PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Mendez (ranked 707 p4p, 3624 weight class) and Ghasem Zahari (ranked 103 p4p, 407 weight class). Joe Mendez had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Mendez
vs
Zahari

188 cm
28
275
9 - 6 - 0

195 cm
28
272
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Shadow Realm Apparel

BE Younick

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ghasem Zahari!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zahari thuds a left hand into Mendez's body.
Mendez ducks under a wild hook from Zahari.
Zahari closes the distance but Mendez moves to the side

and Mendez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mendez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mendez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mendez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

It looks like Ghasem Zahari has been cut.
Mendez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zahari wants to stand up but Mendez is controlling him.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendez wants to control from the top but Zahari keeps moving.
Zahari is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Mendez dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez landing strikes.
Zahari pushes Mendez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Mendez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Zahari takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mendez scores with punches from side control.
Zahari taking punishment in the form of punches.

That has opened up Ghasem Zahari's cut even more.
Mendez trying to control the action but Zahari is working from the bottom.
Zahari taking a bit of punishment here - Mendez scoring with strikes.

The cut above Ghasem Zahari's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Mendez looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Zahari wants to get back to his feet.
Zahari is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Mendez remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Mendez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Zahari looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Mendez turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joe Mendez!