PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Todd Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cenk John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cenk John has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Todd Mendes's chin.

Mendes
vs
John

179 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Todd Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cenk John!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes shoots for a double leg takedown but John sprawls well. He's pushed Mendes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mendes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but John moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

John throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mendes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. John is in Mendes's guard.
John really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mendes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
John looking to pass the guard.
John keeps trying to improve his position.
John throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mendes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
John chips away with some ground and pound.

Mendes kicks John off and gets to his feet.
John is looking to clinch but Mendes is avoiding it.
John misses with a kick to the body.

Mendes gets caught napping as John dives in and scores a takedown. Mendes manages to retain guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
John is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendes has wrist control.
Mendes trying to strike off his back.

Mendes is working an open guard so John takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes throws a right hand that John ducks under and follows up with a left that John also avoids with ease.
Mendes is trying hard to land a takedown here. John sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
John wants to counter with a clinch but Mendes pushes him away.
Mendes tries to clinch up but John circles away and keeps his distance.
John moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Mendes gets a clinch.
John tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mendes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mendes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mendes blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Mendes breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from John.
Mendes is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Todd Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cenk John.

Mendes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for John!

John sneaks out the side door and pushes Mendes away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Todd Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendes is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mendes has closed the distance and engaged John in a clinch.
Mendes is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Mendes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mendes is defended easily by John.
John fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mendes connects with a single shot there.
A right-left combo lands from Mendes.
John tries to clinch up but Mendes circles away and keeps his distance.

John clinches.

John breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mendes gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
John with a nice head shot there.
John must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
John content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
John postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Mendes wriggles free and stands up.
John swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendes.
John tries to clinch up but Mendes circles away and keeps his distance.
John lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mendes will feel that in the morning.
Mendes throws a right hand that John ducks under and follows up with a left that John also avoids with ease.

John drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

John gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

John shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. John showed some decent athleticism there.
Mendes is trying to stand up here but John is controlling him well.
Mendes trying to control from the bottom.
Mendes is looking to improve his position.
John tries to pass to full mount but Mendes defends it.
Mendes gets full guard.
John trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cenk John will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mendes has John up against the cage in a clinch.
John tries to land knees in the clinch but Mendes avoids the damage to the body.
Mendes wants to get back to striking at distance but John won't allow it.
John with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
John is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mendes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mendes tries to pull guard but John forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Mendes jumps guard and drags John to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
John trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes is striking but John is not phased and passes to half guard.
Mendes looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes kicks off John and gets to his feet.
A head kick misses from John.
John tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mendes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mendes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but John paws at him with a jab and circles away.
John waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mendes.
John fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mendes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
John checks a leg kick.
John drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mendes defends it well.
Mendes looks for a takedown but John sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
John avoids the head kick by Mendes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John dives in for a single leg takedown but Mendes sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
John shoots in for a double leg but Mendes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Todd Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cenk John.

John scores with a takedown into Mendes's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

John tries to roll over but Mendes keeps him under control.
Mendes winds up and cracks John with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
John is staying active underneath Mendes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
John tries to get to full guard but Mendes has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John taking some punishment here, with Mendes in his half guard.
Mendes is trying to control the action in half guard but John is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cenk John has got the better of the ground game so far.

John makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The fight stays on the outside here - John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Mendes rushes John and presses him up against the cage.

Mendes has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics John uses from the top position.
John missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing John from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst John is controlling him.
Mendes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
John wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.

Mendes pushes John off and scrambles back to his feet.
Mendes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And John tries to counter it with a takedown but Mendes pushes his down on his head and steps out.
John is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mendes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

John gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
John has Mendes pressed against the cage, preventing Mendes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
John fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Mendes dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

John swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendes.
Mendes doesn't manage to clinch there - John circles away.
Mendes is looking to clinch but John is avoiding it.

Mendes drives through and clinches with John against the cage.

John escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
John connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mendes on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Mendes tries to clinch but John is having none of it.
Mendes swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
John lands with a thumping leg kick.
John avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mendes wants to break free but John has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Mendes is trying to break the clinch but John has him pressed against the cage.

John escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mendes throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice straight punches there by Mendes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mendes.
Mendes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Mendes closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. John quickly recovers to half guard.

John kicks off Mendes and gets to his feet.
Mendes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mendes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and John counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mendes's knee momentarily.
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 fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mendes sprawls well. Mendes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. John gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendes is looking to clinch but John is avoiding it.
Mendes closes this distance looking for a takedown but John circles away.

John scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Mendes has one foot on John's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
John tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mendes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
John bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Mendes throws a right hand that John ducks under and follows up with a left that John also avoids with ease.

John drives through and clinches with Mendes against the cage.
John throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Mendes breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

John throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mendes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. John is in Mendes's guard.

Mendes manages to escape and get back to his feet.
John is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mendes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. John manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
John tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mendes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mendes circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mendes forces John back against the cage and clinches.
John trying to control the position but instead, Mendes has worked for underhooks and has pushed John into the cage.

John manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
John is trying to control the position but Mendes postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.

Mendes stands and steps away. John gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mendes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Todd Mendes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
John tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mendes defends well and John ends up having to push Mendes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mendes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
John lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mendes will feel that in the morning.
John shoots in but Mendes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Todd Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cenk John.
Mendes wants to clinch up but John keeps it at a distance.
Mendes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
John goes for a double leg but Mendes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mendes continues to drive forward.
It looked like Mendes was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from John.

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 Todd Mendes.
I think Mendes 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!