PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ramon Groot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Groot comes to the cage accompanied by Beautiful Death - Wintersun. Mendez has chosen Trap Door as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Groot
vs
Mendez

179 cm
24
178 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

184 cm
30
180 lbs
21 - 19 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!
Wolfpack Blood Labs Q158-Q155

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ramon Groot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Tiago Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Groot sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A big left from Groot misses.
Groot connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mendez's hands.
Mendez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Groot sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mendez somewhat.

Groot lands a big head kick that sends Mendez tumbling to the mat! Groot takes a step backwards and waves Mendez back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Mendez is rocked!

It looks like Tiago Mendez has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendez avoids the head kick by Groot.

Mendez feints and as Groot raises his hands in defense, Mendez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Groot is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Groot had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mendez defends it easily.

Groot throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mendez uses it to pass to side control.

Mendez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Ramon Groot is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Groot paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mendez shoots for a takedown but Groot saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ramon Groot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Mendez.
Mendez thuds a left hand into Groot's body.
Mendez tries to close the distance and clinch but Groot swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mendez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Groot tries to sprawl but Mendez drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Groot looking for submissions off his back.
Mendez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mendez wants to free his trapped foot but Groot is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mendez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Groot actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Groot actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Groot is trying to get back to full guard.

Groot is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendez pulls his head out easily.
Groot is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mendez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mendez's back!
Mendez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mendez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Groot's guard. Nice work there by Mendez.

Groot has his foot on Mendez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mendez works his way back into a safe position though.
Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Groot is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mendez gets to his feet. Groot looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mendez tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groot avoids a punch combination nicely.

Mendez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mendez postures up.
Groot keeping moving, preventing Mendez from controlling successfully.
Groot wants to sweep here but Mendez controlling him for the moment.
Mendez is stalling in the full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Groot is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tiago Mendez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mendez slips under a jab.

Mendez instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groot tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mendez avoids it.
Groot leaning his opponent against the cage.
Mendez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Groot prevents the takedown attempt.
Groot trying to stall but Mendez improves his position.
Mendez avoiding damage as Groot throws knees to the body.
Mendez wants to take the fight to the mat but Groot manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mendez goes for a takedown attempt but Groot pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Groot on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tiago Mendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Some bone on bone action there as Mendez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Groot swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ramon Groot will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tiago Mendez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Groot. No joy for Mendez on that attempt.
Tiago Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt.

Mendez looking to score a takedown here. Groot is defending well but Mendez drives through and ends up in Groot's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mendez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mendez passes into half guard.

Groot looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Groot actively working from the bottom here.

Groot looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Groot wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groot missing with punches from the bottom.
Mendez trying to control the action but Groot is working from the bottom.
Groot trying to control but Mendez postures up.

Mendez is trying to work for a kimura but Groot is defending well.
Mendez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Groot does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Groot wants to control but Mendez is keeping busy.

Mendez is working for a kimura but Groot is defending it quite comfortably.
Groot is looking for a sweep. Mendez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez controlling the action here.
Mendez lands strikes from half guard.

Groot looking for submissions off his back.
Groot tries to roll over but Mendez keeps him under control.

Mendez decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Mendez shoots in for a double leg but Groot sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ramon Groot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Mendez.
Groot misses with a head kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mendez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ramon Groot is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groot catches Mendez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Mendez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Groot is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Groot is not content to let Mendez control the position.

Mendez decides to stand back up. Mendez steps back and let's Groot get back to his feet.
Groot tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown by Mendez or perhaps it was just good defense by Groot which made him look bad.
A punch combination from Mendez misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez blocks a jab.

Mendez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Groot looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Groot is trying to get back to half guard.
Mendez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Groot down.
You can see the frustration on Groot's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Groot being controlled for a moment.

Mendez stands up and beckons Groot to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Groot stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Groot wants it to stay on the feet.
Groot throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mendez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Mendez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tiago Mendez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mendez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Groot darts in and clinches Mendez up against the cage.
Mendez is working for takedown but Groot is calmly controlling the position for now.
Groot throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Groot misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mendez.

Groot breaks the clinch.
Groot throws a combination that misses

and Mendez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Groot's guard now.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Groot keeps moving.
Mendez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Groot kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Groot escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mendez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendez stands up over Groot, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Groot is retaining full guard.
Groot wants to sweep here but Mendez controlling him for the moment.
Mendez distracts Groot with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Groot has his foot on Mendez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mendez works his way back into a safe position though.
Mendez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Groot is keeping the position for now.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Groot keeps moving.

Groot is looking for a triangle but Mendez pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Mendez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groot trying to keep a closed guard but Mendez is proving a slippery customer.

Groot is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Groot swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mendez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mendez trying to control but Groot is working from the bottom.
Mendez wants to stand but Groot has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Groot tries to strike from the bottom.
Tiago Mendez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Groot is looking for a triangle but Mendez pushes his legs off easily.
Mendez trying to control but Groot is working from the bottom.
Mendez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Groot's head.
Groot throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mendez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Groot is working an open guard so Mendez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Groot fakes the leg kick and cracks Mendez in the body.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Groot defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mendez.
Ramon Groot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Mendez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez shoots for a double leg takedown but Groot sprawls well. He's pushed Mendez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Groot scores with a hook.

Mendez has managed to clinch.
Groot tries a knee to the head but Mendez blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Groot tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mendez avoids it.
Mendez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mendez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Groot pushes off an throws an elbow but Mendez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Groot's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Groot throws a looping overhand right but Mendez ducks down to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mendez.
Groot misses with the combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiago Mendez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mendez 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiago Mendez!
A relieved looking Tiago Mendez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.