PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chad Mendes has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ryan Miller's chin.

Miller
vs
Mendes

175 cm
26
151 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

167 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller throws a series of strikes that have Mendes backpedaling.
Mendes shoots in looking for a takedown. Miller tries to sprawl out of it but Mendes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Miller manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mendes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Miller sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Miller displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Miller scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Miller clinches up against the cage.

Miller has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mendes regains guard immediately.
Mendes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Miller scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Miller looking to sit in guard and control but Mendes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Miller preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Miller is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendes scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes throwing strikes from guard but Miller blocks nicely.
Mendes throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mendes throws a big right hand that misses.
Mendes stops Miller from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mendes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mendes throwing strikes but missing.
Mendes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Miller's head.
Mendes prevents Miller from getting back to his feet.
Miller looking for a sweep. Not yet Miller, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miller doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Mendes connects with a couple of short punches.
Mendes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mendes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Miller works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mendes lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mendes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miller wants to stand and escape but Mendes is having none of it.
Mendes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Miller is breathing heavily.
Mendes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Miller's head.
Mendes working some strikes from top position.

Miller has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mendes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mendes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mendes thows a big elbow that misses.
Mendes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mendes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mendes stands up over Miller, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mendes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mendes lands a couple of digs.
Mendes with a nice head shot there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Miller is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Miller throws a strike but Mendes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mendes lands a couple of digs.
Mendes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Miller's head.
Mendes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mendes won't allow Miller to get back to his feet.
Mendes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Miller is looking to stand up but Mendes isn't so interested in that idea.
Mendes scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four 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 sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mendes works over Miller with some ground and pound from guard.
Mendes landing some decent shots from guard.
Mendes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Miller tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mendes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Miller's head.

Miller had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mendes defends it easily.
Mendes works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mendes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mendes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chad Mendes will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Miller keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Miller clinches up against the cage.
Miller gets underhooks to prevent Mendes's takedown attempt.
Mendes tries for a takedown but Miller manages to get underhooks.
Ryan Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Mendes.

Miller is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mendes can't fight it off and eventually Miller manages to take the fight to the floor. Mendes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Miller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Miller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Miller trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Mendes keeping full guard, as Miller tries to pass.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miller trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Miller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Miller throwing strikes from guard but Mendes blocks nicely.
Mendes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Miller wants to pass the guard but Mendes is keeping the position.
Miller trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Miller in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to pass the guard but Mendes is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Miller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mendes keeping full guard, as Miller tries to pass.

Mendes pushes Miller off and scrambles back to his feet.

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.

Miller clinches with his opponent.

Mendes is fighting off a takedown attempt but Miller is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Mendes to the mat. Mendes regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Miller wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Miller looking to sit in guard and control but Mendes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Miller wants to get back to his feet but Mendes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Miller throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Miller thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Miller dominated that second 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. 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.

Mendes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Miller defends it nicely.
Miller catches Mendes with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ryan Miller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Miller gets underhooks to prevent Mendes's takedown attempt.

Miller tightens his grip and picks Mendes up, before dumping him to the ground. Mendes manages to land in guard.
Miller looking to sit in guard and control but Mendes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Miller on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Miller tries to get out of the position.

Miller looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mendes working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Miller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mendes is controlling him.
Mendes lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes cracks Miller with a solid left hand.
Mendes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mendes lands a couple of elbows.
Mendes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Miller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendes is one step ahead there.
Mendes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Miller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mendes scoring with some ground and pound.
Mendes is working Miller over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mendes landing with the ground and pound.
Miller wants to stand but Mendes is controlling the position.

That's two 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.
Mendes throwing strikes but missing.
Mendes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mendes forces his way into half guard.
Mendes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mendes prevents Miller from standing back up.
Mendes lands with a punch from half guard.
Miller is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mendes scores with a couple of nice shots.
Miller looks like he's trying to stand up.
Chad Mendes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miller tries to roll over but Mendes keeps him under control.
Mendes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes prevents Miller from standing back up.
Miller misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mendes drops an elbow to the side of Miller's head.
Miller wants to get back to his feet.
Miller knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mendes on the ground.
Mendes lands strikes from half guard.
Mendes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mendes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Miller with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Miller wants to get back to his feet.
Miller is trying to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Mendes.
Mendes winds up and cracks Miller with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four 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.

Miller looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Miller wants to get back to his feet.
Mendes working Miller over with strikes.
Mendes drops an elbow to the side of Miller's head.
Mendes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mendes looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Miller looks like he's trying to stand up.
Miller taking some punishment here, with Mendes in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mendes connects with a nice short shot to Miller's temple.
Miller blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Mendes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mendes 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

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