PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franjy Izgrate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Izgrate is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sail. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Franjy Izgrate was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Mendez
vs
Izgrate

185 cm
22
212 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
216 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Firebird Designs
Malicious Intent Fight Gear

Non-Stop Nutrition
Bushido Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paolo Mendez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franjy Izgrate!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Izgrate throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mendez closes the distance and clinches up with Izgrate, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes Izgrate against the cage but Izgrate circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Mendez feints and as Izgrate raises his hands in defense, Mendez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mendez passes Izgrate's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Izgrate is trying to maintain the position but Mendez is very close to passing his half guard.
Mendez wants to free his trapped foot but Izgrate is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Mendez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Izgrate defends it well.
Izgrate wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mendez working the head and body with strikes.

Mendez trying to work for an americana but Izgrate has managed to regain full guard.
Mendez wants to pass the guard but Izgrate is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izgrate wants to stand but Mendez is controlling the position.
Mendez advances position into side control!
Mendez is trying to move to mount but Izgrate reverses beautifully and ends up in Mendez's guard.
Mendez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Izgrate is one step ahead there.
Mendez tries to strike from the bottom.

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.
Izgrate won't allow Mendez to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendez keeping full guard, as Izgrate tries to pass.
Izgrate postures up.
Izgrate preventing the sweep.

Mendez throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Izgrate escapes and throws Mendez's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Mendez is breathing heavily.
Izgrate controlling from side mount.
Mendez is trying to improve his position.

Izgrate decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mendez to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Izgrate, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Mendez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Izgrate!
Mendez throwing strikes but Izgrate bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.

Izgrate wriggles free and stands up.

Mendez scores a takedown into full mount!

Mendez goes for an armbar but Izgrate turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Izgrate.
Mendez looking to control.
Mendez wants to sweep here but Izgrate controlling him for the moment.
Mendez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez passes to full mount!
Mendez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Izgrate is looking to escape.
Izgrate squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Mendez is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Izgrate has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Izgrate!
Izgrate must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Mendez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Izgrate doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Izgrate manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Izgrate content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Mendez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mendez forces Izgrate back against the cage and clinches.
Mendez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Izgrate prevents it.
Izgrate wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mendez keeps control of Izgrate as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Izgrate manages to break the clinch.
Mendez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Izgrate's waist but Izgrate gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mendez off to one side.
Mendez lands a with a good body shot.

Mendez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Izgrate is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Mendez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sloppy strikes there by Mendez.
Izgrate is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izgrate is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mendez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Mendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Izgrate keeps working.

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 advances to mount.

Mendez working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Izgrate looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Mendez! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Paolo Mendez!
Paolo Mendez retains his light heavyweight title!