PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joha Mendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Ferrari (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.

Mendo
vs
Ferrari

175 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joha Mendo!
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, Carlos Ferrari!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ferrari shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mendo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ferrari trying to control from half guard but Mendo is working away.
Mendo wants to control but Ferrari is keeping busy.
Ferrari tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mendo.
Mendo trying to control but Ferrari postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendo tries to get to full guard but Ferrari has control of the leg.

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

Mendo drives through with a takedown into guard.

Ferrari looking for a guillotine here but Mendo defends easily.
Mendo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ferrari has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mendo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mendo pushes down on Ferrari's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ferrari looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendo controlling the action here.
Mendo wants to stand up but Ferrari is controlling the position.
Ferrari is trying to stand up here but Mendo is controlling him well.
Mendo is trying to control the action in half guard but Ferrari is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ferrari wants to improve his position but Mendo is controlling well.
Ferrari is trying to maintain the position but Mendo is very close to passing his half guard.
Ferrari wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ferrari does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ferrari avoids the head kick by Mendo.

Mendo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ferrari is staying active underneath Mendo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Mendo seems to be working for a kimura but Ferrari defends the submission attempt.
Mendo works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ferrari tries to lock up and control but Mendo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ferrari keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ferrari squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Ferrari tries to hold on but Mendo postures up.
Ferrari regains half guard.
Ferrari landing strikes from the bottom.
Ferrari trying to control from the bottom.
Mendo prevents Ferrari from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ferrari doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mendo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mendo is just content to waste time from the top position. Ferrari takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ferrari throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mendo looking to sit in guard and control but Ferrari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mendo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ferrari wants to get up but he can't break Mendo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mendo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mendo manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendo with a poor takedown

and Ferrari counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Ferrari missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendo trying to control the position here.
Mendo keeping moving, preventing Ferrari from controlling successfully.
Mendo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mendo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ferrari's 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.

Mendo stands up from Ferrari's guard - Mendo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mendo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ferrari tries to avoid it but Mendo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ferrari to the ground. Ferrari escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mendo shoots and misses

and Ferrari counters with a shoot takedown. Mendo fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joha Mendo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mendo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ferrari wanted to stand there but Mendo had control of the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mendo is on top in guard.
Mendo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Mendo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mendo.
Ferrari scores with a push kick.
Ferrari fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mendo.
Nice takedown defense from Ferrari. No joy for Mendo on that attempt.

Mendo scores with a takedown into Ferrari's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mendo wants to control from the top but Ferrari keeps moving.
Mendo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ferrari keeping full guard, as Mendo tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ferrari is on top in guard.
Ferrari won't allow Mendo to sweep him here.
Ferrari trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ferrari throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ferrari won't allow Mendo to sweep him here.
Ferrari trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendo is working hard here to advance position.
Ferrari is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Carlos Ferrari will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Ferrari scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ferrari misses with a head shot. Mendo uses the momentum to regain guard.
Mendo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mendo 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.
Mendo has control of Ferrari's left arm, preventing Ferrari from doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mendo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ferrari is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mendo.

Ferrari decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mendo to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mendo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mendo wants to stand but Ferrari is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mendo stops Ferrari from standing up.
Mendo looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferrari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendo looking to pass the guard.
Ferrari keeping moving, preventing Mendo from controlling successfully.

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

Mendo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mendo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mendo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Mendo stands up from mount. Strange move.
Mendo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ferrari counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mendo manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Ferrari fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ferrari closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ferrari lands in his opponent's guard.
Ferrari wants to stand but Mendo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ferrari is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferrari advances position into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ferrari has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Ferrari trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ferrari throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Ferrari is working to isolate an arm here. It's a choreographed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Ferrari extends the arm and Mendo is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Carlos Ferrari!