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TWGC 17 (135lbs, D3): Finals - Round 3 PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight Tycoon World Grappling Championship rules bout between Rafael Mendes and Claudio Gadelha. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the bantamweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Rio de Janeiro, with a TWGC record of 5 wins and 1 losses; Rafael Mendes! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, with a TWGC record of 4 wins and 1 losses; Claudio Gadelha!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Gadelha tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mendes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gadelha somewhat.
Gadelha shoots in and drives through. Mendes sprawls well.
Mendes changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gadelha fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rafael Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claudio Gadelha.
Mendes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mendes wants it to stay on the feet.
Gadelha shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendes pinned against the cage. Mendes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mendes changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gadelha looks for a takedown but Mendes sprawls well.
Mendes feinted with a counter takedown.
Mendes gets caught napping as Gadelha dives in and scores a takedown. Mendes manages to retain guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Mendes (0) vs (2) Gadelha
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gadelha gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mendes is pulling down on Gadelha's head to control his posture.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gadelha is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mendes is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mendes has escaped and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Mendes (2) vs (2) Gadelha
Gadelha looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mendes passes into half guard.
Mendes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gadelha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gadelha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gadelha looking for submissions off his back.
Gadelha looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Mendes pushes past his half guard into mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Mendes (5) vs (2) Gadelha
Gadelha is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gadelha keeps trying to improve his position.
Gadelha is still trying to improve position.
Mendes controlling his opponent.
Gadelha is trying to escape the mount.
Mendes working for a guillotine from mount but Gadelha is in no mood to give up.
Gadelha is desperately trying to improve his position but Mendes has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gadelha slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Gadelha actively working from the bottom here.
Gadelha actively working from the bottom here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gadelha has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Mendes escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Mendes! Score +3 for passing guard: Mendes (8) vs (2) Gadelha
Gadelha trying to remain calm as Mendes controls from the top position.
Mendes gets to mount! Gadelha was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly. Score +2 for reaching mount: Mendes (10) vs (2) Gadelha
Gadelha is looking to improve his position but Mendes isn't that keen on the idea.
Mendes tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gadelha gets back to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes controlling the pace.
Gadelha wants to get back to full guard.
Gadelha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mendes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gadelha defends it well.
Gadelha actively working from the bottom here.
Gadelha is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendes pulls his head out easily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gadelha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mendes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mendes prevents Gadelha from improving his position.
Gadelha is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendes pulls his head out easily.
Mendes is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gadelha has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Gadelha with the active half guard here but Mendes passes nicely into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Mendes (13) vs (2) Gadelha
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Mendes has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Gadelha! Score +2 for reaching mount: Mendes (15) vs (2) Gadelha
Mendes looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mendes manages to capitalize on a mistake by Gadelha to take his back! Score +3 for taking back: Mendes (18) vs (2) Gadelha
Gadelha tries to escape but Mendes has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mendes is trying to stick to Gadelha's back but Gadelha is turning into Mendes. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Mendes's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gadelha. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Mendes (18) vs (4) Gadelha
Gadelha has gone for a leg lock! Mendes slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gadelha's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Mendes (20) vs (4) Gadelha
Gadelha looking for a guillotine here but Mendes defends easily.
Mendes slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Mendes (23) vs (4) Gadelha
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gadelha is trying to improve his position.
Gadelha being controlled for a moment.
Gadelha is looking to reverse the position.
Gadelha is being controlled here.
Gadelha is looking for a sweep.
Gadelha manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Mendes slows the pace down in half guard.
Gadelha wants to improve his position but Mendes is controlling well.
Gadelha looking for submissions off his back.
Gadelha actively working from the bottom here.
Gadelha looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mendes trying to pass the guard but Gadelha defending well.
Mendes has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Mendes (26) vs (4) Gadelha
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Gadelha is desperately trying to improve his position but Mendes has a good base and remains in mount.
Gadelha has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Score +3 for taking back: Mendes (29) vs (4) Gadelha
Mendes keeps control of the position as Gadelha tries to break free.
Mendes controls the action.
Mendes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gadelha for as long as he can get away with.
I really don't envy Gadelha right now.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Gadelha is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Mendes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Gadelha tries to break free.
Mendes trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Gadelha doesn't escape.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is hanging on to Gadelha's back as he tries to escape.
Mendes controls the action.
Gadelha tries to escape but Mendes has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mendes is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
You can see the frustration on Gadelha's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
We've been hearing good reports from Mendes's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Gadelha turns into Mendes and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Mendes (29) vs (6) Gadelha
Gadelha looks winded!
Mendes has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Gadelha has gone for a leg lock! Mendes slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gadelha's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Mendes (31) vs (6) Gadelha
Mendes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mendes continues to stall.
Mendes has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Gadelha is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Gadelha 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.
Gadelha is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Gadelha throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Mendes escapes and throws Gadelha's legs to the side, diving into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Mendes (34) vs (6) Gadelha
Mendes is looking to take a break and control but Gadelha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mendes takes a little break here. Gadelha wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Gadelha regains half guard.
Gadelha actively working from the bottom here.
Still in half guard, Mendes seems content to control.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Mendes frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Mendes (37) vs (6) Gadelha
Gadelha is desperately trying to improve his position but Mendes has a good base and remains in mount.
Mendes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gadelha really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gadelha is looking to escape.
And that's the end of the fight!
Mendes takes the fight on points by 37 to 6.
Rafael Mendes is the new bantamweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Rafael Mendes thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him. |
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