PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cory Olsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chad Mendes acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Olsen
vs
Mendes

209 cm
21
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cory Olsen!
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, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Olsen did well to prevent Mendes getting side control.

Mendes seems to be working for a kimura but Olsen defends the submission attempt.
Olsen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendes.
Olsen wants to improve his position but Mendes is controlling well.
Olsen is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Mendes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Olsen has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Olsen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Olsen looking for a sweep. Not yet Olsen, not yet.
Olsen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mendes manages to get himself to full guard.

Mendes working for a triangle but Olsen defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olsen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Olsen is fighting to break Mendes's control of his arms but Mendes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Olsen from controlling successfully.
Olsen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mendes is proving hard to escape from.
Mendes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Olsen scoring with some ground and pound.
Olsen is in close to Mendes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Olsen looking to sit in guard and control but Mendes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Olsen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mendes preventing the sweep.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Olsen keeps moving.
Mendes stopping the sweep attempt from Olsen.
Mendes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Olsen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mendes manages to get himself to full guard.

Olsen wanted to stand there but Mendes had control of the position.
Mendes is looking to stand up but Olsen isn't so interested in that idea.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Olsen gets to his feet. Mendes looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throws a leg kick but Olsen sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Mendes rushes Olsen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Olsen taking a breather.

Olsen breaks the clinch.
Mendes throws a right and a left that both miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Olsen.

Mendes forces Olsen back against the cage and clinches.
A short right from Olsen on the inside.
Olsen landing knees to the head.
Olsen is stalling here.

Mendes jumps guard and drags Olsen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is looking to stand up but Olsen isn't so interested in that idea.

Mendes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Olsen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Olsen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Olsen distracts Mendes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mendes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Olsen controls the pace.
Olsen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Olsen throws an elbow that misses. Mendes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Olsen's guard. Nice move by Mendes!

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Olsen looking for a sweep. Not yet Olsen, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chad Mendes will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mendes gets tackled into the cage by Olsen. Olsen maintains the clinch.

Olsen has Mendes pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Olsen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mendes tumbling to the mat - Olsen dives into Mendes's guard.

Mendes has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Olsen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Mendes moves into range and clinches up with Olsen.
Olsen leaning against his opponent.
Olsen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mendes's defenses.
Olsen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mendess head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendes looking to throw knees to the head but Olsen is blocking nicely.

Mendes manages to break the clinch.

Mendes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Olsen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mendes is in Olsen's guard.
Olsen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Olsen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mendes stopping the sweep attempt from Olsen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Olsen keeps moving.
Olsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Mendes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Mendes takes the fight into the clinch.
Olsen slowing the pace effectively.
Olsen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mendes after a bit of a struggle.

Mendes turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mendes manages to end up in side control.
Olsen is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Olsen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mendes has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Chad Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendes moves into range and clinches up with Olsen.
Mendes is trying to break free.

Mendes has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Olsen is trying to keep an underhook but Mendes manages to get the takedown into half 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!
Olsen desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Mendes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Olsen defends it well.
Olsen is holding on to half guard well.
Mendes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mendes throwing shots but Olsen is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olsen tries to roll over but Mendes keeps him under control.
Olsen desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Mendes is working for a kimura but Olsen is defending it quite comfortably.
Mendes tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Olsen.
Olsen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mendes is working away from the top position though.
Mendes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Olsen defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Olsen is pressing down on Mendes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Chad Mendes has got the better of the ground game so far.

Olsen is working an open guard so Mendes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Olsen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mendes sprawls well. Mendes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Olsen gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendes thinks about the counter body kick.

Mendes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Olsen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mendes tries a knee to the head but Olsen blocks it.
Olsen lands a shoulder strike.
Mendes prevents a body shot from Olsen.
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.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Olsen clinches up with Mendes and pushes him back against the cage.
Olsen tries to land a knee to the head but Mendes blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Olsen.
Mendes tries to land a knee to the head but Olsen blocks with his arms.

Olsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Olsen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mendes works his way to full guard. Good work.

Mendes has his feet on Olsen's thighs here. He's pushed Olsen off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Olsen screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chad Mendes!