PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juan Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tahj Wade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Mendoza has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mendoza
vs
Wade

187 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juan Mendoza!
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, Tahj Wade!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Mendoza misses.
Wade tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mendoza swivels and escapes.
Wade tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mendoza sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wade somewhat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mendoza enables Wade to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mendoza manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mendoza wants to stand up but Wade is controlling him.
Wade wants to control from the top but Mendoza keeps moving.
Mendoza is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mendoza keeping full guard, as Wade tries to pass.
Wade must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wade throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mendoza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mendoza wants to stand and escape but Wade is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wade accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wade trying to control but Mendoza is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wade with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wade is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wade advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is refusing to be controlled, as Wade sits in half guard.
Mendoza is looking to improve his position.
Wade thows a huge punch but Mendoza dodges it nicely.
Wade is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Wade decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wade forces Mendoza back against the cage and clinches.
Mendoza prevents a takedown attempt there.
Juan Mendoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tahj Wade.

Wade has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mendoza uses from the top position.
Wade looking to control.

Tahj Wade has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mendoza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mendoza scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Wade moves out of range of the leg kick from Mendoza.
Mendoza shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Wade eats them both and turns towards Mendoza to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mendoza sizes up Wade with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mendoza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wade.
Mendoza throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mendoza fails with the takedown

and Wade counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wade thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Wade is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mendoza has managed to free his arm - good work.
Wade looks gassed!
Wade wants to pass the guard but Mendoza is defending well.
Wade missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tahj Wade dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Wade fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mendoza with a poor takedown

and Wade counters with a single leg into guard. Mendoza didn't expect that.
Wade looking to pass the guard.
Wade trying to move into half guard but instead Mendoza has managed to sweep!
Wade wants to get back to his feet but Mendoza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Wade pushes Mendoza off and gets back to his feet.
Wade is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Wade doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mendoza scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Mendoza with a poor takedown

and Wade counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mendoza won't be happy with that.
Wade is chipping away with strikes.
Mendoza tries to escape but Wade is in control.
Mendoza tries to bench press Wade off him but Wade keeps the position.
Wade tries to advance to mount but can't.
Wade really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mendoza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wade with the ground and pound but Mendoza regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza looks like he's trying to stand up.
Wade missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wade prevents Mendoza from standing back up.
Wade works his way into full mount!
Mendoza is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Wade raining down shots from the mount!
Wade looking to finish with strikes here!
Wade unloads with some shots from mount but Mendoza bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wade throws a wild left hand from mount and Mendoza manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Wade seems content to control.
Wade thows a huge punch but Mendoza dodges it nicely.
Wade is pressing down on Mendoza's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mendoza is holding on for now.
Mendoza is looking to escape.
Tahj Wade has got the better of the ground game so far.

Wade stands up out of the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tahj Wade 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mendoza misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mendoza scores with a punch to the head.
Wade fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mendoza looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wade is fending him off so far but Mendoza persists. Nope, Wade circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from Mendoza does no damage.
Mendoza scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Mendoza closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mendoza lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mendoza throws a one two combo.
Mendoza scores with a three punch combo!
Wade dives in and grabs Mendoza's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mendoza pushes down on Wade's head and hops out.
Mendoza throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendoza shoots and misses

and Wade counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mendoza won't be happy with that.
Mendoza is trying to buck Wade off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wade trying to control the action but Mendoza is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wade in side control, throwing shots but Mendoza defends.
Wade prevents Mendoza from escaping the position.
Wade laying and praying for a moment but Mendoza takes advantage and regains half guard.
Wade sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mendoza defending well though.
Juan Mendoza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Wade drops an elbow to the side of Mendoza's head.
Mendoza keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wade trying to mount his opponent but Mendoza defends it.
Wade controlling the action here.
Wade trying to control from half guard but Mendoza is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wade is just content to waste time from the top position. Mendoza takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Mendoza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wade.
Mendoza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Wade postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mendoza is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Wade, into his guard.
Wade is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mendoza is controlling him.

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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tahj Wade hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mendoza lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mendoza.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendoza lands a two punch combo.
Mendoza moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mendoza.
Wade takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wade takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tahj Wade comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wade winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tahj Wade!