PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Velcrow Mercades (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercades's entrance music is The Baddest- Krispy Kreme. A fine choice. The key to victory for Velcrow Mercades has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mercades
vs
Mendes

183 cm
25
153 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Velcrow Mercades!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercades looks to land a combination but Mendes avoids it well.
Mercades really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Mercades pushes Mendes up against the cage in a clinch.
Mercades prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mendes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mercades gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mendes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mercades is defending well.
Velcrow Mercades has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Mendes.
Mendes tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mercades wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mendes has him pressed against the cage.
Mendes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mercades walks away with a smile on his face. Mendes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mendes has a takedown stuffed.
Mercades throws a leg kick but Mendes moved away.
Mercades tries to clinch up but Mendes circles away and keeps his distance.
Mendes is looking to clinch.
Mendes avoids the head kick by Mercades.
Mercades moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mendes avoids the head kick by Mercades.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercades misses with a series of wild punches.
Mercades keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mercades misses with a low kick.
Mendes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mendes tries to clinch up.
Mercades misses with a few strikes there.
Sloppy strikes from Mercades. Those never looked like landing.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mercades.
Mercades throws a series of punches but Mendes moves out of range.
Mendes shoots in for a double leg but Mercades sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mercades looks to land a combination but Mendes avoids it well.
Mercades misses with the combination.
Velcrow Mercades is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mercades swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mendes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercades lands a nice shot that snaps Mendes's head back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mendes. Mercades does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mercades lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mendes circles away quickly and effectively.
Velcrow Mercades seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mendes looks to clinch
and Mercades counters with a three punch combo that has Mendes backing up. Mendes nods at Mercades to acknowledge the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mendes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mendes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mercades gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Mercades breaks the clinch.
Mercades misses with the combination.
Mendes takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mercades scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Mercades misses.
Mercades looks to land a combination but Mendes avoids it well.
Mercades is breathing heavily.
Mercades avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Mendes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mercades is trying to defend but Mendes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mendes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mendes stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mercades makes his way to full guard, as Mendes worked for a kimura.
Mendes wants to stand but Mercades is controlling his posture from full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Velcrow Mercades dominated that round.
That's time! Mercades's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mendes slips a jab and a cross from Mercades.

Mendes fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mercades to the ground. Mendes is now in Mercades's guard.
Mercades trying to control the position.
Mendes looking to sit in guard and control but Mercades gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mendes is trying to control the position but Mercades postures up.
Mercades content to stall in guard here.
Mercades trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Mercades from controlling successfully.
Mercades stopping the sweep attempt from Mendes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Velcrow Mercades.
No joy there for Mercades, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mendes shoots in looking for a takedown but Mercades manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mendes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Mendes looking to score a takedown here. Mercades is defending well but Mendes drives through and ends up in Mercades's guard.
Mendes works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Mendes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mercades has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mendes is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercades is looking to escape.

Mendes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mercades doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mendes.
Mendes throwing shots but Mercades is blocking nicely.
Mercades tries to kick Mendes off but Mendes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is trying to control the action in half guard but Mercades is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Mendes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mercades won't allow Mendes to pass to mount.
Mendes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Mendes wants to work for an arm triangle but Mercades is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendes seems to be looking for submissions.

Mendes is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Mendes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mercades sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mercades is defending against the submission attempts here by Mendes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A combination from Mercades does no damage.
Mendes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mercades circles away.
Mercades throws a nice looking combination but Mendes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mercades goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mendes throws a leg kick that misses.
Mercades misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mendes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mercades tries to clinch up.
Mendes tries to clinch up but Mercades circles away and keeps his distance.
Mendes misses with a takedown attempt - Mercades sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mercades misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes is looking to clinch.
Velcrow Mercades is winning the standup battle so far.
Mendes avoids the head kick by Mercades.
Mercades tries to bum rush Mendes with a series of wild strikes but Mendes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mercades is looking to clinch.
Mercades throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mendes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mercades throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mercades is looking to clinch but Mendes is avoiding it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mercades enables Mendes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mercades manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mercades keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.

Mendes stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mercades tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mendes paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mercades's guard.
Mendes looking to pass the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mendes trying to control but Mercades is working from the bottom.
Mercades being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chad Mendes wasn't active enough on the ground.
Mendes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Mercades manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercades takes a swing at Mendes's ribcage but misses.
Mendes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mercades slaps away a takedown attempt from Mendes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Velcrow Mercades has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Mendes.
Mercades misses with the combination.
Mercades tries to bum rush Mendes with a series of wild strikes but Mendes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Mendes scores with a takedown into Mercades's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendes stays in close to Mercades's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Mercades is working an open guard so Mendes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mercades misses with a series of wild punches.
Mendes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mercades paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mendes. Mercades does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mercades looks to land a combination but Mendes avoids it well.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mercades.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercades tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mendes counters with a single leg into guard. Mercades didn't expect that.
Mendes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mercades works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mercades being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mendes tries to clinch there but Mercades circles away.
Mendes misses with a wild combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mendes is defended easily by Mercades.
Mercades misses with a double jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mercades!
Mercades misses with a two punch combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mendes.
Mendes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mercades sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mendes somewhat.
Velcrow Mercades has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Mendes.
Mendes is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Mendes takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercades throws a leg kick that misses.
Mercades throws a leg kick but Mendes checks it.
Mercades throws a head kick that misses.
Mercades throws a series of punches but Mendes moves out of range.
Mendes tries for a takedown but Mercades sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mendes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Mercades forces Mendes back against the cage and clinches.
Mercades is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mercades is looking to break free of the clinch but Mendes has double underhooks.
Mendes has Mercades pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mercades manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mendes tries a body shot but Mercades blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes can't get the takedown.

Mercades's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mendes slips a jab and a cross from Mercades.
Mercades is looking to clinch but Mendes is avoiding it.
Mendes walks into a straight right hand from Mercades.
Mendes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mercades lands with a nice combination. Mendes backs away looking to recover.
Mercades throws a front kick aimed at Mendes's knee but Mendes avoids it well.
Mercades goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
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!
Mendes fails with the takedown.
Mercades lands with a nice combination. Mendes backs away looking to recover.
Velcrow Mercades is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mercades fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercades avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mercades lands a head shot.

Mendes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mendes controlling from the top position.
Mendes tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercades is retaining full guard.
Mendes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Mendes drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mercades dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercades wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Mercades showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mendes tries to clinch but Mercades is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mendes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes is looking to take a break and control but Mercades is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Velcrow Mercades will probably get the nod.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Mendes.
Mercades fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mercades gets caught flat footed, as Mendes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Mercades keeps moving.
Mercades 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.
Mendes looking to pass the guard.
Chad Mendes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes with a flurry of punches that miss.

Mendes gets to his feet - Mercades follows without any prompting.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Mercades shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Some wild striking there from Mercades.

Mercades has Mendes up against the cage in a clinch.
Mendes wants a takedown but no success here.
Mendes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mercades is defending well.
Velcrow Mercades has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Mendes.

Mercades breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mendes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is controlling the pace.
Mendes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chad Mendes was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mercades swinging wildly here.
Mercades throws out a leg kick but Mendes moves out of range and Mercades only half commits.
Mercades leaves Mendes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mendes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mercades sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mercades scores with a one two! Mendes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercades throws a leg kick that misses.
Mercades wants to slow Mendes down by chopping away at his legs.

Mendes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mendes taking a break here but Mercades is having none of it and regains half guard.

Mendes is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Mendes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mendes 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 47:48
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 47:48
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Mendes!
Chad Mendes is the new featherweight champion!