PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Mendez (ranked 1267 p4p, 2127 weight class) and Spenser Swagger (ranked 144 p4p, 234 weight class). Joe Mendez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mendez
vs
Swagger

188 cm
33
275
20 - 11 - 0

191 cm
22
238
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Spenser Swagger!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jonathan Paton and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Swagger.
Mendez throws the left hand but Swagger avoids the punch easily.
Swagger misses with the body kick

so Mendez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Swagger 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.
Swagger is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mendez is controlling him.
Mendez content to stall in guard here.
Mendez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez advances to half guard.
Swagger wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Swagger is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mendez scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Swagger pushes Mendez off looking to stand but Mendez dives back in and keeps control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mendez lands a nice short elbow.
Swagger wants to stand back up but Mendez manages to pass into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Swagger can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee asks Mendez politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Mendez prefers to stall for the moment though.
Swagger is looking to get back to his feet here but Mendez is keeping cool and he's managed to take Swagger's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is landing with strikes from the back.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Mendez. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

It looks like Spenser Swagger has been cut.
Swagger is trying to get back to his feet but Mendez has full control of the position and if anything, Swagger has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Mendez is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

That has opened up Spenser Swagger's cut even more.
Mendez connects with a big shot to the side of Swagger's head.
Swagger is trapped and Mendez is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendez landing with strikes.
Mendez has Swagger flattened out and is raining down punches.

Spenser Swagger's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Spenser Swagger's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Joe Mendez!