PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Mercurious (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendes has chosen Steve McQueen as his entrance music. Rocky Mercurious had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mercurious
vs
Mendes

166 cm
44
161 lbs
38 - 14 - 1

170 cm
37
133 lbs
41 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Rocky Mercurious!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes misses with a hook.
Mercurious buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mercurious throws a leg kick which misses Mendes's front leg but catches the back leg as Mendes tries to avoid it.
Mercurious tried to score with a low kick but Mendes checks it.
Mendes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Mendes connects with a body shot.
Mendes clobbers Mercurious with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mendes lands with a hook. Mercurious tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Mendes tries to clinch up but Mercurious circles away and keeps his distance.
Mendes lands a really nice looking cross but Mercurious seems unphased.
Mercurious throws a leg kick but Mendes moved away.
Mendes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mercurious bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mercurious throws a low kick but Mendes moves out of range easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercurious avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Mercurious misses the target.
Mercurious takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mendes stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mercurious pivots, looking for a leg kick but Mendes is out of range and Mercurious settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercurious lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Mendes instigates a clinch.
Mercurious stalling the fight.
Mercurious stalling against the cage.
Mendes being controlled against the cage.
Mercurious looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mercurious blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Mercurious's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mercurious's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mendes gets through Mercurious's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mercurious softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercurious wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mendes has him pressed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Mercurious's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mercurious is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mercurious taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mendes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mercurious backwards.

Mercurious manages to break the clinch.
Nice cross by Mendes.
Mercurious misses with a body kick.
Mercurious staying out of range there.
Mendes shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercurious swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mendes. Mercurious does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chad Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendes misses with a hook.
Mercurious misses with a head kick.
Mendes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mercurious tries to land a leg kick but Mendes saw it coming and moves away.
Mercurious keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mendes.
Mendes works Mercurious's body with a nice hook.
Mendes scores with a kick to the body.
Mendes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mercurious will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Mercurious misses with a kick to the body.
Mercurious wants to land a leg kick but Mendes is out of range.
Mendes jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Mendes dips to his left and cracks Mercurious with an uppercut!
A big right from Mercurious misses.
Mercurious lands with an overhand left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendes moves out of range of the strikes.
Mendes tests Mercurious's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slow jab from Mercurious misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes connects with an inside leg kick.
Mercurious with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice straight punches there by Mendes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mendes.
Mercurious takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mercurious throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mendes.
It seemed like Mendes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mercurious moves out of range of the strikes.
Mercurious throws a leg kick but Mendes moved away.

Mendes moves into the clinch successfully.
Mercurious working hard to break the clinch.
Mercurious taking a breather.

Mercurious breaks the clinch.
Mercurious displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mendes throws out the jab.
Mendes misses with a few strikes there.
Mercurious takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Good work by Mendes as he checks the leg kick.
Mercurious takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mendes jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Mercurious avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mendes blocks a low kick nicely.
Mendes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mercurious.
Mercurious takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mendes throws a body shot but no joy.
Mercurious swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mercurious tries a head kick but it misses.
Mercurious stuns Mendes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mercurious moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercurious feints and then cracks Mendes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mendes down.
Mercurious fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mendes is out of range.
Mendes punishes Mercurious's body with a nice straight punch.
Mendes looks to land a right hand but Mercurious moved out of range.
Mendes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mercurious.
Mercurious lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercurious takes one on the button.
Mendes is looking to score with low kicks.
Mercurious misses with a body kick.
A shot to the liver by Mendes. Beautiful body shot.
Mendes loads up on a big right hand but Mercurious slips the punch.
As Mendes looks to move away, Mercurious throws a big counter combo bu Mendes just gets out of the way.
Mendes just misses with a punch to the body.
A big left from Mendes misses.
Mendes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mercurious momentarily.
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
Mendes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mercurious. Mercurious circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mendes stalks Mercurious and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mercurious's face. Mercurious staggers backwards, shaken.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mendes. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Mendes pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mercurious back to the cage. Mendes follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes slips under a jab.
Mercurious swings for the body but Mendes moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Mendes on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mendes throws an off balance right hand
and Mercurious counters with a three punch combo that has Mendes backing up. Mendes nods at Mercurious to acknowledge the strikes.

