendoza has managed to get both his arms back between Hackett's legs - danger averted.
Hackett is trying to hold Mendoza in close to prevent damage but Mendoza has managed to pass into half guard.
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!
Hackett wants to control but Mendoza is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mendoza drops an elbow to the side of Hackett's head.
Hackett is trying to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Mendoza seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hackett wants to improve his position but Mendoza is controlling well.
Mendoza takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hackett gets full guard.
Mendoza lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mendoza scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mendoza makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mendoza wants to control from the top but Hackett keeps moving.
Hackett is trying to keep Mendoza in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hackett looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mendoza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hackett tries a head kick but it misses.
Hackett misses with a looping left.
Mendoza tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hackett is able to avoid easily.
Mendoza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hackett circles away quickly and effectively.
Hackett throws out a counter right but Mendoza avoids it with no problem.
Hackett connects with a right hand. Mendoza shakes it off.
Hackett avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hackett throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hackett misses with a head kick.
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 Luiz Mendoza will probably get the nod.
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!

Mendoza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hackett was well out of range. Poor timing from Mendoza.
Mendoza misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hackett.
Mendoza lands a right hook to the body.
Mendoza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hackett throws out a loose jab but Mendoza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mendoza misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hackett counters with a solid body kick.
Hackett throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hackett throws a head kick but Mendoza moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendoza with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mendoza looks to land a body kick but Hackett moved away.
Mendoza fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mendoza cracks a nice hook into Hackett's ribs.
Mendoza cracks a nice hook into Hackett's ribs.
Hackett throws a predictable looking body shot
and Mendoza counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hackett throws a sloppy head kick and Mendoza moves out of range easily.
Hackett throws a lazy head kick

and Mendoza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mendoza slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mendoza stands and throws Hackett's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hackett is not content to let Mendoza control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hackett being controlled for a moment.
James Hackett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is looking to take a break and control but Hackett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mendoza creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hackett is not content to let Mendoza control the position.
Mendoza works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
You can see the frustration on Hackett's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hackett is looking for a sweep.
Hackett can't do much from the bottom here.
Hackett is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
You can see the frustration on Hackett's face as Mendoza controls the position.
Mendoza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hackett can do to turn this around?
Mendoza working the ground and pound from side control.
Luiz Mendoza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendoza controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendoza working away.
Mendoza is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hackett's shoulder. That is not cool.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hackett rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Mendoza counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luiz Mendoza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mendoza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luiz Mendoza!
After the fight, Luiz Mendoza was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.