PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jefferson Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Relva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonio Relva has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jefferson Mendes's chin.

Mendes
vs
Relva

179 cm
28
165 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
28
160 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

RMC - $ 11 Shorts!

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jefferson Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Relva!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Relva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mendes defends it nicely.
Relva wants to clinch.
Mendes throws a lazy right hand but Relva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Mendes moves into the clinch.

Mendes manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Mendes. Those never looked like landing.
Mendes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Relva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendes but Mendes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jefferson Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Relva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes throws a left and a right that both miss
and Relva counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Mendes is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Mendes lands with a cross.
Relva is looking to clinch but Mendes is avoiding it.
Relva slips under a jab from Mendes.
Relva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mendes circles away.
No luck for Mendes with that takedown attempt.
Mendes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Relva shoots in looking for a takedown. Mendes tries to sprawl out of it but Relva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mendes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes leaves Relva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mendes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mendes swats away the attempt to clinch by Relva.
Relva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Relva wants it to stay on the feet.

Mendes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Relva, pushing him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mendes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Relva bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Relva wants to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Relva is defended easily by Mendes.
Relva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mendes avoids it really well and circles away.
Relva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes stuffs the takedown.
Mendes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Mendes closes the distance and pushes Relva back into the cage.
Mendes tries to break free but Relva pushes him back against the cage.

Mendes manages to break the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Relva.
Relva slips under a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes throws the kick towards the body but Relva avoids it.
Relva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fighters circle momentarily. Mendes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jefferson Mendes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mendes misses with the combination.
Relva blocks a jab.
A big left from Mendes misses.
Mendes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Relva sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Relva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendes but Mendes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Relva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mendes is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mendes paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Relva ducks under a wild hook from Mendes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes is looking to land body kicks.
Mendes avoids the head kick by Relva.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Relva moves away.
Mendes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Relva misses with a takedown attempt - Mendes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Relva bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Antonio Relva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Relva darts in and clinches Mendes up against the cage.

Relva jumps guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mendes is looking to stand up but Relva won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Relva working a defensive guard here.
Relva has a closed guard, preventing Mendes from standing up.
Relva has Mendes pulled in close to control his posture.
Mendes throws an elbow that misses. Relva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendes's guard. Nice move by Relva!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Relva stands up from Mendes's guard - Relva perhaps looking for a knockout.
Relva slips under a jab from Mendes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Relva defends it nicely.
Mendes is looking to clinch.
A combination from Mendes does no damage.
Mendes swats away the attempt to clinch by Relva.
Mendes wants to clinch up but Relva keeps it at a distance.
Mendes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Relva on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Relva closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mendes to the mat! Mendes manages to get full guard.
Relva trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes wants to stand up but Relva is controlling him.
Mendes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Relva on the ground.
Mendes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes wants to get back to his feet but Relva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jefferson Mendes will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Relva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice body kick from Relva.
Mendes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Relvas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Relva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A slow jab from Relva misses its intended target.
Mendes throws an overhand right that lands on Relva's shoulder, as Relva tries to avoid the shot.
Mendes misses with a takedown attempt - Relva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mendes misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Relva fails with a takedown attempt.
Mendes swinging wildly here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Relva.
Jefferson Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Relva.
Relva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Relva stuns Mendes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Relva avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jefferson Mendes is winning the standup battle so far.
Relva tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Relva throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Relva keeps Mendes at a distance using the push kick.
Mendes connects with a jab.
Mendes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Relva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mendes is fending him off so far but Relva persists. Nope, Mendes circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Relva.
Relva shoots in but no luck this time.
Relva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throws out a loose jab but Relva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mendes throws a right hand that Relva ducks under and follows up with a left that Relva also avoids with ease.
Mendes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Relva pinned against the cage. Relva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Relva defending well as Mendes loads up on a big left hand.
Mendes throws a poor cross that misses
and Relva counters with a leg kick.
Mendes bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Relva fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries to bum rush Relva with a series of wild strikes but Relva uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Relva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Relva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mendes manages to avoid it.
Relva wants to clinch.
Mendes doesn't manage to clinch there - Relva circles away.

Relva shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mendes is trying to defend but Relva finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Antonio Relva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jefferson Mendes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes is trying to stand back up but Relva is controlling him

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jefferson Mendes.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mendes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jefferson Mendes!
Jefferson Mendes thanked the fans post fight for their support.