PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riyu Mendes (ranked 5094 p4p, 6318 weight class) and Bruce Sidebar (ranked 577 p4p, 636 weight class). Bruce Sidebar 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!

Mendes
vs
Sidebar

188 cm
20
206
2 - 4 - 0

188 cm
19
205
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Riyu Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruce Sidebar!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sidebar shoots and misses
and Mendes counters with an inside leg kick.

Sidebar gets a takedown into half guard.
Mendes is looking to control Sidebar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mendes avoid being mounted?
Sidebar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mendes is trying to get back to full guard.

Sidebar is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mendes sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes tries to get to full guard but Sidebar has control of the leg.
Mendes wants to control but Sidebar is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes punching from the bottom.
Sidebar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mendes's head.
Sidebar thows a huge punch but Mendes dodges it nicely.

Sidebar is trying to work for a kimura but Mendes is defending well.
Mendes wants to improve his position but Sidebar is controlling well.

Mendes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mendes is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sidebar jumps into side control!
Mendes tries to buck Sidebar off but Sidebar is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes parries the strikes from Sidebar easily there. Sidebar is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mendes to escape.
Sidebar trying to control the position but Mendes is working away.
Mendes managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sidebar.
Mendes is trying to improve his position.
Mendes wants to control but Sidebar postures up.
Mendes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sidebar's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mendes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sidebar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mendes is trying to get back to full guard.
Sidebar thows a huge punch but Mendes dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar wants to get back to his feet.

Mendes looking for subs from the bottom but Sidebar mounts him!
Mendes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mendes is in a horrible position here. Sidebar smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sidebar throwing strikes here but Mendes is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sidebar looking to ground and pound but Mendes is blocking nicely.
Mendes is looking to improve his position but Sidebar isn't that keen on the idea.
Mendes blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes wants to hold on but Sidebar pushes him away.
Sidebar unloads with some shots from mount but Mendes bucks and avoids them well.
Sidebar throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Mendes because Sidebar loaded up on that one.
Sidebar controlling his opponent.
Mendes is desperately trying to improve his position but Sidebar has a good base and remains in mount.
Mendes is working hard here to advance position.
Poor strikes thrown by Sidebar there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendes in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sidebar lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
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!
Mendes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Sidebar dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sidebar wants to clinch but Mendes slips to the side
and Mendes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sidebar scores with the left hand. Mendes knows he should have avoided that one.

Sidebar closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mendes's guard.
Mendes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Mendes is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Sidebar frees his head nicely. Oh but Mendes has switched to an armbar! Sidebar is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Riyu Mendes!
An out of breath Riyu Mendes thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.