PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Lacson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lacson has chosen Face The Pain as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mendes
vs
Lacson

167 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chad Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Lacson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lacson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Lacson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mendes to stand up.
Lacson throws a nice looking combination but Mendes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lacson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mendes circles away.
Lacson has a takedown stuffed.
Lacson closes the distance and clinches up with Mendes, looking for a takedown. Lacson pushes Mendes against the cage but Mendes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chad Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Lacson.
Lacson leaves Mendes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lacson looks for a takedown but Mendes sprawls well.
Lacson shoots in for a takedown but Mendes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lacson shoots in but Mendes avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes is looking to clinch.
Mendes slips under a jab.
Mendes shoots in for a takedown but Lacson shows good takedown defense.
A head kick by Lacson misses

and Mendes counters with a single leg into guard. Lacson didn't expect that.
Lacson looks gassed!

Lacson working for submissions but it's allowed Mendes to get to half guard.
Lacson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mendes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mendes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throwing shots but Lacson is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lacson defending well though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lacson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mendes working over Lacson with some ground and pound. Lacson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lacson is in trouble now - Mendes has advanced to mount!
Mendes working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Mendes lands a heavy elbow.
Mendes prevents Lacson from getting the reversal.
Lacson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mendes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mendes breaks from Lacson's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The referee warns Lacson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Lacson is rocked!

Mendes looking to secure an arm triangle but Lacson defends it well.
Lacson is still in real trouble! Can Mendes finish him?
Lacson is in a horrible position here. Mendes smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mendes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lacson taking shots to the head.

Mendes has control of Lacson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lacson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Mendes lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Mendes thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Lacson seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes looking to finish Lacson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Lacson!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mendes.
Mendes landing strikes from the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lacson is looking to improve his position but Mendes isn't that keen on the idea.
Mendes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lacson wants to control but Mendes is having none of it.
Mendes landing punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mendes is landing with some decent strikes but Lacson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mendes working the ground and pound effectively.
Mendes postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Lacson in real trouble here! The ref calls for Lacson to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chad Mendes!