PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Black has chosen Life in a Marvelous Time-Mos Def as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mendez
vs
Black

185 cm
22
212 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
215 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Non-Stop Nutrition
Firebird Designs

Berserker 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 7 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Black!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Black really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mendez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mendez tries to pass to full mount but Black defends it.

Mendez is looking for a kimura but Black is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mendez to get the leverage.
Black should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Mendez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Mendez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Black has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mendez tries to pass to full mount but Black defends it.
Black missing with punches from the bottom.

Black is defending against the submission attempts here by Mendez.
Black wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez wants to take a breather but Black is having none of it.

Mendez is looking for a kimura but Black is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mendez to get the leverage.
Black moves into full guard.
Black working a defensive guard here.
Mendez stopping the sweep attempt from Black.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mendez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Black is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Black wants to sweep here but Mendez controlling him for the moment.
Black is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Black looks to land a combination but Mendez avoids it well.
Mendez avoids the head kick by Black.
Black looks to land a combination but Mendez avoids it well.
Black looks gassed!
Black throws a right and a left that Mendez avoids nicely.

Mendez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mendez works over Black with some ground and pound from guard.
Black preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mendez advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Mendez easily slips into full mount!

Mendez goes for an armbar but Black turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Black.
Black must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mendez wants to sweep here but Black controlling him for the moment.
Mendez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Black's guard.
Mendez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Black wants to sweep here but Mendez controlling him for the moment.
Mendez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mendez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Black's guard.
Mendez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black trying to hold on to Mendez's head to control him but Mendez postures up.
Mendez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Black wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy.
Mendez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mendez controlling the pace for now.
A nice elbow there by Mendez.

Mendez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Black is surviving well by controlling Mendez's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Mendez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mendez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mendez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mendez is trying to control the action in half guard but Black is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mendez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Black trying to control from the bottom.
Mendez works his foot free and advances to mount.
Black tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mendez throws some wild stikes that Black manages to avoid easily.
Black is breathing heavily.

Mendez get's back to his feet.
Black is looking to score with low kicks.

Mendez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Black looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black defending against the ground and pound.
Black is trying to improve his position.
Paolo Mendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mendez is working to tighten is grip on Black's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Black has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Mendez is really squeezing tight and eventually Black passes out! Mendez breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Paolo Mendez!
Paolo Mendez retains his light heavyweight title!