PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julio Mesquita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Bader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Julio Mesquita has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mesquita
vs
Bader

180 cm
21
210 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

187 cm
23
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Mesquita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Bader!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bader looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mesquita manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mesquita bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bader's guard.
Bader looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mesquita could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mesquita wants to get up but he can't break Bader's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mesquita trying to control the position from guard on top but Bader is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mesquita wants to stand but Bader is controlling his posture from full guard.

Bader is working an open guard so Mesquita takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Bader shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mesquita manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mesquita wants to sweep here but Bader controlling him for the moment.
Bader wants to control from the top but Mesquita keeps moving.
Bader is looking to work some ground and pound but Mesquita has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader postures up in Mesquita's guard and throws a big left but Mesquita blocks it.
Mesquita looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bader working some strikes from top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mesquita is on top in guard.
Mesquita is fighting to break Bader's control of his arms but Bader is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bader keeping moving, preventing Mesquita from controlling successfully.
Mesquita is breathing heavily.
Bader trying to control the position here.
Mesquita missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bader pulls Mesquita in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mesquita trying to control but Bader is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bader looking for a sweep. Not yet Bader, not yet.
Bader seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Bader is looking for a triangle but Mesquita pushes his legs off easily.
Bader wants to sweep here but Mesquita controlling him for the moment.
Mesquita throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bader works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bader scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bader controlling the action here.
Mesquita is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bader is trying to control the action in half guard but Mesquita is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bader lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bader perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mesquita is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bader scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ground and pound from Bader.
Mesquita is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mesquita is working hard here to advance position.
Bader is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

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.
Bader prevents Mesquita from improving his position.
Bader really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mesquita. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bader lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bader takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bader is nestled in close to Mesquita, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bader working over Mesquita with some ground and pound. Mesquita looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mesquita is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bader fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mesquita avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Bader dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bader is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mesquita's half guard.
Mesquita taking some punishment here, with Bader in his half guard.
Mesquita moves into full guard.
Bader makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mesquita wants to sweep here but Bader controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bader postures up and lands a big shot to Mesquita's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader chips away with some ground and pound.
Bader lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bader working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bader scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bader must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bader lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mesquita looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bader is one step ahead there.
Bader works over Mesquita with some ground and pound from guard.
Bader is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bader lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bader's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bader working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bader slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bader won't allow Mesquita to sweep him here.
Bader stands up over Mesquita, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bader is working Mesquita over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mesquita looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bader is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bader stands up over Mesquita, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Bader avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bader is working Mesquita over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bader's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Mesquita looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ryan Bader has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mesquita looking for a sweep. Not yet Mesquita, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bader looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bader drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mesquita gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bader working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mesquita wants to get back to full guard.
Bader looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bader wants to stand up but Mesquita is controlling the position.
Mesquita moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bader tries to hold on but Mesquita pushes him away.

Mesquita is working for a guillotine from mount but Bader frees his head quite easily.
Bader wants to control but Mesquita is having none of it.
Mesquita fails to advance to Bader's back.
Bader tries to reverse the position but Mesquita maintains control.
Bader has given up his back.

Bader defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mesquita's arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Bader showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bader will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bader is defended easily by Mesquita.
Mesquita shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bader counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mesquita bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bader's guard.
Bader looking for a sweep. Not yet Bader, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mesquita stands up and waves to Bader to follow him.
Mesquita doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Bader counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mesquita defending well though.
Mesquita is trying to get back to full guard.
Bader seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mesquita is trying to get back to full guard.
Bader scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bader prevents Mesquita from improving his position.
Mesquita is pressing down on Bader's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Mesquita has his foot on Bader's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bader works his way back into a safe position though.
Mesquita is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bader wants to control from the top but Mesquita keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mesquita is on top in guard.
Bader is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bader is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mesquita wants to control from the top but Bader keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bader can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mesquita is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bader is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Mesquita drops back looking for a leg! Bader is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bader manages to kick Mesquita off! Mesquita jumps back into Bader's guard.
Bader controlling Mesquita's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bader keeping moving, preventing Mesquita from controlling successfully.
Mesquita would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Bader scores a takedown into full mount!
Bader pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mesquita really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Bader.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mesquita manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mesquita tries to get to full guard but Bader has control of the leg.
Bader drops an elbow to the side of Mesquita's head.
Bader drops an elbow to the side of Mesquita's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bader connects with a nice short shot to Mesquita's temple.
Mesquita taking some punishment here, with Bader in his half guard.
Bader sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mesquita defending well though.
Mesquita works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mesquita is looking for a triangle but Bader pushes his legs off easily.
Mesquita looking for a sweep. Not yet Mesquita, not yet.
Julio Mesquita has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryan Bader is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bader wants to control from the top but Mesquita keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryan Bader.
I've got Bader winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Bader!