PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zachary Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Nixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Mendoza
vs
Nixon

170 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
31
146 lbs
5 - 13 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zachary Mendoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richard Nixon!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Reed Andrews and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nixon shoots in but Mendoza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nixon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mendoza lands with a nice combination. Nixon backs away looking to recover.
Nixon dodges the punch combination from Mendoza.
Mendoza looks to score with a jab to the body but Nixon is just out of range.
Zachary Mendoza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nixon shoots in and drives through. Mendoza sprawls well.
Nixon is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mendoza.

It looks like Richard Nixon has been cut.
Nixon fails in his attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Mendoza misses.
Mendoza misses with a body kick.
Nixon swings for the body but Mendoza moves out of range.
Mendoza throws a nice looking combination but Nixon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Nixon clinches with his opponent.
Nixon tries to stall but Mendoza uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nixon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nixon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zachary Mendoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Nixon.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nixon has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mendoza after a bit of a struggle.

Nixon gets control of Mendoza's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nixon will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mendoza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendoza is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendoza slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mendoza tries to stand but Nixon is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zachary Mendoza has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
No joy there for Mendoza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mendoza wants to clinch.
Nixon takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A head kick misses from Nixon.
Mendoza misses with a head kick.

Mendoza has Nixon up against the cage in a clinch.
Nixon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mendoza is trying to break the clinch but Nixon has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Nixon - that landed with a thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nixon breaks from the clinch.
Mendoza throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mendoza stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mendoza wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice body punch from Mendoza.

Mendoza clinches up against the cage.

Mendoza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nixon fails with a takedown attempt.
Nixon swinging wildly here.
Nixon fails with a takedown attempt.
Mendoza misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nixon.
Mendoza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mendoza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sloppy strikes from Mendoza. Those never looked like landing.
Nixon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendoza misses the jab.
Mendoza pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Nixon back to the cage. Mendoza follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nixon shoots for a takedown but Mendoza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendoza misses with a two punch combination.
Mendoza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zachary Mendoza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nixon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nixon looks gassed!
Nixon dodges the punch combination from Mendoza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Mendoza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Richard Nixon's cut.
That's time! Mendoza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Horrible takedown by Nixon or perhaps it was just good defense by Mendoza which made him look bad.
Mendoza misses with a series of wild punches.

Mendoza moves into range and clinches up with Nixon.

Nixon gets control of Mendoza's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nixon will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Nixon is working an open guard so Mendoza takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mendoza stuffs the takedown attempt from Nixon. Nixon gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendoza tries to clinch but Nixon is having none of it.
Nixon scores with a kick to the midsection.
Mendoza keeps the fight on the outside.
Nixon tries to bum rush Mendoza with a series of wild strikes but Mendoza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza misses with a series of wild punches.
Mendoza throws a leg kick but Nixon checks it.
Nixon is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mendoza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zachary Mendoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Nixon.
Mendoza tries to clinch but Nixon is having none of it.
Nixon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mendoza circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mendoza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mendoza scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mendoza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zachary Mendoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendoza digs a good body shot into Nixon's ribs.
Nixon misses with a head kick.
Nixon is breathing heavily.
Mendoza throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mendoza doesn't manage to clinch there - Nixon circles away.

Mendoza closes the distance and clinches.
Mendoza taking a breather.
Nixon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mendoza smiles and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Mendoza. No joy for Nixon on that attempt.
Mendoza misses with a wild combination.
Mendoza tries to clinch there but Nixon circles away.
Mendoza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nixon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mendoza sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nixon somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza swinging wildly here.
Mendoza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nixon circles away quickly and effectively.
Mendoza explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Mendoza scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nixon avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nixon swinging wildly here.
Mendoza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nixon blocks a head kick by Mendoza.
Nixon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mendoza swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza swinging wildly here.
Nixon avoids the head kick by Mendoza.
Mendoza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nixon.
Zachary Mendoza is winning the standup battle so far.
Mendoza fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nixon looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mendoza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nixon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mendoza misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mendoza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendoza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mendoza stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mendoza wants it to stay on the feet.
Mendoza throws a series of punches but Nixon avoids them all with ease.
Mendoza tries to clinch up but Nixon circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Mendoza dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Richard Nixon's cut.
That's time! Mendoza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nixon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendoza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nixon shoots for a double leg takedown but Mendoza sprawls well. He's pushed Nixon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mendoza tries to bum rush Nixon with a series of wild strikes but Nixon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mendoza displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nixon.
Zachary Mendoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Nixon.
Nixon tries for a takedown but Mendoza circles away easily
and Mendoza counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nixon thinking.
Sloppy strikes from Mendoza. Those never looked like landing.
Mendoza throws a right and a left that both miss.

Mendoza moves into the clinch successfully.
Nixon is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mendoza stalling the fight.
Nixon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mendoza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nixon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mendoza's efforts to push away.
Nixon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nixon stalling in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nixon wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nixon is trying to break the clinch but Mendoza has him pressed against the cage.
Nixon digs a right hand underneath Mendoza's ribcage. Mendoza let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nixon tries to break free but Mendoza pushes him back against the cage.
Mendoza presses Nixon against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nixon wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza avoids a wild elbow strike from Nixon.
Mendoza misses with some punches.
Nixon is trying to break the clinch but Mendoza is controlling him.
Nixon has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mendoza is pressed up against the cage. Nixon has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mendoza down to the mat. Mendoza avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mendoza falls off balance throwing a combination

and Nixon counters with a single leg into guard. Mendoza didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendoza wants to sweep here but Nixon controlling him for the moment.
Nixon with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nixon stands up and waves to Mendoza to follow him.
Nixon drops his hands momentarily and Mendoza takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mendoza tries to close the distance and clinch but Nixon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nixon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mendoza tries to clinch but Nixon moves out of range.
Nixon tries to clinch but Mendoza is having none of it.
Some wild striking there from Mendoza.
Nixon avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nixon blocks the body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nixon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nixon tries to clinch but Mendoza moves away
and Mendoza counters with a one-two to the body.
Mendoza walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Nixon checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mendoza fails to land with a series of punches.
Nixon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mendoza avoids it really well and circles away.
Mendoza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nixon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mendoza's waist but Mendoza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nixon off to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zachary Mendoza.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mendoza, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zachary Mendoza!