PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Reuben Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendoza is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Accept - Balls to the Wall. Manuel Mendoza will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Gonzalez
vs
Mendoza

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

189 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Juggernaut Fuel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Reuben Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manuel Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendoza closes the distance and clinches.
Mendoza prevents a body shot from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez tries to pull guard but Mendoza won't allow it.
Mendoza tries for a takedown but Gonzalez manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Gonzalez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gonzalez tries for a takedown but Mendoza manages to get underhooks.

Mendoza wants the takedown. Gonzalez is fighting it off but Mendoza persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gonzalez's guard against the cage.
Mendoza passes Gonzalez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mendoza is thwarting Gonzalez's attempts to control the position.
Mendoza with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gonzalez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mendoza.
Gonzalez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Well, if Mendoza is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Mendoza stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Gonzalez to get to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendoza darts in and clinches Gonzalez up against the cage.

Mendoza lands a takedown into guard.

Gonzalez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Mendoza from controlling successfully.
Gonzalez is trying to keep Mendoza in close.
Gonzalez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendoza is one step ahead there.
Gonzalez can't keep his opponent in guard - Mendoza advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gonzalez trying to get back to full guard but Mendoza takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Gonzalez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gonzalez tries to hold on but Mendoza pushes him away.
Gonzalez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mendoza with the ground and pound from mount.
Mendoza controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mendoza forces the positional change into back control.
Mendoza is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mendoza biding his time, controlling Gonzalez.
Mendoza looks gassed!
Mendoza lands a shot to the body.
I would not like to be Gonzalez right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Mendoza is looking for the choke from the back position but Gonzalez is controlling his hands well.
Mendoza avoiding Gonzalez 's attempts to control his hands.
Gonzalez is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Gonzalez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Mendoza punches the canvas rather than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Mendoza dominated that round.
That's time! Gonzalez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gonzalez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gonzalez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mendoza sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gonzalez somewhat.
Gonzalez stuffs the takedown.

Mendoza closes the distance and pushes Gonzalez back into the cage.
Gonzalez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mendoza pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mendoza tries for a takedown but Gonzalez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez wants to clinch

and Mendoza counters by clinching up.
Mendoza is breathing heavily.

Mendoza jumps guard.
Gonzalez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mendoza controls Gonzalez momentarily but Gonzalez frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gonzalez is one step ahead there.
Gonzalez wants to control from the top but Mendoza keeps moving.

Mendoza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gonzalez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gonzalez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gonzalez won't allow Mendoza to get back to his feet.

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.

Gonzalez 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.
Gonzalez throwing strikes from guard but Mendoza blocks nicely.
Gonzalez wants to stand but Mendoza has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gonzalez tries to clinch

and Mendoza counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mendoza is looking to advance position but Gonzalez won't allow it.
Mendoza is looking to take a break and control but Gonzalez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gonzalez defending well though.
Mendoza thows a huge punch but Gonzalez dodges it nicely.
Gonzalez trying to hold on to Mendoza's head to control him but Mendoza postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mendoza in particular looking to stall.
Gonzalez misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mendoza checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gonzalez wants to clinch but Mendoza slips to the side

and Mendoza holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Mendoza breaks the clinch.
Mendoza takes a swing at Gonzalez's ribcage but misses.
Gonzalez dives in and grabs Mendoza's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mendoza pushes down on Gonzalez's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reuben Gonzalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzalez tries for a takedown but Mendoza circles away easily

and Mendoza counters by moving into the clinch.
Gonzalez has had enough of the clinch but Mendoza keeps him there for the moment.

Mendoza manages to break the clinch.
Gonzalez shoots in and drives through. Mendoza sprawls well.
Mendoza buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gonzalez fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Mendoza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mendoza.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Gonzalez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mendoza on the ground.
Gonzalez is trying to control Mendoza's posture but Mendoza avoids it.
Mendoza trying to control the action but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez is trying to control Mendoza's posture but Mendoza avoids it.

Mendoza tries for a kimura but Gonzalez is defending well.
Gonzalez is trying to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Mendoza pushes Gonzalez up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Mendoza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gonzalez tries for a takedown but Mendoza circles away easily

and Mendoza moves into the clinch.
Gonzalez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mendoza smiles and moves away.

Mendoza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Gonzalez looking for a guillotine here but Mendoza defends easily.
Gonzalez working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Mendoza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Mendoza pushes Gonzalez up against the cage in a clinch.

Mendoza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gonzalez misses with a takedown attempt - Mendoza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reuben Gonzalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mendoza gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Gonzalez's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mendoza has hold of one of Gonzalez's legs. Gonzalez is fighting the takedown attempt but Mendoza gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Mendoza content to stall in guard here.

Mendoza decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gonzalez, up you get!
Mendoza swings for the body but Gonzalez moves out of range.
Mendoza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gonzalez sprawls well. Gonzalez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mendoza gets slowly back to his feet.
Gonzalez throws a series of punches but Mendoza avoids them all with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manuel Mendoza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mendoza 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel Mendoza!