PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cruz Jefferson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jefferson comes into the arena with Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock blaring out of the sound system. Mendez has chosen Trap Door as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jefferson
vs
Mendez

185 cm
33
185 lbs
20 - 22 - 0

184 cm
38
180 lbs
27 - 28 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 20 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Cruz Jefferson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 28 - 0, fighting out of London, Tiago Mendez!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Jefferson.
Jefferson is looking to score with low kicks.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jefferson as he jumps to the side.
Jefferson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mendez throws a sloppy head kick and Jefferson moves out of range easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mendez.
Jefferson lands with a nice body punch.
Jefferson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Mendez has closed the distance and engaged Jefferson in a clinch.
Jefferson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Jefferson lands a damaging elbow.
Jefferson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jefferson has a couple of punches blocked by Mendez.
Jefferson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson has Mendez pushed against the cage.
Mendez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jefferson walks away with a smile on his face. Mendez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cruz Jefferson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Mendez.

Mendez gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jefferson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mendez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Jefferson wants to control but Mendez postures up.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mendez working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Mendez is looking to take a break and control but Jefferson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jefferson prevents Mendez from moving into mount.
Mendez working the head with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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Mendez wants to stand but Jefferson has his arm trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mendez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mendez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jefferson keeps working.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jefferson is looking to regain half guard here but Mendez keeps moving and retains side control.
An elbow from Mendez crashes against the mat.
Mendez wants to control for a moment but Jefferson uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is trying to control the action in half guard but Jefferson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mendez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Mendez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jefferson is just riding it out for now. Mendez eventually gives up the hold.
Mendez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jefferson is not content to let Mendez control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mendez is working away from the top position though.
Mendez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Mendez wants to work for an arm triangle but Jefferson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mendez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mendez thows a huge punch but Jefferson dodges it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jefferson tries to roll over but Mendez keeps him under control.
Jefferson is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tiago Mendez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jefferson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Jefferson rushes Mendez and presses him up against the cage.
Mendez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jefferson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jefferson gets underhooks to prevent Mendez's takedown attempt.
Jefferson lands an elbow inside that Mendez shrugs off.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jefferson.
Jefferson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mendez's face.

It looks like Tiago Mendez has been cut.
Nice elbow from Jefferson.
Mendez blocks an elbow strike from Jefferson.
Jefferson lands with a right to the head.
Jefferson lands a nice elbow.
Mendez is trying to break free.
Jefferson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Jefferson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cruz Jefferson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Mendez.
Jefferson misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jefferson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mendez backwards.
Jefferson lands an elbow inside.
Mendez is looking for a takedown.
Jefferson lands an elbow that stopped Mendez in his tracks for a moment.
Jefferson is pushing Mendez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Jefferson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mendez blocking some punches.
Mendez wants a takedown.
Mendez tries to throw a body punch but Jefferson avoids it by throwing Mendez back against the cage.
Jefferson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mendez avoids a wild elbow strike from Jefferson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants a takedown.
Jefferson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jefferson lands with a left to the head.
Mendez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jefferson walks away with a smile on his face. Mendez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jefferson scores with a jab to the body.
Jefferson looks to score with a jab to the body but Mendez is just out of range.
Jefferson wants to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jefferson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Oooooh!!! Jefferson has knocked Mendez down with a huge combo! Jefferson steps away and waves a wobbly Mendez back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Mendez is rocked!
Jefferson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mendez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mendez is still on wobbly legs! Can Jefferson finish him?
Mendez tries for a takedown but Jefferson circles away easily
and Jefferson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendez closes the distance and clinches.
Mendez seems to have recovered his senses.
A short uppercut from Jefferson.
A head punch on the inside from Jefferson fails to land.
Mendez working hard to break the clinch.
Jefferson avoids a wild elbow strike from Mendez.
Jefferson stalls.
Jefferson misses with an elbow over the top.
Jefferson lands a hook that snaps the head of Mendez backwards.
Mendez wants a takedown.
Mendez is trying to break free.
Jefferson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson prevents the takedown attempt.
Jefferson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mendez backwards.
Mendez can't break the clinch.
Jefferson just leaning against Mendez, taking a breather.
Jefferson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mendez's efforts to push away.
Mendez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jefferson throws an elbow that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Jefferson.
Jefferson lands an elbow just above Mendez 's eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jefferson throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jefferson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mendez misses with an elbow over the top.
Mendez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cruz Jefferson dominated that second round.
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!

Jefferson scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz Jefferson is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters circling a little - Mendez finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Mendez misses with a wild combination.
Mendez moves out of range of the body kick from Jefferson.
Mendez fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Jefferson works Mendez's body with a nice hook.
Mendez goes for a double leg but Jefferson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jefferson continues to drive forward.
A nice left hand lands by Jefferson.
Jefferson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jefferson lands an elbow just above Mendez 's eye.

Jefferson drops Mendez with a big knee straight up the middle! Mendez is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Mendez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz Jefferson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Mendez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson lands with a big right hook that stumbles Mendez - he's out on his feet here! Jefferson follows up with another monster hook that separates Mendez from consciousness! Mendez falls, almost in slow motion to the canvas! Jefferson stands and admires his work as the crowd go wild.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Cruz Jefferson!
Cruz Jefferson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.