PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between AW Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filipe Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Stevens might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Root Beer Song by Joeshmauer. AW Stevens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stevens
vs
Mendes

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
190 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 Tokyo, AW Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Filipe Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens looks for a takedown but Mendes sprawls well.
Stevens doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendes circles away.

Mendes scores with a takedown into Stevens's guard.
Mendes advances position into side control!
Mendes is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Stevens's shoulder. That is not cool.
Stevens wants to control but Mendes postures up.
Stevens throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Stevens is looking to regain half guard here but Mendes keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Stevens's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stevens is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Stevens wants to control but Mendes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mendes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stevens's head.
It looks like Mendes is going to stand back up.
Mendes is keen to just control but Stevens is a slippery customer.
Mendes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Stevens tries to roll over but Mendes keeps him under control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevens misses with a takedown

and Mendes counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stevens has Mendes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mendes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AW Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendes keeps control of Stevens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stevens is looking to break free of the clinch but Mendes has double underhooks.
Mendes lands a knee to the body.

Mendes has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Stevens uses from the top position.
Stevens preventing the sweep.
Stevens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mendes looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendes, not yet.
Stevens trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Stevens wants to get up but he can't break Mendes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Stevens is breathing heavily.

Mendes looking for a guillotine here but Stevens defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevens gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mendes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to sweep here but Mendes controlling him for the moment.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendes wants to stand but Stevens is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mendes tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevens is retaining full guard.
Mendes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendes trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.

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

Mendes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mendes has gone for a leg lock! Stevens slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mendes's guard.
Stevens passes Mendes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filipe Mendes dominated that round.
That's time! Stevens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mendes throws a leg kick which misses Stevens's front leg but catches the back leg as Stevens tries to avoid it.

Mendes moves into range and clinches up with Stevens.
Stalling in the clinch from Mendes.

Mendes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mendes seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.

Mendes is looking for a triangle but Stevens pushes his legs off easily.
Mendes looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendes, not yet.
Stevens controls from within his opponent's guard.
Stevens trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mendes's guard.
Mendes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes lands an upkick as Stevens stands over him.
Stevens tries to stand but Mendes is controlling from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stevens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mendes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevens won't be happy with that.
Mendes throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Stevens can't do much from the bottom here.
Stevens regains half guard.
Stevens is controlling Mendes's trapped leg to prevent Mendes from advancing to side control.
Stevens is looking to control Mendes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stevens avoid being mounted?
Mendes tries to pass to full mount but Stevens defends it.

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

Mendes is trying for a kimura here. Stevens looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Mendes wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Filipe Mendes!