PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joji Logavatu (ranked 3991 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Mendez (ranked 25634 p4p, 0 weight class). Raul Mendez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Logavatu
vs
Mendez

173 cm
25
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
147 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 London, Joji Logavatu !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Raul Mendez !
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Logavatu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mendez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Logavatu enables Mendez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Logavatu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mendez stopping the sweep attempt from Logavatu .

Mendez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Mendez looking to score a takedown here. Logavatu is defending well but Mendez drives through and ends up in Logavatu 's guard.
Mendez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Logavatu is trying to control the position but Mendez postures up.
Mendez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Mendez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Logavatu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Logavatu wants to clinch.

Mendez clinches up with Logavatu and pushes him back against the cage.
Mendez just leaning against Logavatu , taking a breather.
Logavatu is trying to force a seperation but Mendez has the dominant position.
Mendez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mendez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mendez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mendez wants to get back to striking at distance but Logavatu won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Logavatu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mendez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mendez fails to pull guard.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mendez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Logavatu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mendez is looking to break free of the clinch but Logavatu has double underhooks.

Mendez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joji Logavatu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raul Mendez .
Mendez darts in trying to clinch
and Logavatu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Logavatu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mendez crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Logavatu - the referee stops the clock and Mendez gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Logavatu . Mendez manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Mendez throws a series of punches but Logavatu moves out of range.
It looked like Logavatu wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Logavatu is looking to clinch but Mendez is avoiding it.

Mendez takes the fight into the clinch.

Logavatu pulls guard.
Mendez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mendez postures up.
Mendez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendez distracts Logavatu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mendez passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Mendez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mendez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Logavatu 's guard.

Logavatu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Logavatu 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. Logavatu gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mendez misses with a kick to the body.
Mendez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Logavatu manages to avoid it.

Mendez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Logavatu is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Mendez dives into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Logavatu being controlled for a moment.
Mendez working the body and head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Logavatu 's shoulder. That is not cool.
Mendez wants to take a breather but Logavatu manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Mendez .
Logavatu working a defensive guard but Mendez manages to pass into side control anyway.

Mendez stands up and beckons Logavatu to his feet.
Mendez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Logavatu avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Logavatu cracks the inside of Mendez 's front leg.
Joji Logavatu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mendez drives through with a takedown into guard.

Logavatu kicks Mendez off and gets to his feet.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Logavatu as he jumps to the side.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mendez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Logavatu !
Logavatu looking for a sweep but Mendez has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez controlling his opponent.

Mendez working for a guillotine from mount but Logavatu is in no mood to give up.
Mendez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Logavatu flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Raul Mendez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mendez controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four 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.
Logavatu tries to hold on but Mendez pushes him away.
Mendez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Logavatu looks a forlorn figure.
Mendez lands a couple of good shots and Logavatu has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Mendez controlling the positon.
Can Logavatu hold on?! Mendez is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Mendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Logavatu cracks Mendez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Logavatu ducks under a wild hook from Mendez .

Mendez clinches.
Logavatu tries to pull guard but Mendez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Logavatu is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mendez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mendez jumps guard but Logavatu stands there with Mendez around his waist. Mendez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Logavatu manages to break the clinch.
Logavatu scores with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Logavatu misses with a hook to the body

and Mendez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Logavatu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mendez defends well.
Mendez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Joji Logavatu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mendez working the head and body with strikes.
Mendez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Logavatu tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Mendez presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Mendez looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Mendez controlling the pace for now.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Mendez .
Mendez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Logavatu 's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendez gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Mendez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mendez throws a push kick but Logavatu slaps the foot to one side.

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

Mendez gets to his feet. Logavatu looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Mendez gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendez landing strikes.
Mendez working the ground and pound from side control.
Mendez just content to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendez lands some shots froms side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Mendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mendez 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

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