PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Estrada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chavez Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chavez Mendez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Xavier Estrada's chin.

Estrada
vs
Mendez

185 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
138 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Xavier Estrada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chavez Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Estrada's half guard.
Estrada wants to stand back up but Mendez manages to pass into side control.
Mendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Estrada keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mendez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Estrada knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Estrada takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Estrada can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estrada knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mendez on the ground.

Mendez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mendez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mendez in the domination position with Estrada hanging on.
Estrada seems a little lost for a moment, as Mendez dominates the positioning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Estrada wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mendez trying to control the action but Estrada is working from the bottom.
Mendez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Estrada defending against the ground and pound.
Estrada is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Mendez tries to move to mount but Estrada blocks the move with his legs.
Estrada is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mendez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estrada prevents Mendez from improving position.
Estrada is not content to let Mendez control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Estrada gets caught flat footed, as Mendez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Estrada keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Estrada is pulling down on Mendez's head. It's preventing any offense from Mendez, at least for the moment.
Mendez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Estrada's guard.

Mendez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Estrada, up you get!
Xavier Estrada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Estrada tries to clinch but Mendez is having none of it.
Mendez tries to bum rush Estrada with a series of wild strikes but Estrada uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chavez Mendez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mendez forces Estrada back against the cage and clinches.

Estrada decides to pull guard.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Estrada keeps moving.
Mendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Estrada is keeping the position for now.
Estrada really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mendez being controlled here momentarily.
Estrada being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez wants to pass the guard but Estrada is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Estrada is looking for a triangle here but Mendez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Estrada is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mendez has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Mendez decides to stand back up. Mendez steps back and let's Estrada get back to his feet.
Mendez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Mendez pushes Estrada up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estrada is trying to pull guard but Mendez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Mendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendez swings away with a body shot that misses
and Estrada counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Mendez forces Estrada back against the cage and clinches.
Mendez is trying to pull guard but Estrada has him pressed against the cage.

Estrada manages to break the clinch.

Mendez forces Estrada back against the cage and clinches.

Estrada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mendez closes the distance and clinches.
Mendez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Xavier Estrada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chavez Mendez.
Mendez is looking for a takedown.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estrada has his hands on Mendez's head, controlling the position.
Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Estrada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Estrada has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mendez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendez connects with a couple of short punches.
Mendez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Estrada's guard.
Mendez controlling the action here.

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.

Mendez decides to stand up.
Mendez takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Mendez moves into the clinch successfully.
Mendez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Estrada is trying to drag Mendez to the mat but Mendez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mendez goes for a takedown attempt but Estrada pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chavez Mendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Estrada's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nice sprawl there from Estrada as Mendez shoots in.
Mendez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mendez dives in and grabs Estrada's left leg, looking for a takedown. Estrada pushes down on Mendez's head and hops out.
Estrada is looking to counter the offense by Mendez and move into the clinch.
Mendez misses with a kick to the body.
Estrada fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mendez manages to avoid it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Estrada pulls Mendez into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Estrada is trying to control the position but Mendez postures up.
Estrada wants to get back to his feet but Mendez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mendez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mendez trying to control but Estrada is working from the bottom.
Estrada is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mendez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Mendez rushes Estrada and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Estrada jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mendez walks away with a smile on his face. Estrada gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mendez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Chavez Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Estrada dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mendez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Estrada's waist but Estrada gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mendez off to one side.
Xavier Estrada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chavez Mendez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estrada is looking to slow Mendez down with leg kicks.

Estrada darts in and clinches Mendez up against the cage.
Estrada is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mendez to keep the fight standing.
Estrada tries to pull guard but Mendez won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Estrada pulls guard effortlessly.
Mendez trying to control but Estrada is working from the bottom.
Estrada is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mendez passes Estrada's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mendez sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Estrada has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mendez wants to take a breather but Estrada is having none of it.
Mendez controlling the action here.
Mendez passes into side control, despite Estrada's attempt to control the position.

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 Xavier Estrada.
I think Mendez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chavez Mendez!