PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kleber de souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendoza comes to the cage accompanied by Accept - Balls to the Wall. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mendoza
vs
de souza

189 cm
21
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

[MMABR]FALCON CLOTHING[†]
[MMABR]: Vaninico's Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manuel Mendoza!
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, Kleber de souza!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendoza darts in and clinches de souza up against the cage.
Mendoza tries for a takedown but de souza manages to get underhooks.
de souza tries to land a knee to the head but Mendoza blocks with his arms.

de souza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
de souza wants to clinch but Mendoza slips to the side

and Mendoza counters with a takedown into side control.
Mendoza controlling the position from side mount.
de souza struggling a bit here.
de souza is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mendoza has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Mendoza decides to stand back up. Mendoza steps back and let's de souza get back to his feet.
Mendoza throws a series of strikes that have de souza backpedaling.
de souza closes the distance but Mendoza moves to the side
letting Mendoza counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mendoza.

Mendoza moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendoza has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics de souza uses from the top position.
Mendoza keeping moving, preventing de souza from controlling successfully.

Mendoza escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. de souza gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendoza controlling de souza's posture.
Mendoza keeping moving, preventing de souza from controlling successfully.
Mendoza wants to stand but de souza is controlling the position.

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.
de souza preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendoza is breathing heavily.
de souza is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
de souza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mendoza tries to avoid it but de souza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mendoza to the ground. Mendoza escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
de souza shoots in looking for a takedown. Mendoza tries to sprawl out of it but de souza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mendoza manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Mendoza is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in de souza's half guard.
Mendoza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mendoza is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

de souza kicks off Mendoza and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendoza has closed the distance and engaged de souza in a clinch.
de souza tries a knee to the head but Mendoza blocks it.
Mendoza scores with a nice hook to the head.
de souza is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mendoza dodges an elbow strike from de souza.

Mendoza jumps guard and drags de souza to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mendoza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as de souza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mendoza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
de souza has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mendoza is proving hard to escape from.
Mendoza keeping moving, preventing de souza from controlling successfully.

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.
Mendoza is looking to stand up but de souza isn't so interested in that idea.

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

de souza closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mendoza did well to prevent de souza getting side control.
de souza controlling the action here.
Mendoza wants to get back to full guard.
Mendoza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. de souza is working away from the top position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
de souza perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Mendoza dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mendoza gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and de souza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by de souza.
Mendoza tries to pull guard but de souza holds him up against the cage and eventually Mendoza drops back down to his feet.

Mendoza jumps guard and drags de souza to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
de souza wants to control from the top but Mendoza keeps moving.
de souza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
de souza wants to control from the top but Mendoza keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
de souza tries to stand but Mendoza is controlling from the bottom.
Mendoza really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendoza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendoza will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mendoza has his foot on de souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. de souza works his way back into a safe position though.

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

de souza gets to his feet. Mendoza looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A slapping body kick lands there for Mendoza.
de souza clinches but Mendoza breaks the clinch

and Mendoza counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
de souza tries a knee to the head but Mendoza blocks it.

Mendoza decides to pull guard.

de souza decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
de souza fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Mendoza drives through and clinches with de souza against the cage.
Still in the clinch, de souza scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mendoza wants to get back to striking at distance but de souza won't allow it.
de souza avoiding damage.
de souza lands a nice elbow.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
de souza is pressed up against the cage. Mendoza has hold of a leg and is looking to drag de souza down to the mat. de souza avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manuel Mendoza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
de souza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mendoza as he jumps to the side.
Mendoza circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mendoza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mendoza.
de souza tries to clinch but Mendoza moves away

and Mendoza counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mendoza lands a couple of decent looking shots.
de souza is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mendoza is controlling him.
de souza is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
de souza looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mendoza puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Mendoza with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de souza is looking to escape.
Mendoza thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed de souza's head.
de souza wants to get back to his feet.
Manuel Mendoza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
de souza is trying to control but can't.
de souza pushes Mendoza off looking to stand but Mendoza dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mendoza moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Mendoza dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

de souza swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mendoza counters with a takedown into side control.

de souza explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

de souza gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
de souza is trying to keep Mendoza in close.
Mendoza stays in close to de souza's body and controls the position.
de souza wants to stand and escape but Mendoza is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
de souza doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza stops de souza from standing up.

de souza has his feet on Mendoza's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Manuel Mendoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

de souza clinches with his opponent.
Mendoza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mendoza changes levels and goes for a takedown here. de souza fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice takedown defense from de souza. No joy for Mendoza on that attempt.
de souza circles away from the clinch attempt

and de souza counters with a shoot takedown. Mendoza fights it but they end up in guard.
Mendoza has a closed guard, preventing de souza from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de souza won't allow Mendoza to sweep him here.
Mendoza is looking to stand up but de souza isn't so interested in that idea.
de souza stays in close to Mendoza's body and controls the position.
de souza wants to control from the top but Mendoza keeps moving.
de souza passes Mendoza's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
de souza slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza tries to roll over but de souza keeps him under control.
Mendoza is looking to escape.
Mendoza wants to get back to full guard.
de souza tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mendoza controls his leg.
de souza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mendoza defending well though.
Mendoza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. de souza is working away from the top position though.
Kleber de souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendoza is looking for a sweep. de souza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
de souza clinches but Mendoza breaks the clinch
and Mendoza counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps de souza thinking.
de souza tries to clinch up but Mendoza circles away and keeps his distance.

Mendoza throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. de souza was covering up waiting for the punch and Mendoza finishes the takedown easily into guard.

de souza pushes Mendoza off and gets back to his feet.
de souza misses the jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendoza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and de souza counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kleber de souza.
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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

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