PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendes comes to the cage accompanied by Steve McQueen. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mendes
vs
Swanson

170 cm
45
146 lbs
51 - 33 - 0

189 cm
26
159 lbs
7 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 51 - 33 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chad Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raphael Swanson !
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Roberts and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes dodges the punch combination from Swanson .
Mendes lands a jab-cross combination.
Mendes scores with a hook to the body. Swanson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sloppy strikes from Swanson . Those never looked like landing.
Sloppy strikes from Swanson . Those never looked like landing.
Mendes swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mendes looks to land a combination but Swanson avoids it well.
Swanson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mendes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Swanson .
Decent striking displayed by Mendes there.
Swanson misses with a two punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendes scores with a jab to the body.
Swanson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mendes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Swanson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mendes cracks a nice hook into Swanson 's ribs.
Swanson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mendes. Mendes obviously looking to wear him down.

Mendes instigates a clinch.
Mendes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Swanson or not.

Mendes manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson misses the shot to the body.
Swanson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mendes throwing a counter right hand but Swanson manages to avoid it.
Swanson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Swanson .
We've been told by Mendes's head coaches at City of Angels Fight Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Swanson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Swanson lands a nice shot that snaps Mendes's head back.

Mendes is rocked!
Swanson throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Mendes to counter with a crisp jab.
Oh Mendes is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mendes takes a swing at Swanson 's ribcage but misses.
As Mendes backs off Swanson throws a huge counter combo but Mendes manages to avoid it all.
Raphael Swanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swanson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Swanson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mendes counters with a nice uppercut.

Mendes clinches up against the cage.
Mendes seems to have got his legs back now.
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 softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mendes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Swanson or not.
Mendes lands with a short shot to the head.
Mendes stalling.
A short body shot lands from Mendes as the two fighters clinch.
Mendes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is working Swanson over against the cage.
Mendes lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mendes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mendes just leaning against Swanson , taking a breather.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Swanson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mendes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mendes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Swanson takes a swing at Mendes's ribcage but misses.
Swanson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mendes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes jabs Swanson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Swanson throws a lazy uppercut
and Mendes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mendes catches Swanson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mendes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mendes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mendes throwing a counter right hand but Swanson manages to avoid it.
Mendes scores with a nice strike.
Swanson throws a right hand that Mendes ducks under and follows up with a left that Mendes also avoids with ease.
Mendes lands with a shot to the body.
Swanson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mendes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The fighters circling - Swanson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mendes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swanson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mendes finds it's way round the side to connect with Swanson 's head.
Mendes lands a right hook to the body.
Swanson lands with a hook. Mendes tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Mendes lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Swanson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Swanson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mendes.
Mendes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Swanson .

Mendes instigates a clinch.
Swanson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes lands a nice uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Mendes.
Mendes will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Swanson up against the cage.
Mendes slows down the pace here.
Swanson wants to get back to striking at distance but Mendes won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mendes lands with a shot to the body.
Mendes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Swanson doesn't seem bothered though.
Swanson throws a nice looking combination but Mendes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Swanson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Raphael Swanson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swanson scores with a three punch combo!
A jab from Mendes does it's job there.
Swanson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mendes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Swanson misses with a wild combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Swanson misses with a double jab
and Mendes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mendes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Swanson can do to turn this around?
Mendes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sloppy strikes from Swanson . Those never looked like landing.
Swanson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Swanson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Swanson misses with the combination.
Mendes slips a jab from Swanson .
Swanson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mendes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mendes dodges the punch combination from Swanson .
Swanson is breathing heavily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mendes closes the distance and pushes Swanson back into the cage.
Mendes taking a breather.
Mendes is pushing Swanson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Mendes lands a body punch.
Mendes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Swanson 's efforts to push away.
A hook to the body from Mendes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Mendes on the inside.
Mendes is struggling to control the position.
Mendes lands a shot to the body.
Swanson being controlled against the cage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Mendes here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Mendes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Swanson fails to land with a series of punches.
Mendes lands a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes lands a body shot.
Mendes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Swanson . Swanson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Swanson misses with a double jab
and Mendes counters with a straight right hand.
Nice body punch from Mendes.
Mendes throws a shot to the body.
Swanson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A shot to the liver by Mendes. Beautiful body shot.
Mendes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Swanson throws a poor cross that misses
and Mendes counters with a straight right hand.
Mendes scores with a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendes connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mendes.
Mendes scores with a punch to the head.
Swanson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mendes stuns Swanson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mendes paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mendes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Swanson at a distance.
Mendes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mendes lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Swanson throws a lazy uppercut
and Mendes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Mendes forces Swanson back against the cage and clinches.
Mendes stalling.
Mendes is struggling to control the position.
Mendes gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Mendes scores with a shoulder strike.
A bit of stalling here from Mendes.
Mendes lands a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee calls for Mendes to work.
Mendes is working Swanson over against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Swanson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Swanson misses with a double jab
and Mendes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mendes throws out a powerful jab.
Mendes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Swanson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mendes connects with a crisp jab.
Mendes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
No joy there for Swanson , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Swanson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Mendes clinches up with Swanson and pushes him back against the cage.
Mendes stalling the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes lands a body punch.

Mendes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Swanson throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Mendes to counter with a crisp jab.
Chad Mendes is winning the standup battle so far.
Mendes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mendes lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A shot to the liver by Mendes. Beautiful body shot.
Swanson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Swanson misses with a lunging right hand
and Mendes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Mendes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mendes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Mendes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mendes leaning against his opponent.
Mendes lands an uppercut.
Mendes stalling against the cage.
Swanson wants to get back to striking at distance but Mendes won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes stalling against the cage.
Swanson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mendes stalling against the cage.
Mendes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Chad Mendes.
Swanson misses with a double jab.
Swanson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Mendes does it's job there.
Mendes throws out a powerful jab.
Mendes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Mendes throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mendes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mendes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mendes with a jab.
Swanson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Swanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mendes slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mendes blocks a jab.
Swanson misses with a double jab.
Mendes punishes Swanson 's body with a nice straight punch.
Mendes scores with a jab to the jaw.
Raphael Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Swanson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mendes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mendes digs a good hook to Swanson 's body.
Mendes throws a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swanson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mendes lands an overhand right.
Mendes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Swanson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mendes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Swanson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mendes. Mendes obviously looking to wear him down.
Mendes scores with the left hand. Swanson knows he should have avoided that one.
Mendes jabs at Swanson 's body.
Swanson misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Mendes has managed to clinch.
Mendes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mendes slows down the pace here.
Chad Mendes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendes scores with a hook to the body.
Mendes digs a right hand underneath Swanson 's ribcage. Swanson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes lands a shoulder strike.
The referee calls for Mendes to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Mendes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mendes 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

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).