PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Strikes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Trap Door. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mendez
vs
Strikes

184 cm
33
180 lbs
24 - 22 - 0

186 cm
31
180 lbs
24 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Tiago Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 23 - 1, fighting out of London, Carlos Strikes!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strikes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mendez.

Mendez gets a clinch.
Strikes gets underhooks to prevent Mendez's takedown attempt.
Mendez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Strikes walks away with a smile on his face. Mendez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiago Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strikes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mendez somewhat.
Strikes wants to clinch.
Mendez dives in and grabs Strikes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strikes pushes down on Mendez's head and hops out.

Mendez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mendez passes into half guard.

Mendez is trying to work for a kimura but Strikes is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mendez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mendez trying to control from half guard but Strikes is working away.
Mendez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mendez wants to take a breather but Strikes is having none of it.
Strikes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mendez is working away from the top position though.
Strikes keeping control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strikes trying to control from the bottom.
Strikes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mendez throwing shots but Strikes is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Mendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strikes keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strikes moves in looking to clinch but Mendez pushes him off.
A jab from Mendez does it's job there.
Strikes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendez shoots in looking for a takedown but Strikes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mendez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Strikes dips to his left and cracks Mendez with an uppercut!
Mendez scores with a head kick. Strikes tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Mendez moves in looking to clinch but Strikes pushes him off.

Strikes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mendez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Strikes uses from the top position.
Strikes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez working a defensive guard here.
Mendez 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.
Strikes wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.

Mendez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mendez is trying to keep Strikes in close.

Mendez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Strikes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Strikes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Strikes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mendez is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strikes trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
Strikes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Carlos Strikes was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Mendez rushes Strikes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Strikes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Strikes gets underhooks to prevent Mendez's takedown attempt.

Strikes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Mendez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mendez lands with a kick to the temple. Strikes shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Mendez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tiago Mendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strikes throws a head kick but Mendez moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Strikes as Mendez shoots in.
Mendez lands a two punch combo.
Mendez shoots in and drives through. Strikes sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiago Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strikes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mendez circles away quickly and effectively.
Mendez shoots in and drives through. Strikes sprawls well.
Strikes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mendez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Strikes takes the fight into the clinch.
Strikes digs a right hand into Mendez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mendez's gas tank.
Strikes prevents Mendez from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strikes trying to land knees to the body.
Mendez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mendez keeps control of Strikes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Mendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tiago Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Strikes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mendez fails to land the takedown.
Strikes looks to land a body kick but Mendez moved away.
Mendez dives in and grabs Strikes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Strikes pushes down on Mendez's head and hops out.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Strikes.
Strikes darts in trying to clinch

and Mendez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Strikes won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strikes bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Mendez shoots in looking for a takedown. Strikes tries to sprawl out of it but Mendez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Strikes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendez misses with a head kick.
Strikes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Strikes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Mendez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Strikes quickly recovers to half guard.
Mendez wants to free his trapped foot but Strikes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mendez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strikes manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Mendez drives through with a takedown into Strikes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mendez wants to pass the guard but Strikes is keeping the position.

Mendez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Strikes is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Strikes has escaped and now he's on top!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mendez is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendez cracks Strikes with a solid left hand.
Mendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mendez trying to move into half guard but instead Strikes has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strikes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strikes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mendez is proving hard to escape from.
Mendez looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendez, not yet.
Mendez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Mendez isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Strikes stacks Mendez on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Strikes!
Mendez is trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Strikes decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mendez to his feet.

Mendez moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Mendez dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Strikes thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mendez if he has to take too many more of those.
Strikes throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Strikes tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Strikes gets a clinch.

Mendez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Mendez stops Strikes from standing up.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Strikes keeps moving.

Mendez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Strikes is retaining full guard.
Mendez slips nicely into half guard.
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!
Mendez prevents Strikes from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez is looking for a kimura here.
Strikes is trying to control but can't.
Mendez passes into side control, despite Strikes's attempt to control the position.

Mendez swings around for an armbar but Strikes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mendez's guard.
Mendez looking to control but Strikes passes into half guard.
Mendez is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Strikes is going to stand back up.
Mendez trying to control from the bottom.

Mendez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Strikes is thwarting Mendez's attempts to control the position.
Strikes is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mendez is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strikes controlling the position easily from mount.
Mendez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Carlos Strikes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendez is looking to get to half guard.
Strikes punching from mount but Mendez doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Strikes looking to control but Mendez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is trying desperately to improve position.
Mendez wants to control but Strikes is having none of it.
Strikes wants to control the pace but Mendez is squirming around nicely.
Strikes avoids the attempt from Mendez to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strikes lands a heavy elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Carlos Strikes.
I think Mendez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiago Mendez!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Tiago Mendez made sure he mentioned GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS, along with how happy he was to win his fight.