PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Strikes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendez has chosen Trap Door as his entrance music. Carlos Strikes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Strikes
vs
Mendez

186 cm
29
180 lbs
22 - 19 - 1

184 cm
31
180 lbs
23 - 19 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS

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 22 - 19 - 1, fighting out of London, Carlos Strikes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Tiago Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Mendez.

Mendez dives in and scores a takedown into Strikes's guard.
Strikes wants to stand up but Mendez is controlling him.
Mendez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mendez trying to control but Strikes is working from the bottom.
Mendez looking to pass the guard.

Strikes working for a triangle but Mendez defends it easily.
Strikes looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mendez landing some decent shots from guard.
Mendez slips nicely into half guard.
Mendez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mendez is thwarting Strikes's attempts to control the position.

Mendez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Strikes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Strikes is looking to control Mendez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Strikes avoid being mounted?
Mendez wants to pass the guard but Strikes is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mendez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Mendez gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Strikes throws a sloppy head kick and Mendez moves out of range easily.
Mendez is looking to clinch but Strikes is avoiding it.
Tiago Mendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendez moves out of range of the body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Strikes.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mendez.
Mendez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Strikes paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Strikes clinches up with Mendez and pushes him back against the cage.
Strikes misses with an elbow over the top.
Strikes scores with a knee to the head.

Mendez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Strikes wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strikes preventing the sweep.
Strikes stops Mendez from standing up.
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Strikes from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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

Mendez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Strikes passes into side control.
Strikes tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Strikes controls the position.
Strikes trying to control the action but Mendez is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strikes working the ground and pound but Mendez is defending the strikes.
Mendez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Strikes off and has taken his back!
Strikes manages to reverse the position and now he's in Mendez's guard. Nice work there by Strikes.
Strikes won't allow Mendez to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendez is looking to sweep but instead, Strikes has passed into half guard.
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!
Strikes is looking to take a break and control but Mendez 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.

Tiago Mendez 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.

Mendez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Strikes but Strikes pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Strikes closes the distance and pushes Mendez back into the cage.

Strikes is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mendez is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Strikes to the mat. Strikes regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Strikes has a closed guard, preventing Mendez from standing up.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Strikes keeps moving.
Mendez controlling from the top position.
Strikes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendez is one step ahead there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Mendez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez shoots in for a double leg but Strikes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Strikes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mendez keeps the fight on the outside.

Mendez scores a takedown into full mount!
Mendez fails to take his opponent's back.

Mendez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Strikes turns into him and now he's in Mendez's guard.
Strikes wants to pass the guard but Mendez is keeping the position.
Mendez controls Strikes momentarily but Strikes frees himself.
Tiago Mendez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strikes stands up and waves to Mendez to follow him.
Mendez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Mendez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Strikes defends it nicely.
Carlos Strikes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Mendez.
Strikes 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 lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Strikes at a distance.
Mendez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Strikes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Strikes lands a big head kick that sends Mendez tumbling to the mat! Strikes 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mendez is still on wobbly legs! Can Strikes finish him?

Mendez drives through with a takedown into Strikes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mendez seems to have recovered his senses.
Strikes trying to control the position.
Mendez throws a big elbow that misses.

Mendez stands and steps away. Strikes gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Mendez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Strikes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Mendez decides to stand back up. Mendez steps back and let's Strikes get back to his feet.
Strikes stuffs the takedown.
Mendez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strikes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Strikes tries to bum rush Mendez with a series of wild strikes but Mendez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Carlos Strikes is winning the standup battle so far.
Mendez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Strikes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Mendez is breathing heavily.
Mendez shoots in but no luck this time.
Mendez doesn't manage to clinch there - Strikes circles away.
Mendez doesn't manage to clinch there - Strikes circles away.
Mendez moves out of range of the leg kick from Strikes.
Strikes tries a head kick but it misses.
Strikes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mendez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Strikes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but Strikes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mendez tries to clinch but Strikes moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Strikes bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mendez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Strikes.
Strikes connects with a solid leg kick.
Strikes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
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 Carlos Strikes will probably get the nod.
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! This is the final round!

Mendez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Strikes manages to avoid it.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Strikes clinches.
Strikes is trying to break free.
Knees to the body from Strikes.
Strikes avoiding damage.
Mendez wants a takedown but no success here.
Strikes stalling the fight.
Strikes tries to work over Mendez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendez tries to score a body lock takedown but Strikes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Carlos Strikes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Mendez.

Strikes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strikes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Mendez clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strikes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Strikes breaks the clinch.
Mendez tries to clinch but Strikes moves out of range.
Strikes doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendez circles away.
Mendez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Strikes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Strikes doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendez circles away.
Strikes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mendez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Strikes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Strikes moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strikes misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Strikes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mendez gets a takedown into half guard.
Strikes is trying is best to control the position here.
Strikes is looking to control Mendez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Strikes avoid being mounted?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Still in half guard, Mendez seems content to control.

Mendez is working for a submission of some sort.
Nice strikes from Mendez there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Strikes sees it coming and defends easily.
Strikes is trying is best to control the position here.

Strikes pushes Mendez off and gets back to his feet.
Strikes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Strikes lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mendez will feel that in the morning.
Strikes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mendez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Strikes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mendez misses with a takedown attempt - Strikes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Strikes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Mendez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strikes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carlos Strikes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from Strikes is predictable there

and Mendez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Strikes's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendez trying to control but Strikes is working from the bottom.
Strikes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mendez is controlling him.

Mendez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Strikes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Strikes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Strikes!
Mendez struggling a bit here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Strikes trying to control the action but Mendez is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Strikes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Strikes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Strikes!
During a confident post fight interview, Carlos Strikes thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.