PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Dawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tuco Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ryan Dawson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Dawson
vs
Mendoza

164 cm
20
158 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

177 cm
19
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Dawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tuco Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendoza closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mendoza lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendoza wants to control from the top but Dawson keeps moving.
Mendoza postures up in Dawson's guard and throws a big left but Dawson blocks it.
Mendoza trying to control but Dawson is working from the bottom.
Dawson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mendoza on the ground.
Mendoza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendoza with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendoza slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mendoza fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Mendoza trying to control the position but Dawson is working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sloppy strikes there by Mendoza.
Mendoza throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Mendoza is looking to take a break and control but Dawson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dawson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson is letting Mendoza control him for a moment.
Mendoza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dawson keeps working.
Mendoza is putting a hurting on Dawson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mendoza in side control, throwing shots but Dawson defends.
Mendoza trying to control the position but Dawson is working away.

Mendoza looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Mendoza is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Mendoza working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendoza goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Dawson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mendoza's guard! Nice work there by Dawson!
Dawson wants to pass the guard but Mendoza is keeping the position.

Mendoza is looking for a triangle but Dawson pushes his legs off easily.
Dawson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dawson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuco Mendoza dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dawson looks to score with a jab to the body but Mendoza is just out of range.
Dawson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Dawson stuffs the takedown attempt from Mendoza. Mendoza gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendoza is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dawson.
A combination from Dawson does no damage.
Dawson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mendoza throws a nice looking combination but Dawson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mendoza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mendoza throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dawson counters with a three punch combo that has Mendoza backing up. Mendoza nods at Dawson to acknowledge the strikes.
Mendoza shoots in looking for a takedown but Dawson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mendoza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ryan Dawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tuco Mendoza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson misses with a two punch combination.
The fighters circling - Dawson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dawson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Dawson throws a right hand that Mendoza ducks under and follows up with a left that Mendoza also avoids with ease.
Dawson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mendoza counters with a takedown into side control.
Mendoza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mendoza trying to control the action but Dawson is working from the bottom.

Mendoza is trying to get an arm triangle but Dawson is defending well.
Mendoza tries to score with some ground and pound. Dawson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Dawson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dawson tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson tries to escape but Mendoza is in control.
Dawson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mendoza.
Dawson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mendoza wants to control but Dawson is keeping him busy.
Dawson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mendoza.
Mendoza wants to control but Dawson is keeping him busy.
Dawson parries the strikes from Mendoza easily there. Mendoza is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dawson to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is putting a hurting on Dawson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mendoza in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Dawson is not content to let Mendoza control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dawson pushes Mendoza away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Mendoza gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Mendoza trying to control the position but Dawson is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is staying tight to Dawson's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Mendoza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dawson keeps working.

Mendoza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dawson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mendoza throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuco Mendoza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mendoza has a takedown stuffed.
Mendoza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dawson looks to land a right hand but Mendoza moved out of range.
Mendoza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dawson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Dawson connects with a looping right hand.
Dawson swinging wildly here.
Mendoza cracks Dawson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Dawson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mendoza on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mendoza circles away quickly and effectively.

Mendoza scores with a takedown into Dawson's guard.
Tuco Mendoza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mendoza keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dawson's head.
Mendoza pushing down on Dawson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Mendoza throws a strike but Dawson avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Dawson keeping full guard, as Mendoza tries to pass.
Mendoza stands and throws Dawson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Dawson to see if he's OK.
Mendoza tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Mendoza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dawson keeps working.

Mendoza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dawson, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendoza sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Dawson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Dawson is letting Mendoza control him for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Mendoza 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.
Mendoza's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tuco Mendoza was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mendoza misses with a takedown
and Dawson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ryan Dawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tuco Mendoza.

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.
Dawson misses the shot to the body.
Mendoza avoids the body shot from Dawson.
Dawson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Dawson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mendoza sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tuco Mendoza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dawson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Dawson thows a body shot but no joy.
Dawson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mendoza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dawson circles away.
Ryan Dawson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dawson looks to land a left hand but Mendoza moved out of range nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tuco Mendoza.
I've got Mendoza 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tuco Mendoza!