PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Mendez (ranked 1097 p4p, 1488 weight class) and Jack Crusher (ranked 124 p4p, 162 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mendez
vs
Crusher

188 cm
33
275
19 - 10 - 0

195 cm
24
250
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

NARCOS

Savage Fightwear

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 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Crusher !
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Mendez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Crusher has time to react.

It looks like Jack Crusher has been cut.
Mendez missing with a left hand there. Crusher was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mendez or perhaps it was just good defense by Crusher , which made it look bad.
Crusher displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mendez throws out the jab.
Joe Mendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez misses with an uppercut. Crusher saw that one coming.
Mendez misses with a lunging right hand

so Crusher counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crusher wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.
Mendez is pulling down on Crusher 's head. It's preventing any offense from Crusher , at least for the moment.
Crusher distracts Mendez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Crusher wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.
Crusher with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Crusher 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.
Crusher lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Crusher trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Crusher trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crusher might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mendez haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crusher looking to pass the guard.
Mendez 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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is looking to stand back up but Crusher counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mendez.
Mendez is trying is best to control the position here.

Crusher is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Crusher is pressing down on Mendez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mendez is holding on for now.
Mendez wants to control but Crusher is keeping busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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 scores with a decent looking hook.
Jack Crusher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Crusher .
Mendez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Crusher steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Mendez.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendez throws a right hand that misses

and Crusher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Crusher dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jack Crusher 's cut.
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.

Mendez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mendez trying to control but Crusher is working from the bottom.

Crusher has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mendez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mendez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez throws a big elbow that misses.

Crusher escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mendez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mendez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Crusher 's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crusher trying to keep a closed guard but Mendez is proving a slippery customer.
Mendez 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.
Mendez throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendez works over Crusher with some ground and pound from guard.
Crusher lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mendez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Crusher controls the pace.
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Crusher from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crusher stopping the sweep attempt from Mendez.

Crusher is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Crusher trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crusher postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Crusher with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mendez wants to sweep but no luck.
Crusher throwing strikes from guard but Mendez blocks nicely.
Crusher has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Crusher controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crusher is fighting to break Mendez's control of his arms but Mendez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mendez throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Crusher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Crusher is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Crusher stopping the sweep attempt from Mendez.
Mendez wants to stand up but Crusher is controlling him.
Crusher stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crusher wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.
Crusher throws a big elbow that misses.
Crusher in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Crusher trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendez misses with a looping left.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendez misses with a looping left.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Crusher will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jack Crusher 's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mendez misses with an uppercut

and Crusher counters by moving into the clinch.
I was talking to Mendez's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Mendez misses with a body punch.
Mendez stalls.
Mendez wants to stall.
Crusher can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez misses with a body punch.
Crusher drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mendez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mendez swings wildly with an uppercut but Crusher uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crusher has Mendez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mendez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Joe Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Crusher .

Crusher drags the fight down to the ground.
Mendez postures up.
Mendez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mendez throws an elbow that misses. Crusher uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendez's guard. Nice move by Crusher !

Mendez keeping moving, preventing Crusher from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mendez working a defensive guard but Crusher manages to pass into side control anyway.
Mendez tries to bench press Crusher off him but Crusher keeps the position.
Mendez can't do much from the bottom here.
Mendez is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Crusher asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Crusher gets to mount! Mendez was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crusher prevents Mendez from getting the reversal.
Crusher lands a nice shot to the head.
Crusher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Crusher looking to ground and pound but Mendez is blocking nicely.
Mendez is in a horrible position here. Crusher smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mendez is desperately trying to improve his position but Crusher has a good base and remains in mount.
Joe Mendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Crusher landing strikes from the mount.

Crusher looking to secure an arm triangle but Mendez defends it well.
Mendez is desperately trying to improve his position but Crusher has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crusher breaks from Mendez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mendez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Crusher trying to control but Mendez is having none of it.
BOOM! Crusher connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Mendez is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Oooh a big shot lands for Crusher ! Mendez is out! The ref dives in to save him from more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Jack Crusher !