PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pol Cuaresma (ranked 5719 p4p, 4953 weight class) and Bakary Mensah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bakary Mensah has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Pol Cuaresma's chin.

Cuaresma
vs
Mensah

170 cm
18
150
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
21
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pol Cuaresma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bakary Mensah!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cuaresma rushes Mensah and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cuaresma.
Cuaresma misses with a punch to the body.

Mensah jumps guard and drags Cuaresma to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mensah is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cuaresma definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cuaresma trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Mensah manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Mensah sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mensah makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mensah stands and throws Cuaresma's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mensah blocks the strikes from Cuaresma.

Mensah stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Cuaresma instigates a clinch.
Mensah tries to break the clinch but Cuaresma is controlling the position.
Mensah blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right hook to the body lands for Cuaresma.
Cuaresma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mensah is defending well for now.
Cuaresma misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mensah taking a breather.
Mensah wants a takedown.
Mensah tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cuaresma just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mensah avoiding damage as Cuaresma throws knees to the body.
Cuaresma prevents the takedown attempt.
Pol Cuaresma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bakary Mensah.
Mensah tries to break the clinch but Cuaresma is controlling the position.
Mensah is trying to maintain a safe position but Cuaresma gets an underhook and turns Mensah into the cage.
Cuaresma digs a right hand into Mensah's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mensah's gas tank.
Mensah looks winded!
Mensah tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cuaresma lands a body shot.
Mensah avoiding damage as Cuaresma throws knees to the body.
Mensah on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cuaresma misses with a knee strike.
Mensah is trying to pull guard but Cuaresma has him pressed against the cage.
A hook to the body from Cuaresma.
Cuaresma pushes Mensah back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cuaresma.
Cuaresma misses with a knee strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body punch from Cuaresma - that landed with a thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuaresma working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cuaresma cracks Mensah with a nice body shot.
Mensah avoiding damage as Cuaresma throws knees to the body.
Cuaresma using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mensah has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cuaresma trying to land knees to the body.
Mensah dodges an elbow strike from Cuaresma.
Mensah gets through Cuaresma's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cuaresma.
Mensah has Cuaresma pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cuaresma manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cuaresma missing with knees to the body.
Cuaresma lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mensah working hard to break the clinch.
Cuaresma lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mensah backwards.
Mensah tries to pull guard but Cuaresma forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A short left from Cuaresma.
Cuaresma tries a knee to the head but Mensah blocks it.
Mensah tries to pull guard but Cuaresma holds him up against the cage and eventually Mensah drops back down to his feet.
Cuaresma lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cuaresma digs a right hand underneath Mensah's ribcage. Mensah let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Still in the clinch, Cuaresma scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mensah looking to slow down the pace here.
Cuaresma tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mensah on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mensah fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mensah blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mensah is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cuaresma pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cuaresma goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pol Cuaresma dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mensah misses with a head kick.
Cuaresma was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pol Cuaresma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cuaresma gets tackled into the cage by Mensah. Mensah maintains the clinch.
Pol Cuaresma has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mensah wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cuaresma has him pressed against the cage.
Cuaresma makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mensah taking a breather.
Mensah is trying to pull guard but Cuaresma has him pressed against the cage.
Mensah blocks an elbow strike.
Cuaresma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mensah is defending well for now.
Mensah avoids a wild elbow strike from Cuaresma.
Mensah dodges an elbow strike from Cuaresma.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A hook to the body from Cuaresma.
Cuaresma missing with knees to the body.
Cuaresma missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cuaresma throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mensahs head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuaresma tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mensah avoids it.
Cuaresma can't find room to land a body shot as Mensah controls the action.
A short body shot lands from Cuaresma as the two fighters clinch.
Cuaresma pushes off an throws an elbow but Mensah leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cuaresma trying to land knees to the body.
Mensah is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cuaresma gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cuaresma missing with knees to the body.
Cuaresma tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mensah's elbow.
Cuaresma tries a knee to the head but Mensah blocks it.
Mensah on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mensah drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cuaresma gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pol Cuaresma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bakary Mensah.
Cuaresma misses with an elbow strike.
Mensah is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cuaresma pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cuaresma.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mensah wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cuaresma tries to land knees in the clinch but Mensah avoids the damage to the body.

Mensah breaks the clinch.
Mensah shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cuaresma as he jumps to the side.
Mensah jabs at Cuaresma's body.

Cuaresma rushes Mensah and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mensah wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cuaresma throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mensah blocks it with crossed arms.
Cuaresma lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cuaresma lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuaresma misses with a knee strike.
Cuaresma misses with a knee strike.
Mensah tries to pull guard but Cuaresma forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cuaresma scores with a hook to the body.

Mensah pulls guard.

Mensah looking for a guillotine here but Cuaresma defends easily.
Mensah looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mensah holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuaresma wants to control from the top but Mensah keeps moving.
Cuaresma wants to stand but Mensah is controlling his posture from full guard.

Cuaresma is posturing up here but Mensah has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Cuaresma tries to roll out but it's too tight and Cuaresma has to tap! Slick submission there by Mensah!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bakary Mensah!