PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mighty Manlet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendes is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Steve McQueen. Chad Mendes told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Manlet
vs
Mendes

150 cm
28
130 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

170 cm
45
146 lbs
50 - 33 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mighty Manlet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 50 - 33 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab from Mendes.
Mendes scores with a jab.
Mendes misses with a straight left.
Manlet feinted with a counter takedown.
Mendes lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mendes, as that shot connected.
Mendes scores with a punch to the head.
Mendes is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nice cross by Mendes.
Mendes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Mendes has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manlet takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Manlet with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mendes to score with a decent uppercut.
Manlet gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Manlet uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mendes.
Mendes misses the jab.
Manlet feinted with a counter takedown.
Mendes throws a series of punches but Manlet avoids them all with ease.
Manlet half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes falls off balance throwing a combination

and Manlet counters with a takedown into side control.
Mendes tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Mendes wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manlet is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Manlet has his opponent's back but Mendes is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Manlet.
Mendes swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Manlet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mendes misses with a series of wild punches.
Manlet feinted with a counter takedown.
Mendes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Manlet ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice uppercut there from Mendes.
Mendes connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mendes scores with a leg kick.
Mendes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mendes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Manlet's hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A big left from Mendes misses.
Manlet drops his hands momentarily and Mendes takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mendes.
Mendes has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mendes clobbers Manlet with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Manlet checks a leg kick nicely.
Manlet changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A shot to the liver by Mendes. Beautiful body shot.
Manlet walks into a left hand.
Mendes connects with a leg kick. Manlet looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mendes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Manlet momentarily.
Mendes lands a nice shot to the body.
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!
Jab by Mendes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes throws a body shot but no joy.
Mendes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Manlet appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Manlet takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A big left from Mendes misses.
Manlet drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mendes sprawls and moves away.
Mendes misses the jab.
Manlet looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Manlet ducks under a wild hook from Mendes.
Manlet appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mendes misses with a straight left.
Manlet uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mendes.
A left lands for Mendes.
Mendes misses with a body shot.
Manlet moves out of range of the strikes.
Mendes is looking to slow Manlet down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manlet steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mendes.
Manlet drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mendes sprawls and moves away.
Mendes connects with a nice looking jab.
Mendes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Manlets jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Nice shot lands for Mendes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendes clobbers Manlet with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Chad Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendes connects with a looping right hand.
Mendes connects with a jab.
Mendes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Manlet momentarily.

Manlet is rocked!
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
Chad Mendes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manlet takes one on the button.
Oh Manlet is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manlet walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mendes connects with a body shot.
Manlet seems to have got his legs back now.
Manlet showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mendes.
Mendes throws a right hand that Manlet ducks under and follows up with a left that Manlet also avoids with ease.
Manlet drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mendes sprawls and moves away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mendes.
Mendes misses with a two punch combination.
Mendes misses with a leg kick.
Mendes scores with a nice head shot.
Mendes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mendes just misses with a punch to the body.
Manlet feinted with a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes cracks Manlet with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mighty Manlet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mendes takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes tries to work over Manlet's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendes lands a right hand.
Manlet tries for a takedown but Mendes manages to get underhooks.
Mendes works on Manlet's body with a couple of short punches.
Mendes lands with a left to the head.

Mendes manages to break the clinch.
Mendes swings for the body but Manlet moves out of range.
Manlet drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mendes sprawls and moves away.
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.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by Mendes. That's going to slow Manlet down.
Mendes fails to land with a series of punches.
Manlet attempts a counter takedown but Mendes avoids it well and moves away.
Mendes lands with an uppercut that bounces Manlet off the cage and back into range.
Manlet takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A punch lands to the side of Manlet 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Mendes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Manlet walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Manlet has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Manlet there as he acknowledges the shot.
Manlet moves away from the strike by Mendes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manlet walks into a left hand.
Manlet keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mendes.
Manlet tries to counter with a takedown but Mendes is quick to defend against it.
Mendes scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manlet takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Manlet takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Manlet takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mendes is looking to clinch.
Manlet appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mendes swings for the body but Manlet moves out of range.
Manlet takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Decent striking displayed by Mendes there.
Manlet with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mendes to score with a decent uppercut.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mendes.
Manlet takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Mendes connects with a looping right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Mendes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manlet with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mendes to score with a decent uppercut.
Manlet takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mendes thuds a left hand into Manlet's body.
Manlet takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Manlet on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mendes throws a body shot but no joy.
Manlet feinted with a counter takedown.
Mendes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Manlet has time to react.
Manlet slips under a jab from Mendes.
Mendes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mendes just misses with a punch to the body.
Manlet feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manlet moves away.
Manlet changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mendes throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Manlet feinted with a counter takedown.
Chad Mendes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manlet walks into a straight right hand from Mendes.
Nice body punch from Mendes.
Manlet displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mendes throws out the jab.
Manlet appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Mendes clinches up with Manlet and pushes him back against the cage.
Mendes taking a breather.

Mendes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice cross by Mendes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Manlet. That did some damage!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mendes.
Manlet staying out of range there.
Manlet appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mendes cracks Manlet with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The fighters circle momentarily. Mendes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Chad Mendes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes catches Manlet with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mendes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Manlet takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manlet moves away.
Manlet changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Manlet keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mendes.
Mighty Manlet has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Mendes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mendes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Antenori scores the fight 25:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 25:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Mendes!
An out of breath and clearly excited Chad Mendes thanked Namunamu Clothing for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).