PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rox Santa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Santa
vs
Mendez

220 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
21
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rox Santa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hugo Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santa lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Hugo Mendez has been cut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mendez.
Santa tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santa throws a right and a left that Mendez avoids nicely.
Santa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mendez as he jumps to the side.
Mendez tries a low kick but Santa avoids it.
Santa throws a right hand that Mendez ducks under and follows up with a left that Mendez also avoids with ease.
Santa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mendez tries to avoid it but Santa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mendez to the ground. Mendez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Santa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mendez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mendez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santa misses with a takedown attempt - Mendez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rox Santa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santa misses with a low kick.
Mendez darts in looking for a takedown but Santa gets double underhooks and turns Mendez into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez jumps into guard, dragging Santa to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Santa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Santa postures up.
Santa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Santa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Santa wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.
Santa is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendez has wrist control.
Mendez controls Santa momentarily but Santa frees himself.
Santa advances position into side control!
Santa throws a strike aimed at the side of Mendez's head but Mendez avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Mendez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mendez defending against the ground and pound.
Santa lands an elbow.
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 is trying to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by Santa.
Mendez parries the strikes from Santa easily there. Santa is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mendez to escape.
Mendez is looking to regain half guard here but Santa keeps moving and retains side control.
Santa misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Santa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Santa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Mendez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mendez looks winded!
Santa working the ground and pound but Mendez is defending the strikes.
Santa 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.
Santa wants to control but Mendez is keeping him busy.
Mendez is looking to reverse the position.
Santa misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Santa working the strikes but Mendez uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Santa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mendez's head.
Santa throws a strike but Mendez avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Santa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Santa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mendez has momentary wrist control but Santa slips an elbow through the middle.
Santa is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendez has wrist control.
Santa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santa stopping the sweep attempt from Mendez.
Santa missing there with some ground and pound from the 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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Santa from controlling successfully.
Mendez trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rox Santa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hugo Mendez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Santa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rox Santa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santa misses with a series of wild punches.

Santa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mendez looking for a takedown.
Mendez is struggling to control the position.
Mendez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mendez fails to pull guard.
Santa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mendez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rox Santa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mendez wants to break free but Santa has control.
Santa is looking to take this one to the mat.

Mendez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mendez tries to clinch up but Santa circles away and keeps his distance.
Santa dives in and grabs Mendez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes down on Santa's head and hops out.
Mendez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Santa shoots in for a takedown but Mendez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Santa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mendez as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mendez.
Mendez dives in and grabs Santa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Santa pushes down on Mendez's head and hops out.

Santa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mendez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Santa throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mendez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Santa is in Mendez's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santa throwing strikes but missing.
Santa throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mendez can't keep his opponent in guard - Santa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santa stands up from half guard.
Santa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Santa moves into the clinch.
Mendez trying to stall but Santa improves his position.
Mendez is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mendez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendez wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa tries to score a body lock takedown but Mendez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mendez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santa.
Santa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mendez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Santa dips to his left and cracks Mendez with an uppercut!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters circling - Mendez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rox Santa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hugo Mendez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Santa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mendez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santa.
Rox Santa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santa throws a right and a left that Mendez avoids nicely.
Mendez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santa.
Santa shoots in looking for a takedown but Mendez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mendez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Santa stuffs the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Mendez as Santa shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rox Santa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mendez sprawls well. Mendez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santa gets slowly back to his feet.
Santa darts in looking for a takedown but Mendez gets double underhooks and turns Santa into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Santa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mendez misses with some punches.
Santa prevents the takedown attempt.
Santa has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mendez after a bit of a struggle.
Santa has Mendez pressed against the cage, preventing Mendez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mendez is pressed up against the cage. Santa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mendez down to the mat. Mendez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Santa.
Santa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mendez defends it nicely.

Mendez has closed the distance and engaged Santa in a clinch.

Mendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick from Santa misses.
Mendez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Mendez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Santa sprawls well. Santa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mendez gets slowly back to his feet.
Santa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa connects with a right hand. Mendez shakes it off.
Santa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mendez backs up against the cage.
Mendez tries to clinch but Santa moves out of range.
Mendez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Horrible takedown by Santa or perhaps it was just good defense by Mendez which made him look bad.
Santa slaps away a takedown attempt from Mendez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No joy there for Mendez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mendez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santa tries to avoid it but Mendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santa to the ground. Santa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santa clinches up with Mendez and pushes him back against the cage.
Mendez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rox Santa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendez is trying to pull guard but Santa turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mendez stalling in the clinch but Santa improves position.
Santa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mendez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mendez slaps away a takedown attempt from Santa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hugo Mendez.
I think Santa 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rox Santa!