PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Piet Kriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guillermo Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Kriel
vs
Mendez

171 cm
25
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Piet Kriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Guillermo Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendez lands a jab.
Kriel seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Kriel could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mendez misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Mendez.

Kriel closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kriel lands in his opponent's guard.
Mendez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kriel controls the pace.
Kriel trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mendez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kriel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kriel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel working some strikes from top position.
Kriel trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kriel wants to stand but Mendez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kriel trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
Kriel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kriel stands and throws Mendez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mendez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kriel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendez keeps working.
Mendez is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mendez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kriel.
Mendez is not content to let Kriel control the position.

Kriel looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mendez is looking for a sweep.
Mendez tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Mendez wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez tries to buck Kriel off but Kriel is having none of it.
Mendez managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kriel.
Mendez is trying to get back to his feet.
Kriel is looking to take a break and control but Mendez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kriel throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Kriel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kriel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mendez wants to get back to his feet but Kriel drags him back down.
Mendez is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendez keeps working.
Kriel is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Mendez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kriel is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Kriel slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Mendez.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kriel scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kriel controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piet Kriel dominated that round.
That's time! Kriel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kriel looks for a takedown but Mendez sprawls well.
Mendez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Some wild striking there from Kriel.
Mendez throws a series of strikes that have Kriel backpedaling.
Kriel blocks a low kick nicely.
A punch combination from Mendez misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Kriel misses its target.
Mendez falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kriel counters with a single leg into guard. Mendez didn't expect that.
Kriel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mendez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mendez is trying to hold Kriel in close to prevent damage but Kriel has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kriel is thwarting Mendez's attempts to control the position.

Kriel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mendez is just riding it out for now. Kriel eventually gives up the hold.
Kriel wants to take a breather but Mendez is having none of it.

Kriel looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Mendez looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Mendez looking for submissions off his back.
Kriel wants to pass to mount but Mendez is defending the position.
Piet Kriel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendez is pressing down on Kriel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kriel trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.

Mendez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kriel is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kriel throws a big right hand that misses.
Kriel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Kriel from controlling successfully.
Kriel wants to stand but Mendez is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mendez misses with a hook. Kriel ducked under it nicely.
Mendez throws a one two combo.
Kriel throws a wild body kick that Mendez sees coming a mile off.
Kriel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendez tries to land a front kick but Kriel steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Piet Kriel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kriel avoids a kick to the body.

Kriel fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mendez to the ground. Kriel is now in Mendez's guard.
Kriel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Mendez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kriel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Mendez manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendez is trying to force a seperation but Kriel has the dominant position.
Mendez has had enough of the clinch but Kriel keeps him there for the moment.

Kriel manages to break the clinch.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Kriel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guillermo Mendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kriel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Good work by Kriel as he checks the leg kick.
Mendez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Kriel gets a double leg takedown into Mendez's guard.
Kriel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kriel preventing the sweep.
Kriel works over Mendez with some ground and pound from guard.
Kriel engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Kriel from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mendez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kriel defends well.

Mendez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kriel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kriel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mendez working for a triangle but Kriel defends it easily.

Mendez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kriel is aware though and is defending well.
Mendez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Mendez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kriel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kriel trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kriel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Mendez has his foot on Kriel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kriel works his way back into a safe position though.
Kriel wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.

Mendez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kriel defends it easily.
Kriel pushing down on Mendez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kriel takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Mendez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel working Mendez over with strikes.
Mendez misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kriel works his foot free and advances to mount.
Mendez is trying desperately to improve position.
A nice elbow there by Kriel.
Kriel with a couple of short strikes.

Mendez is rocked!
Kriel wants to take his opponent's back but Mendez doesn't allow it.
Mendez is still in real trouble! Can Kriel finish him?
Kriel lands a big elbow - Mendez is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Mendez is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Piet Kriel!