PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hattori Hanzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hanzo comes to the cage accompanied by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dczgUMom658&feature=PlayList&p=0D47F44EA6F80. This should be a great matchup!

Hanzo
vs
Mendoza

185 cm
19
195 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hattori Hanzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Felipe Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendoza gets a takedown into half guard.
Mendoza missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanzo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hanzo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendoza.
Mendoza missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mendoza thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mendoza passes to side control.
Mendoza working the ground and pound but Hanzo is defending the strikes.
Hanzo can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hanzo tries for a takedown but Mendoza circles away easily

and Mendoza counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hanzo's guard now.
Mendoza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hanzo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mendoza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mendoza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanzo is keeping the position for now.
Mendoza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Mendoza drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hanzo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mendoza has Hanzo in his guard.

Hanzo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mendoza dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo keeping full guard, as Mendoza tries to pass.
Mendoza throws and elbow that misses. Hanzo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendoza's guard. Nice move by Hanzo!

Hanzo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mendoza dives on top into guard.
Mendoza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanzo is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mendoza throws and elbow that misses. Hanzo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendoza's guard. Nice move by Hanzo!
Mendoza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hanzo is one step ahead there.

Hanzo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mendoza is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hanzo, into his guard.
Hanzo is trying to keep Mendoza in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hanzo keeping full guard, as Mendoza tries to pass.
Mendoza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mendoza throwing strikes but missing.
Mendoza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Mendoza dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hanzo has his takedown stuffed

and Mendoza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mendoza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hanzo defending well though.
Mendoza throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mendoza is pressing down on Hanzo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hanzo is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendoza missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mendoza thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hanzo's head.

Mendoza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hanzo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mendoza.
Mendoza passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hanzo looks a forlorn figure.
Mendoza misses with a head shot.
Mendoza looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hanzo blocking the ground and pound.
Mendoza looking to finish with strikes here!
Mendoza throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mendoza sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Mendoza goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Hanzo is on top in guard.

Hanzo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mendoza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mendoza has escaped and now he's on top!
Felipe Mendoza has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendoza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mendoza is in close to Hanzo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hanzo keeping full guard, as Mendoza tries to pass.

Mendoza drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hanzo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hanzo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hanzo!
Mendoza is breathing heavily.

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.
Mendoza manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hanzo wants to control but Mendoza is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mendoza wants to pass the guard but Hanzo is defending well.
Mendoza is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Mendoza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mendoza changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hanzo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hanzo is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Hanzo stops Mendoza from passing to mount.
The ground and pound from Mendoza seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hanzo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mendoza.
Hanzo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mendoza.
Hanzo defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Mendoza is trying to ground and pound but Hanzo uses the momentary lack of control by Mendoza to regain half guard.

Mendoza seems to be looking for submissions.
Mendoza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hanzo has his takedown stuffed

and Mendoza counters with a shoot takedown. Hanzo fights it but they end up in guard.
Mendoza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanzo is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mendoza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mendoza content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mendoza throws and elbow that misses. Hanzo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendoza's guard. Nice move by Hanzo!

Hanzo has gone for a leg lock! Mendoza slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hanzo's guard.
Hanzo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendoza thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mendoza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanzo is keeping the position for now.
Mendoza throws and elbow that misses. Hanzo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendoza's guard. Nice move by Hanzo!

Hanzo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mendoza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mendoza has escaped and now he's on top!
Mendoza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Felipe Mendoza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mendoza looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hattori Hanzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendoza throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felipe Mendoza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mendoza has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felipe Mendoza!