PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riyu Mendes (ranked 2913 p4p, 3501 weight class) and Julian Bashir (ranked 392 p4p, 479 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mendes
vs
Bashir

188 cm
22
206
6 - 7 - 0

191 cm
21
218
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Riyu Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julian Bashir!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendes instigates a clinch.
Mendes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

It looks like Julian Bashir has been cut.
Bashir lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mendes swings wildly with an uppercut but Bashir uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mendes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mendes is leaning against Bashir and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Bashir takes a shot to the head.
Mendes can't find room to land a body shot as Bashir controls the action.
Mendes pushes Bashir back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mendes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bashir swings wildly with an uppercut but Mendes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mendes jumps guard but Bashir turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A body shot lands from Mendes.
Mendes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mendes throws a head punch that misses.
Bashir lands a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes tries to pull guard but Bashir forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mendes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mendes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mendes is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riyu Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
I was talking to Mendes's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Bashir.
A right hook to the body lands for Mendes.
Bashir lands a body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bashir creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mendes has a couple of punches blocked by Bashir.
Bashir lands a right hand.
Mendes blocks a body shot from Bashir.
Mendes tries to pull guard but Bashir won't allow it.
Bashir working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mendes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mendes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bashir backwards.
Bashir has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Mendes seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Bashir can turn it around.

Bashir manages to break the clinch.
A clash of legs there as Bashir blocks the low kick.
Mendes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bashir.
Mendes lands a leg kick that knocks Bashir off balance momentarily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bashir.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendes throws a push kick but Bashir slaps the foot to one side.
Mendes misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes feints and then cracks Bashir's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bashir down.

Bashir fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mendes, pushing him back against the cage.
Bashir is trying to push Mendes away but Mendes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bashir is trying to force a seperation but Mendes has the dominant position.
Mendes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bashir lands a body punch.
Bashir swings wildly with an uppercut but Mendes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mendes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bashir gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mendes.
Mendes goes for a takedown attempt but Bashir pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A head kick by Mendes misses
and Bashir counters with a straight right hand.
Bashir circles away from the clinch attempt.
Some bone on bone action there as Bashir checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mendes is looking to chop away at Bashir's legs.
Bashir throws a hook to the side of Mendes's head but Mendes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bashir misses the shot to the body.
Good shot there by Bashir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bashir.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bashir.
Mendes takes a swing at Bashir's ribcage but misses.
Mendes feints and then cracks Bashir's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bashir down.
Bashir moves out of range as Mendes throws a body kick.
Mendes throws an off balance right hand
letting Bashir counter with a right hand.
Mendes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bashir takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice uppercut there from Bashir.

Mendes rushes Bashir and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Mendes.
Bashir misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bashir lands with a light punch inside.
Bashir lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
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 throws a head punch that misses.
Bashir is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mendes is keeping busy.
Bashir working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bashir blocks an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mendes.

Bashir breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mendes scores with a kick to the body.
Mendes ducks under a wild hook from Bashir.
Bashir connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mendes's hands.
Riyu Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Bashir there.
Mendes avoids the body shot from Bashir.
Bashir circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mendes connects with a jab.
Bashir fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mendes manages to avoid it.
A jab from Bashir misses.
Mendes half committed to a counter leg kick.
Bashir jabs at Mendes's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bashir ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bashir moves away from the strike by Mendes.
Mendes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bashir throws a poor cross that misses
and Mendes counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bashir's knee momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Riyu Mendes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Julian Bashir's cut.
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.

Bashir lands a jab to Mendes's midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mendes. Bashir does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bashir looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mendes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bashir moves away.
Bashir scores with a shot to the body.
Bashir takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A leg kick checked by Bashir.
Julian Bashir seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bashir takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bashir wants to clinch up but Mendes keeps it at a distance.
Mendes misses with a straight right.
Mendes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mendes takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bashir throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mendes bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Mendes misses with an uppercut
and Bashir counters with a left to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mendes misses with a body shot
and Bashir counters with a left to the body.

Mendes closes the distance and pushes Bashir back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashir prevents a body shot from Mendes.
Mendes throws a head punch that misses.
Mendes leaning his opponent against the cage.
Mendes blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Bashir breaks from the clinch.
Bashir fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mendes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mendes lands with a kick to the ribs.
Bashir does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Bashir lands a nice shot that snaps Mendes's head back.
Mendes darts in looking for a takedown but Bashir gets double underhooks and turns Mendes into the cage.

Mendes drags the fight down to the ground.

Mendes is looking for a triangle here but Bashir uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Mendes managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Bashir.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir trying to control the action but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Mendes is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Mendes wants to improve his position but Bashir is controlling well.
Bashir sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mendes defending well though.
Mendes is trying to control but can't.
Bashir tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mendes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.
Mendes is looking to improve his position.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes is trying to control but can't.
Mendes is staying active underneath Bashir, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mendes tries to roll over but Bashir keeps him under control.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bashir.
Bashir is trying to control the action in half guard but Mendes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bashir trying to mount his opponent but Mendes defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bashir missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mendes tries to roll over but Bashir keeps him under control.
Bashir is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mendes is not content to let Bashir control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bashir drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Mendes closes the distance but Bashir moves to the side
and Bashir counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bashir swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mendes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bashir.
Mendes lands a slapping body shot.
Mendes scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Julian Bashir will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Julian Bashir's cut.
That's time! Mendes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bashir throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bashir misses the jab.
Bashir loads up on a big right hand but Mendes slips the punch.
Nice cross by Bashir.
Bashir avoids the body shot from Mendes.
Mendes throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick
and Bashir counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Mendes forces Bashir back against the cage and clinches.
A left hand lands to the body for Bashir.
Bashir misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bashir.
Riyu Mendes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bashir misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes fails to pull guard.
Bashir lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
Bashir tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mendes tries to work over Bashir's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendes misses with a punch on the inside.
Bashir fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bashir is looking to break free of the clinch but Mendes has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mendes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bashir to keep the fight standing.
Bashir lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mendes backwards.
A short right from Bashir.

Bashir breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bashir throws a body shot but no joy.
Mendes fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riyu Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bashir. Mendes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bashir pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendes throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bashir counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mendes looks to score with a jab to the body but Bashir is just out of range.
Bashir throws an off balance right hand
and Mendes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bashir misses with a low kick as Mendes jumps back.
Mendes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bashir scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Julian Bashir is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bashir paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bashir misses with a hook.
Mendes is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The crowd cheers as Bashir lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mendes doesn't seem phased though.
Bashir swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mendes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bashir to score with a decent uppercut.
Mendes moves out of range as Bashir strikes.
Bashir throws a hook but Mendes avoids it easily.
Mendes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mendes jabs at Bashir's body.
Mendes drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Bashir gets a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mendes.
Mendes misses with a body punch.
Mendes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Bashir fails to land.
Mendes wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes wants to break free but Bashir has control.
Bashir misses with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Mendes.

Bashir breaks from the clinch.
Bashir throws the left hand but Mendes avoids the punch easily.
Mendes cracks Bashir with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bashir misses with a low kick.
Mendes is looking to counter with head kicks.
Nice cross by Mendes.
Mendes scores with a nice strike.
Bashir checks the leg kick.
Bashir throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendes is looking to counter with a body kick.
Bashir throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mendes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendes misses the shot to the body.
Bashir walks into a jab.

Bashir is rocked!
Bashir is starting to get sloppy and is letting his hands down. Mendes just took advantage and landed a stinging jab. Oh! Now a right hook, right on the button! Bashir has gone limp and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Riyu Mendes!
After winning the bout, Riyu Mendes thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.