PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Roy Jones - Can't be touched. Mendes is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Felipe Diaz told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Mendes
vs
Diaz

183 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

194 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Felipe Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mendes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Diaz won't be happy with that.
Mendes looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mendes working away.
Diaz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mendes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Diaz manages to get back to half guard.
Diaz is looking for a sweep. Mendes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Diaz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz 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 showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mendes wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz controls Mendes momentarily but Mendes frees himself.

We're going to have a standup here because Rafael Mendes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mendes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Felipe Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Diaz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mendes looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Diaz pushes past his half guard into mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Mendes is squirming around nicely.
Mendes is looking to improve his position but Diaz isn't that keen on the idea.
Mendes is working hard here to advance position.
Mendes wants to control but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz controlling the pace for now.
Diaz avoids the attempt from Mendes to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mendes tries to lock up and control but Diaz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Diaz wants to control the pace but Mendes is squirming around nicely.
Mendes is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes tries to control Diaz's body but Diaz pushes him off. Mendes squirms to his side and now Diaz has his back!
Mendes covering up well under a barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Felipe Diaz will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Mendes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mendes trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Diaz is trying to keep Mendes in close.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rafael Mendes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendes is one step ahead there.
Mendes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rafael Mendes.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
Diaz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rafael Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Diaz.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Diaz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mendes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Diaz just stands there and leans against the cage.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz has a takedown stuffed.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mendes counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Diaz!
Mendes looking to finish with strikes here!
Mendes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to hold on but Mendes pushes him away.
Diaz regains half guard.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Mendes has control of the leg.
Diaz trying to hold on to Mendes's head to control him but Mendes postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes blocks the strikes from Diaz.
Diaz controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Mendes trying to control the action but Diaz is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Mendes dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Diaz with a poor takedown

and Mendes counters with a shoot takedown. Diaz fights it but they end up in guard.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.
Mendes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Diaz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mendes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Diaz looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Mendes has picked Diaz up and slammed him! Diaz can't keep hold of the triangle and Mendes manages to pass to side control!

Mendes is working to tighten is grip on Diaz's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Diaz has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Mendes is really squeezing tight and eventually Diaz passes out! Mendes breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Rafael Mendes!