PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Julio Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eatsa Pasta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pasta is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kids by MGMT. Eatsa Pasta told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Mendez
vs
Pasta

175 cm
20
142 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Blaze Ronin Street Gear

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eatsa Pasta!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pasta doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendez circles away.
Pasta keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pasta wants to clinch.
Pasta fakes the leg kick and cracks Mendez in the body.
Mendez misses with a low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Pasta manages to break the clinch.
Mendez keeps the fight on the outside.
Mendez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A good leg kick by Pasta.
Pasta looks for a takedown but Mendez sprawls well.
Pasta wants to clinch.
Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pasta shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mendez as he jumps to the side.
Pasta tries to clinch there but Mendez circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasta tries to clinch there but Mendez circles away.
Pasta misses with a two punch combination.

Mendez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Pasta!
Pasta is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Mendez is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Mendez is breathing heavily.

Pasta instigates a clinch.
Pasta is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mendez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A right hook to the body lands for Pasta.
Pasta throws an elbow that misses.

Pasta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pasta moves in looking to clinch but Mendez pushes him off.

Mendez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pasta trying to control from the bottom.
Pasta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pasta wants to control the action here but instead Mendez manages to pass to full mount!
Pasta is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Eatsa Pasta.

Pasta looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mendez!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Pasta looking to finish with strikes here!
Mendez is trying to escape the mount.
Mendez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pasta wants to get back to his feet but Mendez is holding on tight.
Mendez is squirming around, avoiding Pasta's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez working to try and regain half guard.
Pasta trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Pasta is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Pasta tries to clinch there but Mendez circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pasta looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pasta tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pasta looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pasta tries to clinch but Mendez moves out of range.
Mendez thows a body shot but no joy.
Pasta lands a body shot.

Pasta instigates a clinch.
Mendez stalling in the clinch but Pasta improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez wants a takedown but no success here.
Pasta misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mendez.

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

Pasta feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Pasta gets to his feet. Mendez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The fight stays on the outside here - Pasta looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pasta misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Mendez to counter with a crisp jab.
Julio Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eatsa Pasta.
Mendez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Eatsa Pasta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendez fails to land with a series of punches.
Mendez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mendez lands a high kick to the side of Pasta's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Mendez dives into guard, looking to finish.

Pasta is rocked!

It looks like Eatsa Pasta has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mendez stands up and waves to Pasta to follow him.
Pasta is still on wobbly legs! Can Mendez finish him?
Pasta tries to clinch but Mendez is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pasta closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mendez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Pasta seems to have recovered his senses.
Mendez shoots and misses

and Pasta counters by clinching up.
Mendez blocks an elbow strike from Pasta.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eatsa Pasta will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eatsa Pasta's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pasta tries to clinch but Mendez moves away
and Mendez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Pasta closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mendez counters with a nice body kick.
Pasta tries to clinch up.
Mendez throws a head kick that misses.
Pasta throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mendez counters with a series of strikes. Pasta will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pasta tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mendez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Mendez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Pasta!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendez controlling the position easily from mount.
Pasta tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mendez avoids the attempt from Pasta to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendez wants to finish this one by submission but Pasta is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mendez.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pasta wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendez controlling his opponent.
The referee warns Pasta that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Pasta is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pasta wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Pasta trying to control the action but Mendez just sinks the hooks in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Good control from Mendez.
Pasta trying to control the hands but Mendez breaks the grip.
Mendez is hanging on to Pasta's back as he tries to escape.

Pasta preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Mendez.
Pasta is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Pasta is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez has good solid back control here.
Pasta is trying to stand back up.
You can see the frustration on Pasta's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mendez controlling from the back.
Mendez trying to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Julio Mendez.
Pasta throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Pasta moves out of range as Mendez strikes.
Mendez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mendez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mendez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pasta avoids the head kick by Mendez.
Pasta has his takedown stuffed

and Mendez counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pasta!
Pasta is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Pasta tries to hold on but Mendez pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Mendez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eatsa Pasta's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pasta closes the distance but Mendez moves to the side

and Mendez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pasta's guard.
Mendez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pasta is trying to keep Mendez in close.
Mendez trying to control but Pasta is working from the bottom.
Pasta wants to sweep but no luck.
Pasta is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mendez advances to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pasta works his way to full guard. Good work.
Pasta wants to control but Mendez passes easily into half guard.
Pasta is trying to control but Mendez passes into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez wants to control but Pasta is keeping him busy.
Pasta trying his best to control but Mendez has mounted him.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Eatsa Pasta.
Mendez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pasta moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Pasta decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mendez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Pasta gets to his feet - Mendez follows without any prompting.
Pasta fails with the takedown

and Mendez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pasta working a defensive guard here.

Mendez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pasta tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez forces his way into half guard.
Julio Mendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Pasta looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pasta is trying to maintain the position but Mendez is very close to passing his half guard.
Pasta controlling the position for now.
Pasta trying to hold on to Mendez's head to control him but Mendez postures up.

Pasta looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pasta is trying to maintain the position but Mendez is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pasta kicks Mendez off and gets back to his feet.
Mendez swats away the attempt to clinch by Pasta.
Julio Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pasta darts in trying to clinch

and Mendez counters with a shoot takedown. Pasta fights it but they end up in guard.
Pasta wants to stand up but Mendez is controlling him.
Pasta working a defensive guard here.
Mendez content to stall in guard here.

Mendez stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez throws a right hand that Pasta ducks under and follows up with a left that Pasta also avoids with ease.
Pasta tries to clinch there but Mendez circles away.
Pasta doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendez circles away.
Mendez lands a with a good body shot.
Julio Mendez is winning the standup battle so far.
Mendez throws a low kick but Pasta avoids it.

Pasta has closed the distance and engaged Mendez in a clinch.

Pasta manages to break the clinch.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but Pasta shows good takedown defense.
Good leg kick by Pasta there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Pasta has Mendez up against the cage in a clinch.
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 wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Pasta breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pasta.
Pasta tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mendez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pasta fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pasta tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pasta tries to clinch but Mendez is having none of it.

Pasta clinches up against the cage.
Pasta leaning against his opponent.
Pasta looking for a takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Mendez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mendez 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Mendez!