PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leon Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjorn Haegeland (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.

Mendez
vs
Haegeland

187 cm
25
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leon Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bjorn Haegeland!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendez avoids the head kick by Haegeland.

Haegeland clinches with his opponent.
Haegeland wants to break the clinch but can't.

Haegeland gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mendez keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Mendez trying to control but Haegeland postures up.
Haegeland is trying to control the action in half guard but Mendez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mendez tries to get to full guard but Haegeland has control of the leg.
Mendez is concentrating on defense, preventing Haegeland from advancing position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mendez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Haegeland moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Haegeland drives through with a takedown into Mendez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Haegeland avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Haegeland must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Haegeland trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haegeland content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mendez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Mendez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mendez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Haegeland is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendez has wrist control.

Mendez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mendez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Haegeland got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mendez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Haegeland has managed to get both his arms back between Mendez's legs - danger averted.

Mendez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Haegeland doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Haegeland manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Haegeland trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haegeland is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Haegeland stopping the sweep attempt from Mendez.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Haegeland gets to his feet. Mendez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mendez lands a head kick. Haegeland smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Mendez is breathing heavily.

Haegeland sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Mendez to the ground! Haegeland dives into full mount looking to finish!

Mendez is rocked!

It looks like Leon Mendez has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendez is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Oh Mendez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Haegeland lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Haegeland is working for a guillotine from mount but Mendez frees his head quite easily.
Haegeland looking to finish Mendez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mendez!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez throwing hammer fists to the chest of Haegeland. What's that going to do exactly?
Mendez seems to have got his legs back now.
Haegeland avoids the attempt from Mendez to control.
Haegeland pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Haegeland with shots to the head and body - Mendez looks very uncomfortable down there.
Haegeland looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mendez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mendez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Haegeland looking to control but Mendez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haegeland working the ground and pound effectively.
The referee warns Mendez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mendez is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Haegeland in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mendez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Haegeland looking to finish Mendez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mendez!
Mendez tries to lock up and control but Haegeland gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haegeland wants to control the pace but Mendez is squirming around nicely.
Haegeland raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bjorn Haegeland dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leon Mendez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Haegeland manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mendez on his heels. He'll look to pass Mendez's guard now, I'm sure.
Haegeland postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Mendez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Haegeland can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Haegeland trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haegeland preventing the sweep.
Mendez keeping full guard, as Haegeland tries to pass.
Haegeland wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.
Haegeland working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Haegeland postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Mendez pushes Haegeland off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mendez enables Haegeland to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mendez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Haegeland prevents Mendez from getting back to his feet.
Mendez looking to control.
Haegeland keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mendez's head.
Haegeland pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendez is keeping the position for now.

Haegeland gets to his feet. Mendez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Leon Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Haegeland's head.
A big left from Mendez misses.

Haegeland forces Mendez back against the cage and clinches.
Haegeland lands a nice uppercut.

Mendez breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haegeland is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mendez's half guard.
Haegeland tries to stand and escape but Mendez is controlling the position.
Bjorn Haegeland has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mendez pushes Haegeland off looking to stand but Haegeland dives back in and keeps control.

Haegeland is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Haegeland passes the guard and advances to mount!
Haegeland 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.
Haegeland looking to finish with strikes here!
Haegeland postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mendez looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Haegeland raining down shots from the mount!
Mendez is trying to escape the mount.

Haegeland wants to finish this one by submission but Mendez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Haegeland.
Haegeland prevents Mendez from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Haegeland lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Mendez hang on?
Haegeland unloading with bombs!
Mendez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mendez is squirming around, avoiding Haegeland's attempts to control the action.
Haegeland lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bjorn Haegeland showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leon Mendez's cut.
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.

A left and a right from Haegeland both land. Nice combination.
Haegeland blocks a head kick by Mendez.

Haegeland moves into the clinch.

Mendez breaks from the clinch.
Mendez throws a head kick that misses

and Haegeland counters with a takedown into side control.
Mendez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Haegeland wants to pass to mount but Mendez is defending the position.
Haegeland is trying to control. Mendez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mendez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Haegeland's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Haegeland's back!
Mendez scores with punches to the body.
Mendez scores with punches from the back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Haegeland is having to fend off submission attempts from Mendez, who is looking to sink in the choke. Mendez doesn't have the hooks in though and Haegeland manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez wants to sweep here but Haegeland controlling him for the moment.
Haegeland landing some decent shots from guard.
Mendez trying to control the position.
Haegeland wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mendez trying to keep a closed guard but Haegeland is proving a slippery customer.
Haegeland stands up over Mendez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haegeland scoring with some ground and pound.
Mendez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Mendez is looking for a triangle but Haegeland pushes his legs off easily.
Haegeland throwing strikes from guard but Mendez blocks nicely.

Mendez has his foot on Haegeland's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Haegeland works his way back into a safe position though.

Haegeland gets to his feet. Mendez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mendez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leon Mendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Haegeland ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mendez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haegeland swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Haegeland gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mendez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Haegeland has him pressed against the cage.
Mendez tries for a takedown but Haegeland manages to get underhooks.
Haegeland tries to land knees in the clinch but Mendez avoids the damage to the body.

Haegeland pulls Mendez into guard.
Mendez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Haegeland lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mendez!

Haegeland looking for a guillotine from mount but Mendez is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bjorn Haegeland is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Haegeland lands a big shot there that rocks Mendez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Haegeland content just to control the position here.
Leon Mendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Haegeland wants to control the pace but Mendez is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bjorn Haegeland comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Haegeland has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bjorn Haegeland!