PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Klas Ondahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and shawn mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ondahl
vs
mendes

193 cm
21
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Klas Ondahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, shawn mendes!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ondahl closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ondahl wants a takedown.
mendes trying to stall but Ondahl improves his position.
Ondahl goes for a takedown in the clinch but mendes prevents it.
Ondahl misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ondahl is trying to drag mendes to the mat but mendes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Klas Ondahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ondahl tries for a takedown. No joy.
mendes tries to throw a body punch but Ondahl avoids it by throwing mendes back against the cage.
Ondahl is working for takedown but mendes is calmly controlling the position for now.

mendes manages to pull guard.
mendes lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ondahl!
Ondahl is squirming around, avoiding mendes's attempts to control the action.
Ondahl looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ondahl tries to escape the position.
mendes scores with punches and elbows.
mendes trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Ondahl looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Ondahl is trapped and mendes is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Ondahl trying to get back to his feet but mendes is in full control for now.
Ondahl is breathing heavily.

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.
Will mendes go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

mendes working for the choke.
mendes cracks Ondahl with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Ondahl from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
mendes controlling well, preventing Ondahl from escaping the position.

Ondahl is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
mendes lands punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ondahl can't escape the position.
Ondahl controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
mendes trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Ondahl rolls, trying to escape but mendes keeps control of the position.
mendes looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
A lull in the action here.

Ondahl defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of mendes's arms.
The referee is taking a good look at Ondahl as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from mendes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ondahl controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Ondahl looking very determined here, making life difficult for mendes.
mendes softening up his opponent with strikes here.

mendes looking for the choke but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ondahl tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

shawn mendes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ondahl fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
mendes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
mendes misses with a takedown

and Ondahl counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
mendes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
mendes striking off his back but it's not causing Ondahl any problems.
Ondahl is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ondahl working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ondahl trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
mendes lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ondahl!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
mendes content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by mendes.
mendes tries to control but Ondahl wriggling away.
Ondahl is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ondahl is working hard here to advance position.
mendes lands a big shot there that rocks Ondahl but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
mendes pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ondahl slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
mendes trying to mount his opponent but Ondahl defends it.

Ondahl looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ondahl is refusing to be controlled, as mendes sits in half guard.
mendes wants to stand up but Ondahl is controlling the position.
mendes is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Ondahl utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ondahl pushes mendes off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ondahl misses with a takedown attempt
and mendes counters with a nice body kick.
mendes circles away from the clinch attempt

and mendes counters with a single leg into guard. Ondahl didn't expect that.

Ondahl is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ondahl had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. mendes defends it easily.
mendes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ondahl swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
mendes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ondahl is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ondahl has an active guard here but mendes has managed to pass into half guard.
Ondahl is refusing to be controlled, as mendes sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ondahl looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Klas Ondahl dominated that second round.
That's time! Ondahl's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ondahl tries to clinch up.
Ondahl shoots and misses

and mendes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by mendes.

mendes breaks the clinch.

mendes clinches up against the cage.
mendes fails to pull guard.
mendes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
mendes misses with a body punch.

Ondahl is fighting off a takedown attempt but mendes is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ondahl to the mat. Ondahl regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ondahl 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.
mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Ondahl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
mendes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ondahl working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from mendes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

mendes stands up and waves to Ondahl to follow him.

mendes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Ondahl is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
mendes trying to control but Ondahl is working from the bottom.

Ondahl looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
mendes controlling from the top position.
mendes wants to pass the guard but Ondahl is keeping the position.
Ondahl keeping moving, preventing mendes from controlling successfully.
mendes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ondahl kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Ondahl is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. mendes is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
mendes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ondahl swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

Ondahl throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ondahl looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ondahl has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but mendes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Ondahl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
mendes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
mendes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Ondahl throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ondahl 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.
mendes lands a couple of digs.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to shawn mendes.
Well mendes 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!