PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lhiner Combs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Mendes
vs
Combs

168 cm
30
137 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

189 cm
25
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

New World Order Clothing
Hellraiser Fightgear ($10-$20 clothing)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Mendes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lhiner Combs!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Combs swivels and escapes.
Mendes shoots for a double leg takedown but Combs sprawls well. He's pushed Mendes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lhiner Combs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Combs throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Combs misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mendes.
Combs misses with a jab, cross combination.
A head kick misses from Combs.
Combs is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Combs scores with a head kick.

It looks like Chad Mendes has been cut.
Combs pushes Mendes away with a front kick.
Combs thuds his right hand into Mendes's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Combs fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from Combs. Those never looked like landing.
Mendes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Combs tries a head kick but it misses.
Combs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Combs throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Combs lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Combs throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mendes.
A head kick from Combs lands but Mendes takes it in his stride.
Combs scores with a nice body kick.
Combs throws a leg kick which misses Mendes's front leg but catches the back leg as Mendes tries to avoid it.
Mendes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Combs throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mendes.
Mendes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick from Combs lands but Mendes takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Combs misses with a head kick.

Mendes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Mendes is looking for a kimura but Combs is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mendes to get the leverage.

Mendes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Mendes seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendes is working for a submission of some sort.
Mendes prevents Combs from standing back up.

Mendes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Combs doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mendes.

Mendes seems to be looking for submissions.

Mendes seems to be working for a kimura but Combs defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Mendes is trying to work for a kimura but Combs is defending well.

Mendes is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Combs wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lhiner Combs will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chad Mendes's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Combs throws a head kick that misses.
Mendes takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Combs pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Some wild striking there from Combs.
Mendes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mendes moves out of range of the body kick from Combs.
Mendes steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Combs. That one must have hurt.
Combs tries to land a front kick but Mendes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mendes has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Combs.
Lhiner Combs seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Combs throws a head kick but Mendes moves out of range.
Lhiner Combs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Combs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Combs tries a head kick but it misses.
Combs swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mendes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Combs's guard now.

Mendes drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Mendes seems to have locked his on tight now - Combs screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Mendes, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Chad Mendes!
Chad Mendes retains his bantamweight title!