PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mendes
vs
Michaels

170 cm
19
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, AJ Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes thows a body shot but no joy.

Michaels closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mendes to the mat! Mendes manages to get full guard.
Michaels missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels wants to stand but Mendes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Michaels sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.

Mendes scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Michaels decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Michaels wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Michaels throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Michaels trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Michaels is looking to stand up but Mendes won't let him.
Mendes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Michaels has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mendes is trying to keep Michaels in close.
Michaels won't allow Mendes to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A punch lands to the side of Michaels 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Michaels closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mendes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mendes is trying to break the clinch but Michaels has him pressed against the cage.
Mendes has had enough of the clinch but Michaels keeps him there for the moment.
Michaels stalling.

Michaels is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mendes can't fight it off and eventually Michaels manages to take the fight to the floor. Mendes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Michaels looks gassed!

Michaels is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mendes is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mendes has escaped and now he's on top!

Mendes gets to his feet. Michaels looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mendes darts in trying to clinch

and Michaels counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mendes won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Michaels thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mendes is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Mendes trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Michaels is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mendes has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Mendes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mendes throws a one two combo.
Mendes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mendes moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mendes falls off balance throwing a combination

and Michaels counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes is trying to stand.

Michaels stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mendes to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Michaels 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.

Mendes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mendes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Michaels swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mendes as he avoids it easily.
Mendes throws a combination that misses
and Michaels counters with a thumping low kick.
Mendes misses with a double jab.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mendes as he jumps to the side.
Mendes throws a combination. Michaels tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mendes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Michaels misses with a double jab
and Mendes counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Michaels has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mendes throws a combination. Michaels tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mendes moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mendes throws a nice looking combination but Michaels bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mendes scores with a three punch combo!
Some wild striking there from Mendes.
Mendes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mendes fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Michaels shoots and misses
and Mendes counters with a nice body shot.
Joe Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Michaels.
Mendes lands a lovely overhand right.
Mendes misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mendes lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Michaels gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mendes counters with a three punch combo that has Michaels backing up. Michaels nods at Mendes to acknowledge the strikes.
Mendes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Mendes scores with a three punch combo!
Mendes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mendes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mendes lands a two punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michaels is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mendes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes lands with a nice combination. Michaels backs away looking to recover.
Joe Mendes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Michaels has his takedown stuffed
and Mendes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mendes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Michaels.
A combination from Mendes does no damage.
Michaels doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendes circles away.
Michaels gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mendes.
Michaels takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Joe Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michaels swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendes.
Mendes wants to clinch up but Michaels keeps it at a distance.
Michaels throws a head kick but Mendes moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels misses with a takedown
and Mendes counters with a stiff right hand.
Mendes lands with an uppercut that bounces Michaels off the cage and back into rage.
Mendes misses with a series of wild punches.
Mendes moves out of range of the body kick.
Mendes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mendes is working the combinations to good effect here.
Mendes misses with a two punch combination.
A nice combination there by Mendes.
Mendes scores with a one two! Michaels had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Michaels slips a jab and a cross from Mendes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mendes!
Mendes doesn't manage to clinch there - Michaels circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Mendes dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mendes wants to clinch.
Mendes lands the left hand.
Mendes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Michaels gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mendes counters with a three punch combo that has Michaels backing up. Michaels nods at Mendes to acknowledge the strikes.
A combination from Mendes does no damage.
Joe Mendes is winning the standup battle so far.
Michaels has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mendes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Michaels tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mendes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendes connects with a nice looking jab.
Mendes lands a glancing blow to the side of Michaels's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mendes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Michaels thinking.
Mendes misses with a wild combination.
Michaels throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mendes's waist but Mendes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Michaels off to one side.
Joe Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Michaels.
Mendes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Michaels counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Michaels looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mendes wants to get back to his feet.
Mendes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mendes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes wants to get back to his feet but Michaels is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Mendes uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Michaels wants to clinch but Mendes slips to the side
and Mendes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mendes keeps the fight on the outside.
Mendes lands with a nice combination. Michaels backs away looking to recover.
Mendes looks to clinch

and Michaels counters by moving into the clinch.
Mendes is trying to break the clinch but Michaels has him pressed against the cage.
Michaels taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mendes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Michaels has him pressed against the cage.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throws a nice looking combination but Michaels bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A combination from Mendes does no damage.
Mendes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Michaels paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mendes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mendes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Michaels drives through and clinches with Mendes against the cage.
Michaels can't get the takedown.
Michaels prevents Mendes from breaking the clinch.
Michaels has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mendes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Michaels drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mendes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Michaels trying to control the position but instead, Mendes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Michaels into the cage.

That's four 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.
Mendes tries to score a body lock takedown but Michaels shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mendes is trying to break free.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mendes swinging wilding here.
Mendes misses with a wild combination.
Mendes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Michaels counters with a good low kick that Mendes was not able to check.

Mendes takes the fight into the clinch.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mendes throws a series of punches but Michaels moves out of range.

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 Joe Mendes.
I think Mendes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Mendes!