Mendes is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throws a series of punches but Mercurious avoids them all with ease.
Mendes is still on wobbly legs! Can Mercurious finish him?
Mercurious keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mendes lands a really nice looking cross but Mercurious seems unphased.
Mendes seems to have recovered his senses.
Mendes connects with a crisp jab.
Mercurious throws a leg kick that misses.
Mercurious throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mendes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mercurious. Mendes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mercurious moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Mendes moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mercurious misses with a double jab.
Mendes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mercurious looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Mercurious takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mendes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mercurious takes one to the side of the head.
Mercurious throws a big shot that misses.
Mercurious fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mendes is out of range.
Mendes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mercurious.
Mercurious throws out a leg kick but Mendes moves out of range and Mercurious only half commits.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendes throws a jab but it's blocked by Mercurious.
Mercurious throws a leg kick but Mendes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mercurious slips a jab and a cross from Mendes.
Mendes is looking to slow Mercurious down with leg kicks.
Mercurious on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mercurious throws a leg kick but Mendes moved away.
A left lands for Mendes.
Mendes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mercurious appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Mendes lands a jab to the head.
Mercurious tries to land a leg kick but Mendes saw it coming and moves away.
Mercurious takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Mercurious drops his hands momentarily and Mendes takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mendes throws a jab when Mercurious was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An inside leg kick from Mercurious misses.
Mendes checks a low kick from Mercurious.
Mendes blocks a head kick by Mercurious.
Mendes scores with a jab to the head.
Mendes throws a body shot but no joy.
Mendes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mercurious swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body kick there by Mercurious.
Mendes throws a hook to the side of Mercurious's head but Mercurious sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mendes avoids a kick to the body.
Mendes cracks Mercurious with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes throws a body punch but Mercurious moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mercurious.
Mendes scores with a shot to the body.
Mendes connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mercurious attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Mercurious throws out a loose jab but Mendes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mendes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mendes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mercurious misses with a looping right.
Mendes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mercurious throws a poor cross that misses
letting Mendes counter with a right hand.
Mercurious misses with a straight right.
A bone on bone clash there as Mendes blocks the leg kick.
Mendes scores with a nice right hand.
Mendes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mercurious takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes wants to clinch.
Mercurious dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A lazy left from Mendes finds it's target.
Mercurious lands a right hook to the body.
Mendes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mendes throws a hook but Mercurious blocks it.
Mendes takes a swing at Mercurious's ribcage but misses.
Chad Mendes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mercurious dips to his left and cracks Mendes with an uppercut!
Mercurious slips under a jab.
Mendes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mercurious's hands.
Mendes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
Mendes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mendes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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 catches Mercurious with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mendes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rocky Mercurious has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes misses with a wild body shot.
Mendes throws a body punch but Mercurious moves out of range.
Mendes jabs Mercurious to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Mendes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mendes takes a kick to the side of the head.
Mendes throws a hook to the side of Mercurious's head but Mercurious sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mendes misses with a wild body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mercurious.
Mendes digs a good body shot into Mercurious's ribs.
Mendes connects with a leg kick. Mercurious looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Mendes moves out of range as Mercurious throws a body kick.
Mercurious connects with the punch.
Mendes works Mercurious's body with a nice hook.
Mercurious swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mercurious throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercurious throws a looping overhand right but Mendes ducks down to avoid it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Mercurious lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mendes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mendes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mendes lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jab from Mendes.
Nice jab there from Mendes.
Mendes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mercurious on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mendes catches Mercurious with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mendes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mercurious under the eye.
Mendes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A leg kick checked by Mendes.
Mendes looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Mendes pushes Mercurious up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes tries to work over Mercurious's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendes holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Mendes blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries a body shot but Mercurious blocks it.
Mendes is struggling to control the position.
Mendes trying to stall but Mercurious improves his position.
A body shot lands from Mercurious.
Chad Mendes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mercurious has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mendes is trying to maintain a safe position but Mercurious gets an underhook and turns Mendes into the cage.
Mercurious swings wildly with an uppercut but Mendes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercurious swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Mendes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mendes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jab by Mendes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Mendes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mendes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Mendes!
Chad Mendes made sure to mention his sponsor, Namunamu Clothing in his post fight interview.