PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruudi Bastardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Mendes's choice of entrance music: Roy Jones - Can't be touched. Ruudi Bastardo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bastardo
vs
Mendes

194 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ruudi Bastardo!
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, Rafael Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mendes gets tackled into the cage by Bastardo. Bastardo maintains the clinch.
Bastardo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Bastardo breaks the clinch.
Bastardo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Mendes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bastardo sprawls well initially but Mendes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mendes tries to pass to full mount but Bastardo defends it.
Mendes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mendes thows a huge punch but Bastardo dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastardo wants to get back to his feet.
Mendes sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rafael Mendes wasn't active enough on the ground.
Mendes throws a shot from downtown. Bastardo moves away and avoids it.
Mendes tries to clinch but Bastardo moves out of range.
Bastardo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Bastardo throws a leg kick that misses.
Mendes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bastardo throws out the jab.
Mendes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bastardo is fending him off so far but Mendes persists. Nope, Bastardo circles away and we're back to standing.
Bastardo tried to score with a low kick but Mendes checks it.
Mendes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bastardo tries to avoid it but Mendes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bastardo to the ground. Bastardo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mendes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bastardo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ruudi Bastardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Mendes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bastardo throws a right hand that Mendes ducks under and follows up with a left that Mendes also avoids with ease.
Bastardo throws a low kick but Mendes moves out of range easily.
Ruudi Bastardo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bastardo. Bastardo obviously looking to wear him down.
Mendes looks gassed!
Bastardo is looking to clinch but Mendes is avoiding it.
Bastardo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bastardo connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo doesn't manage to clinch there - Mendes circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bastardo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bastardo misses with a kick to the body.
Mendes swats away the attempt to clinch by Bastardo.
Bastardo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bastardo wants it to stay on the feet.
Mendes fails with the takedown
and Mendes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Bastardo moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bastardo lands an elbow that stopped Mendes in his tracks for a moment.
Bastardo stalling.

Bastardo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bastardo forces Mendes back against the cage and clinches.

Bastardo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mendes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes avoids the head kick by Bastardo.
Bastardo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruudi Bastardo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bastardo throws a leg kick but Mendes checks it.
Bastardo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mendes.

Mendes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bastardo stalling.
Mendes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bastardo to keep the fight standing.
Mendes jumps guard but Bastardo stands there with Mendes around his waist. Mendes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ruudi Bastardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Mendes.

Bastardo manages to break the clinch.
Bastardo fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bastardo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Mendes is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Mendes is breathing heavily.
Bastardo avoids the head kick by Mendes.
Ruudi Bastardo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendes tries to bum rush Bastardo with a series of wild strikes but Bastardo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bastardo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mendes tries to close the distance and clinch but Bastardo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mendes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bastardo defends it nicely.
Bastardo cracks Mendes with a good jab.
Rafael Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bastardo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo cracks the inside of Mendes's front leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bastardo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A punch combination from Bastardo misses.
Bastardo moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Bastardo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Bastardo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Mendes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ruudi Bastardo is winning the standup battle so far.
Mendes takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bastardo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mendes slips a jab and a cross from Bastardo.
Bastardo lands a head kick. Mendes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo with a nice cross.
Bastardo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mendes blocks a head kick by Bastardo.
Bastardo slaps away a takedown attempt from Mendes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bastardo lands a jab.
Mendes tries to clinch up.
Bastardo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Bastardo feints and then cracks Mendes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mendes down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bastardo avoids it really well and circles away.
Bastardo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mendes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bastardo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bastardo wants to clinch up but Mendes keeps it at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bastardo scores with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruudi Bastardo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bastardo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bastardo stuffs the takedown attempt from Mendes. Mendes gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendes throws a series of punches but Bastardo avoids them all with ease.
Bastardo with a nice cross.
Mendes throws a body kick the misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Bastardo lands a nice hook to Mendes's body. Mendes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Bastardo pushes Mendes up against the cage in a clinch.

Bastardo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mendes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bastardo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mendes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bastardo counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bastardo closes the distance and clinches.
Mendes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bastardo is defending well for now.
Mendes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Bastardo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mendes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bastardo throws a front kick that sends Mendes stumbling back into the cage.
Mendes slips a jab and a cross from Bastardo.
Bastardo lands a head kick. Mendes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo throws a sloppy head kick and Mendes moves out of range easily.

Mendes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mendes lands in his opponent's guard.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Bastardo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendes stops Bastardo from standing up.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo wants to get back to his feet but Mendes passes into half guard.

Mendes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bastardo is just riding it out for now. Mendes eventually gives up the hold.
Mendes controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo is trying to stand up here but Mendes is controlling him well.
Bastardo tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Mendes manages to move to mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes with shots to the head and body - Bastardo looks very uncomfortable down there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruudi Bastardo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bastardo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruudi Bastardo!