PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roger Noguiera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paolo Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noguiera comes to the cage accompanied by Someday. Mendez has chosen Jay-Z - Brooklyn We Go Hard as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Noguiera
vs
Mendez

186 cm
26
210 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

185 cm
25
212 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Win Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roger Noguiera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paolo Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Noguiera swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Mendez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mendez preventing the sweep.
Noguiera keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.

Mendez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Noguiera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mendez has managed to get both his arms back between Noguiera's legs - danger averted.
Noguiera tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Noguiera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Noguiera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Noguiera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mendez.
Mendez looking to sit in guard and control but Noguiera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Noguiera tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendez is retaining full guard.
Noguiera being controlled here momentarily.
Noguiera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noguiera would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mendez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mendez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mendez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Noguiera is looking to improve his position.
Mendez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Noguiera wants to improve his position but Mendez is controlling well.
Noguiera trying to hold on to Mendez's head to control him but Mendez postures up.
Mendez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Mendez trying to mount his opponent but Noguiera defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mendez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Noguiera with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mendez wants to take a breather but Noguiera is having none of it.
Noguiera is pressing down on Mendez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Noguiera is retaining full guard.
Noguiera keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.
Mendez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Noguiera kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Noguiera has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mendez has passed into side control.
Noguiera is looking for a sweep.
Mendez scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Noguiera gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Mendez thows a huge punch but Noguiera dodges it nicely.
Noguiera is trying to control but can't.
Mendez tries to pass to full mount but Noguiera defends it.

Noguiera looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mendez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Mendez is looking for a kimura here.
Noguiera tries to roll over but Mendez keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Mendez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mendez lands in his opponent's guard.
Mendez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Noguiera trying to control the position.
Mendez stops Noguiera from standing up.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Noguiera keeps moving.
Noguiera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Noguiera wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Mendez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A big right from Noguiera misses.

Mendez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mendez is chipping away with strikes.
Mendez working away.
Mendez lands an elbow.
Noguiera is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Noguiera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Noguiera.

Noguiera had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Mendez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Noguiera Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Mendez's back instead.
Mendez is trying to break free.
Mendez trying to control but not successfully.
Mendez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Noguiera's guard. Nice work there by Mendez.

Noguiera uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noguiera doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mendez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mendez.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendez wants to pass the guard but Noguiera is keeping the position.
Paolo Mendez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Noguiera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mendez scoring with some ground and pound.
Mendez trying to control but Noguiera is working from the bottom.

Noguiera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendez passes Noguiera's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mendez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Mendez is trying to control. Noguiera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
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.
Noguiera is looking for a sweep. Mendez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Noguiera is in trouble now - Mendez has advanced to mount!
Mendez cracks Noguiera with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Mendez looking to finish Noguiera with some ground and pound. This is bad for Noguiera!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendez punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mendez lands with some strikes.
Noguiera tries to hold on but Mendez pushes him away.
Mendez with a couple of short strikes.
Mendez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Mendez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Noguiera tries to lock up and control but Mendez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez looking to control but Noguiera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Noguiera is working to get back to half guard.
Noguiera wants to get back to his feet.
Mendez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Noguiera can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Mendez looking to finish with strikes here!
A nice elbow there by Mendez.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mendez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Noguiera gets back to half guard.

Mendez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez staying out of range there.
Noguiera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mendez circles away.
Mendez tries to clinch up.
Noguiera tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mendez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Noguiera somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Noguiera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mendez moves into the clinch.
Noguiera avoids the elbow strike from Mendez, against the cage.
Noguiera is working for takedown but Mendez is calmly controlling the position for now.

Noguiera is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mendez is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Noguiera to the mat. Noguiera regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Mendez trying to control but Noguiera is working from the bottom.
Mendez is working Noguiera over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mendez postures up.
Mendez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Noguiera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Mendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mendez wants to clinch.

Mendez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Noguiera sprawls well initially but Mendez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Noguiera wants to get back to his feet.
Noguiera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Noguiera has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Mendez escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Mendez!
Noguiera is letting Mendez control him for a moment.
Mendez is working Noguiera over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ground and pound from Mendez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Mendez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Noguiera sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noguiera is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Noguiera avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mendez.

Mendez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Noguiera wants to control but Mendez postures up.
Noguiera is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Noguiera looking for submissions off his back.
Mendez is trying to control the action in half guard but Noguiera is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Noguiera wants to improve his position but Mendez is controlling well.
Mendez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Noguiera's head.
Mendez controlling the action here.
Noguiera flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Noguiera moves into full guard.
Mendez looking to sit in guard and control but Noguiera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mendez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noguiera advances position into side control!

Noguiera wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mendez, who protects the arm well.
Mendez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Noguiera's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Noguiera blocks the strikes from Mendez.

Noguiera is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mendez is just riding it out for now. Noguiera eventually gives up the hold.
Noguiera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Roger Noguiera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paolo Mendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Noguiera wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Mendez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Mendez gets the takedown into side control.
Mendez just content to control the position.
Mendez has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Mendez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Mendez cracks Noguiera with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paolo Mendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mendez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

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