PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between DJ Cannonier (ranked 5091 p4p, 3431 weight class) and Raul Mendez (ranked 412 p4p, 317 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Cannonier
vs
Mendez

170 cm
25
147
2 - 1 - 0

169 cm
25
147
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Hates pizza

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, DJ Cannonier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Raul Mendez !
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cannonier closes the distance and clinches up with Mendez , looking for a takedown. Cannonier pushes Mendez against the cage but Mendez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mendez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cannonier manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mendez tries for a takedown but Cannonier circles away easily
and Cannonier counters with a stiff right hand.
Cannonier misses with a double jab
and Mendez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mendez throws a leg kick that misses.
Mendez tries to clinch but Cannonier is having none of it.
Cannonier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mendez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cannonier avoids the head kick by Mendez .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cannonier displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mendez throws out the jab.
Cannonier feinted with a counter takedown.
Mendez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cannonier was well out of range. Poor timing from Mendez .
Mendez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cannonier seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannonier shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mendez pinned against the cage. Mendez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cannonier circles away.
DJ Cannonier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raul Mendez .
Some bone on bone action there as Cannonier checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mendez has a takedown stuffed.
Cannonier dives in and grabs Mendez 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes down on Cannonier's head and hops out.
Mendez dodges the punch combination from Cannonier.
Mendez throws a sloppy head kick and Cannonier moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mendez is defended easily by Cannonier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Cannonier throws Mendez to one side and escapes!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cannonier pushes Mendez up against the cage in a clinch.

Mendez lands a takedown into guard.
Mendez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mendez slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Cannonier.
Mendez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cannonier controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Cannonier is not content to let Mendez control the position.
Mendez winds up and cracks Cannonier with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Mendez there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendez is keen to just control but Cannonier is a slippery customer.

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.
Mendez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Cannonier is not content to let Mendez control the position.
Cannonier has a hand on Mendez 's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Mendez takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Cannonier tries to improve his position but instead Mendez has taken his back!

Mendez patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Mendez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mendez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mendez gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Mendez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Mendez gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Cannonier shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mendez sprawls well. Mendez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cannonier gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown but Cannonier shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cannonier appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cannonier looks for a takedown but Mendez sprawls well.
Some wild striking there from Cannonier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez looks for the body kick but Cannonier saw that one coming.
Mendez closes the distance and clinches up with Cannonier, looking for a takedown. Mendez pushes Cannonier against the cage but Cannonier circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
DJ Cannonier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raul Mendez .
Cannonier defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mendez .
Cannonier is looking for a counter combo.
Mendez tries for a takedown but Cannonier circles away easily
and Cannonier counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mendez thinking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cannonier.

Mendez scores with a takedown into Cannonier's guard.

Cannonier is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Mendez presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cannonier prevents the takedown attempt.
Cannonier is trying to pull guard but Mendez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cannonier jumps guard but Mendez stands there with Cannonier around his waist. Cannonier gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cannonier landing some nice looking knees to the body.
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!
Cannonier being controlled against the cage.
Cannonier is trying to force a seperation but Mendez has the dominant position.

Cannonier pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cannonier looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mendez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Mendez decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Mendez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cannonier as he avoids it easily.
Cannonier lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Cannonier slaps away a takedown attempt from Mendez , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mendez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cannonier tries to avoid it but Mendez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cannonier to the ground. Cannonier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mendez tries to clinch up.
Cannonier slips under a jab.
Mendez moves in looking to clinch but Cannonier pushes him off.
Cannonier shoots in for a double leg but Mendez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mendez throws a body kick that misses
and Cannonier counters with a series of strikes. Mendez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cannonier gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mendez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mendez is working Cannonier over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mendez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Cannonier is looking for a triangle here but Mendez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cannonier is not content to let Mendez control the position.
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 DJ Cannonier 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. This is the final round!

Mendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Cannonier doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mendez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Cannonier ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cannonier no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cannonier keeping full guard, as Mendez tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cannonier uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Cannonier tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mendez swivels and escapes.
Mendez is looking to clinch but Cannonier is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Cannonier.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cannonier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cannonier goes for a double leg but Mendez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mendez continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DJ Cannonier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cannonier circles away.

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

Mendez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cannonier knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mendez scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cannonier is trying to improve his position.
Cannonier on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Mendez passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Cannonier!
Mendez tries to control but Cannonier wriggling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
BOOM! Mendez connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cannonier's face.
Cannonier is squirming around, avoiding Mendez 's attempts to control the action.
Cannonier takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mendez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Mendez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cannonier is surviving well by controlling Mendez 's body position as best he can.
Mendez controlling the pace for now.
Cannonier on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cannonier tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendez lands a big shot there that rocks Cannonier but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Cannonier is rocked!
Mendez breaks from Cannonier's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Oh Cannonier is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mendez postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Cannonier in real trouble here! The ref calls for Cannonier to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Raul Mendez !