PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JJ Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Chad Mendes has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Chad Mendes seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Mendes
vs
Rodriguez

172 cm
18
157 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
27
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, JJ Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rodriguez on his heels. He'll look to pass Rodriguez's guard now, I'm sure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Mendes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodriguez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mendes has managed to get both his arms back between Rodriguez's legs - danger averted.
Rodriguez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodriguez being controlled here, momentarily.

Rodriguez has his feet on Mendes's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mendes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Mendes tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rodriguez's legs.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to improve his position but Mendes is controlling well.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain the position but Mendes is very close to passing his half guard.
Mendes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chad Mendes.

Mendes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rodriguez on his heels. He'll look to pass Rodriguez's guard now, I'm sure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mendes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodriguez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodriguez is trying to control the position but Mendes postures up.
Rodriguez has a closed guard, preventing Mendes from standing up.
Mendes controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mendes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Chad Mendes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Mendes scores with a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rodriguez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mendes controls the pace.
Mendes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodriguez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mendes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rodriguez on the ground.
Mendes won't allow Rodriguez to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chad Mendes.
Good leg kick by Rodriguez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mendes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
Chad Mendes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendes stopping the sweep attempt from Rodriguez.
Mendes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mendes passes Rodriguez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Mendes seems content to control.
Mendes drops an elbow to the side of Rodriguez's head.
Mendes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chad Mendes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rodriguez throws a low kick but Mendes moves out of range easily.

Rodriguez tries to sprawl but Mendes drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Mendes seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to control but Mendes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep. Mendes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mendes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chad Mendes just wasn't active enough.

Mendes drives through with a takedown into Rodriguez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mendes throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rodriguez trying to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mendes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chad Mendes just wasn't active enough.

Mendes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mendes is in Rodriguez's guard.
Mendes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rodriguez is pulling down on Mendes's head. It's preventing any offense from Mendes, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rodriguez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chad Mendes.

Mendes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rodriguez is trying to defend but Mendes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mendes scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mendes eats them both and turns towards Rodriguez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Mendes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rodriguez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mendes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mendes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Chad Mendes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Mendes scores with a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mendes controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rodriguez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mendes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mendes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mendes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodriguez can do to turn this around?
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chad Mendes wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Mendes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendes tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes looking to pass the guard.

Rodriguez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but Mendes is proving a slippery customer.
Mendes tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.

Mendes has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Rodriguez to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Mendes is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Rodriguez pulls down on the head and he's put Mendes to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). JJ Rodriguez!
JJ Rodriguez bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.