PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kareem al Rashid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). al Rashid has chosen Highlight Reel as his entrance music. Kareem al Rashid has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mendes
vs
al Rashid

180 cm
26
155 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

178 cm
27
167 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Black Belt Nutrition #=========||=========#

xXx - Voodoo Labs - 159+ Energy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jesus Mendes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kareem al Rashid!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
al Rashid tries to clinch there but Mendes circles away.
al Rashid is looking to clinch but Mendes is avoiding it.
Kareem al Rashid seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
al Rashid scores with a three punch combo!
al Rashid buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
al Rashid doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendes circles away.
al Rashid lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Good work by Mendes as he checks the leg kick.
Mendes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
al Rashid lands with a slapping head kick.
Mendes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by al Rashid. al Rashid obviously looking to wear him down.
al Rashid throws a leg kick but Mendes moved away.
Mendes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mendes shoots in for a takedown but al Rashid shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mendes shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horrible takedown by Mendes or perhaps it was just good defense by al Rashid which made him look bad.

Mendes forces al Rashid back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes prevents a body shot from al Rashid.
Mendes wants to stall.
Mendes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and al Rashid avoids it.
al Rashid can't find room to land a body shot as Mendes controls the action.
Mendes is trying to drag al Rashid to the mat but al Rashid 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 Jesus Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
al Rashid lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
Stalling in the clinch from al Rashid.
Mendes misses with a knee strike.
Mendes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but al Rashid blocks it with crossed arms.
Mendes throws a knee to the head but misses.
al Rashid working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mendes misses with a knee to the head.
Mendes working al Rashid over with knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by al Rashid.
al Rashid tries to work over Mendes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendes tries to pull guard but al Rashid won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid lands a shot to the body.
al Rashid struggles to land a body shot inside as Mendes controls his hands.
al Rashid throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mendes goes for a takedown in the clinch but al Rashid prevents it.
Mendes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but al Rashid has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
al Rashid lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mendes is breathing heavily.
al Rashid lands a nice uppercut.

al Rashid's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
al Rashid lands with a straight right. Mendes didn't see that one coming.
Mendes circles away from the clinch attempt.

al Rashid clinches with his opponent.
al Rashid stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Mendes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but al Rashid pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mendes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mendes's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
al Rashid wants to stall.
Mendes with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. al Rashid is defending well for now.
al Rashid digs a right hand underneath Mendes's ribcage. Mendes let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mendes has al Rashid pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. al Rashid manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
al Rashid lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mendes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
al Rashid presses Mendes against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
al Rashid is leaning against Mendes and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mendes misses with a knee strike.
al Rashid lands a shot to the body.
al Rashid slows down the pace here.
al Rashid lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A body shot lands from al Rashid.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
al Rashid scores with an uppercut up the middle.
al Rashid pushes Mendes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The referee calls for al Rashid to work.
al Rashid lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
A nice left hand lands by al Rashid.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mendes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from al Rashid.
A short left from al Rashid.

Mendes manages to break the clinch.

al Rashid drives through and clinches with Mendes against the cage.
Mendes tries to pull guard but al Rashid won't allow it.
al Rashid pushes Mendes back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
al Rashid lands a shoulder strike.

Mendes is rocked!
al Rashid pushes Mendes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oh Mendes is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
al Rashid pushes Mendes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
al Rashid lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
Nice body punch from al Rashid - that landed with a thud.
al Rashid lands a big right hand that drops Mendes! The killer instinct kicks in and al Rashid finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by al Rashid!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kareem al Rashid!
Kareem al Rashid is the new lightweight champion!
Kareem al Rashid seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.