PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerico Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Canela De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jerico Mendez is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Mendez
vs
De La Cruz

190 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jerico Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Canela De La Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De La Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Mendez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
De La Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
De La Cruz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and De La Cruz wants it to stay on the feet.
De La Cruz misses the shot to the body.

De La Cruz gets a double leg takedown into Mendez's guard.

De La Cruz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mendez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, De La Cruz has managed to get both his arms back between Mendez's legs - danger averted.
De La Cruz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
De La Cruz with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez looking to hit a scissor sweep but De La Cruz is one step ahead there.
De La Cruz wants to pass the guard but Mendez is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz wants to stand but Mendez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mendez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
De La Cruz postures up.

De La Cruz has gone for a leg lock! Mendez slips out almost immediately though and dives into De La Cruz's guard.

De La Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
De La Cruz trying to keep a closed guard but Mendez is proving a slippery customer.
Mendez is working De La Cruz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Mendez got a little sloppy there for a moment and De La Cruz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mendez has managed to get both his arms back between De La Cruz's legs - danger averted.
Mendez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
De La Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
De La Cruz wants to sweep here but Mendez controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mendez stops De La Cruz from standing up.
De La Cruz keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.
Mendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez trying to control but De La Cruz is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

De La Cruz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mendez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mendez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
De La Cruz punching from the bottom - just letting Mendez know he's still in a fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
De La Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Canela De La Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De La Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mendez is fending him off so far but De La Cruz persists. Nope, Mendez circles away and we're back to standing.
Jerico Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Canela De La Cruz.

Excellent takedown into side control there by De La Cruz.

Mendez bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mendez as he jumps to the side.
Mendez feints a jab promting De La Cruz to slip. Mendez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. De La Cruz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Canela De La Cruz has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
De La Cruz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Mendez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mendez trying to pass the guard but De La Cruz defending well.
De La Cruz wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerico Mendez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Canela De La Cruz's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
De La Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mendez defends it nicely.
Mendez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mendez feinted with a counter takedown.
De La Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mendez as he avoids it easily.
De La Cruz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mendez.
Mendez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that De La Cruz can do to turn this around?
Mendez looks for a takedown but De La Cruz sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerico Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mendez defends it nicely.
De La Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mendez swivels and escapes.
We've been told by Mendez's head coaches at All Time Wrestling - 12 ELITE COACHES that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Mendez dives in for a single leg takedown but De La Cruz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz darts in looking for a takedown but Mendez gets double underhooks and turns De La Cruz into the cage.

De La Cruz gets caught napping as Mendez dives in and scores a takedown. De La Cruz manages to retain guard.
De La Cruz is breathing heavily.
Mendez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mendez pushing down on De La Cruz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Mendez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
De La Cruz flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mendez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed De La Cruz's head.
De La Cruz tries to get to full guard but Mendez has control of the leg.
De La Cruz wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De La Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy.
Mendez wants to control but De La Cruz is keeping him busy.
De La Cruz regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mendez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
De La Cruz controls Mendez momentarily but Mendez frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mendez.
De La Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mendez defends it nicely.
De La Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Mendez shows good takedown defense.
Nice takedown defense from De La Cruz. No joy for Mendez on that attempt.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Mendez as De La Cruz shoots in.
Mendez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Mendez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. De La Cruz tries to avoid it but Mendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag De La Cruz to the ground. De La Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mendez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but De La Cruz defends well and Mendez ends up having to push De La Cruz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
De La Cruz tries to counter by closing the distance.
Nice takedown defense from Mendez. No joy for De La Cruz on that attempt.

Mendez closes the distance and clinches.
De La Cruz tries to pull guard but Mendez won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez just leaning against De La Cruz, taking a breather.
Mendez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
De La Cruz has Mendez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mendez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mendez looking for a takedown.
De La Cruz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mendez is defending well.
Mendez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mendez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendez lands on the inside with an uppercut.

De La Cruz jumps guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendez postures up in De La Cruz's guard and throws a big left but De La Cruz blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerico Mendez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Canela De La Cruz's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mendez fails to land the takedown.
De La Cruz shoots in for a double leg but Mendez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mendez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mendez goes for a double leg but De La Cruz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as De La Cruz continues to drive forward.
De La Cruz shoots in but no luck this time.
Mendez appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mendez has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerico Mendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

De La Cruz rushes Mendez and presses him up against the cage.
De La Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Mendez keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De La Cruz tries for a takedown but Mendez manages to get underhooks.
De La Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mendez after a bit of a struggle.
De La Cruz prevents the takedown attempt.
Mendez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. De La Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz stuffs the takedown.
Mendez keeps the fight on the outside.

Mendez instigates a clinch.
Mendez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by De La Cruz after a bit of a struggle.
Mendez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but De La Cruz pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Mendez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mendez.
De La Cruz connects with a jab.

Mendez clinches up against the cage.
Mendez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. De La Cruz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
De La Cruz is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mendez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mendez prevents the takedown attempt.
Mendez prevents the takedown attempt.
De La Cruz trying to control the position but instead, Mendez has worked for underhooks and has pushed De La Cruz into the cage.

Mendez pulls guard successfully.
Mendez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Mendez tries to strike from the bottom.
De La Cruz postures up.
Mendez wants to stand and escape but De La Cruz is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Cruz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mendez misses with some strikes from the bottom.
De La Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mendez misses with some strikes from the bottom.

De La Cruz is looking for a kimura but Mendez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for De La Cruz to get the leverage.
De La Cruz is looking to advance position but Mendez won't allow it.
Mendez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mendez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! De La Cruz has picked Mendez up and slammed him! Mendez can't keep hold of the triangle and De La Cruz manages to pass to side control!
Mendez holds on to De La Cruz's head and controls the position momentarily.
De La Cruz grinds an elbow into Mendez's temple.

De La Cruz goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mendez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for De La Cruz but great work by Mendez.
De La Cruz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mendez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but De La Cruz keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De La Cruz can't do much from the bottom here.
Canela De La Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jerico Mendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendez taking a breather here.

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 Jerico Mendez.
Well Mendez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerico Mendez!