PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chad Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mendez comes to the cage accompanied by Finsh em ALL. Chad Mendez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mendez
vs
Dela Cruz

181 cm
25
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
206 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Global Nutritional ACME (Q157) 90% ROR on Laundry

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chad Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Dela Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Mendez shows good takedown defense.
Mendez looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Dela Cruz moves into the clinch.

Dela Cruz has picked Mendez up - he's going for a ride! Dela Cruz dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mendez tries to roll over but Dela Cruz keeps him under control.
Dela Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mendez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dela Cruz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dela Cruz stalling.
Dela Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Mendez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mendez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Dela Cruz seems to be working for a kimura but Mendez defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Dela Cruz stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mendez to get to his feet.
Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mendez but Mendez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mendez misses with a looping right.

Mendez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mendez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Dela Cruz after a bit of a struggle.

Dela Cruz pulls guard.
Mendez won't allow Dela Cruz to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Dela Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Chad Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz feints and as Mendez raises his hands in defense, Dela Cruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendez keeping full guard, as Dela Cruz tries to pass.
Dela Cruz is working Mendez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mendez wants to sweep but no luck.
Dela Cruz looking to pass the guard.
Dela Cruz cracks Mendez with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Dela Cruz gets to his feet - Mendez follows without any prompting.
Mendez has a takedown stuffed.

Mendez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dela Cruz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dela Cruz is stalling in the full guard.
Dela Cruz pushes down on Mendez's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Mendez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendez pushes Dela Cruz off looking to stand but Dela Cruz dives back in and keeps control.
Dela Cruz throwing shots but Mendez is blocking nicely.
Dela Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mendez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mendez tries to get to full guard but Dela Cruz has control of the leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dela Cruz controlling the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Steve Dela Cruz has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Dela Cruz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Dela Cruz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mendez leaves Dela Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mendez fails with a takedown attempt.
Chad Mendez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dela Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Dela Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mendez as he jumps to the side.
Chad Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dela Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mendez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dela Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz wants to control but Mendez is keeping him busy.
Dela Cruz is thwarting Mendez's attempts to control the position.
Dela Cruz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mendez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Dela Cruz is trying to control the action in half guard but Mendez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Dela Cruz is looking for a kimura but Mendez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dela Cruz to get the leverage.

Dela Cruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dela Cruz is trying to control. Mendez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Dela Cruz is working for a kimura but Mendez is defending it quite comfortably.
Dela Cruz wants to control but Mendez is keeping him busy.
Dela Cruz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez trying to control but Dela Cruz postures up.
Steve Dela Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dela Cruz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Dela Cruz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mendez defends it well.
Mendez tries to get to full guard but Dela Cruz has control of the leg.

Dela Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mendez sees it coming and defends easily.
Dela Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendez keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dela Cruz not doing much here.

Dela Cruz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mendez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dela Cruz prevents Mendez from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dela Cruz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mendez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dela Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Dela Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dela Cruz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Mendez.
Dela Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Mendez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Dela Cruz wriggles free and stands up.
Dela Cruz shoots in but Mendez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chad Mendez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Dela Cruz.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is looking to clinch.

Dela Cruz closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mendez did well to prevent Dela Cruz getting side control.
Mendez tries to get to full guard but Dela Cruz has control of the leg.

Mendez looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dela Cruz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Dela Cruz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez tries to roll over but Dela Cruz keeps him under control.
Dela Cruz not doing much here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Steve Dela Cruz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mendez leaves Dela Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mendez shoots in and drives through. Dela Cruz sprawls well.

Dela Cruz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dela Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.
Dela Cruz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz preventing the sweep.

Dela Cruz drops back looking for a leg! Mendez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mendez manages to kick Dela Cruz off! Dela Cruz jumps back into Mendez's guard.
Dela Cruz trying to control but Mendez is working from the bottom.
Dela Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mendez wants to improve his position but instead Dela Cruz has moved into half guard.

Dela Cruz seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dela Cruz is working for a submission of some sort.

Dela Cruz stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mendez to get to his feet.

Dela Cruz clinches up with Mendez and pushes him back against the cage.
Mendez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dela Cruz successfully pulls guard.
Chad Mendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve Dela Cruz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dela Cruz is looking to stand up but Mendez isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Dela Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dela Cruz 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Dela Cruz!