PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyro Pipes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kyro Pipes will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mendes
vs
Pipes

167 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chad Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kyro Pipes!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pipes has his takedown stuffed

and Mendes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mendes wants to advance to full mount but Pipes doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Mendes is looking to stand up but Pipes won't let him.
Pipes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pipes is on top in guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pipes 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.
Mendes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mendes landing some decent shots from guard.
Mendes stands up over Pipes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pipes wants to sweep but no luck.
Pipes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mendes throws an elbow that misses. Pipes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendes's guard. Nice move by Pipes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes controls Pipes momentarily but Pipes frees himself.
Mendes wants to get back to his feet but Pipes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Pipes dodges the ground and pound from Mendes.
Mendes misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ground and pound from Mendes seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Mendes misses with the ground and pound.
Pipes tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mendes wants to stand but Pipes is controlling his arm.
Pipes parries the strikes from Mendes easily there. Mendes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Pipes to escape.
Pipes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mendes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pipes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Pipes is looking for a kimura here.
Pipes looks gassed!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pipes is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes 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.

Mendes drives through and clinches with Pipes against the cage.

Mendes is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Pipes can't fight it off and eventually Mendes manages to take the fight to the floor. Pipes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mendes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pipes keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.
Pipes is trying to control the position but Mendes postures up.
Mendes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes wants to stand but Pipes is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pipes keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.
Mendes won't allow Pipes to sweep him here.
Mendes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pipes on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chad Mendes.
Mendes lunges at Pipes with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pipes's hand.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Pipes with a poor takedown

and Mendes moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pipes can't get the takedown.
Mendes is pressed up against the cage. Pipes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mendes down to the mat. Mendes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Chad Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyro Pipes.
Nice takedown defense from Mendes. No joy for Pipes on that attempt.
Chad Mendes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pipes is breathing heavily.
Mendes misses with a few strikes there.
Mendes fails to land with a series of punches.
Mendes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mendes throws a head kick that half lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mendes throws a head kick that misses.
Mendes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pipes.
Mendes throws a right and a left that Pipes avoids nicely.
Mendes jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Mendes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mendes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pipes has Mendes pressed against the cage, preventing Mendes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Pipes has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Mendes is trying to keep an underhook but Pipes manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Mendes is defending against the submission attempts here by Pipes.
Pipes prevents Mendes from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mendes closes the distance and pushes Pipes back into the cage.
Mendes has had enough of the clinch but Pipes keeps him there for the moment.
Mendes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mendes is trying to break free.
Pipes goes for a takedown attempt but Mendes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Pipes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mendes sprawls well. Mendes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pipes gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes takes the fight into the clinch.
Pipes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mendes's efforts to push away.
Mendes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mendes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pipes.
Chad Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyro Pipes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mendes looks to land a body kick but Pipes moved away.
Mendes misses with a two punch combination.

Mendes gets a clinch.
Mendes can't break the clinch.
Mendes tries to break free but Pipes pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pipes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mendes is defending well.

Mendes turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Mendes trying to control the action but Pipes is working from the bottom.
Mendes creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Pipes sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendes stands up and beckons Pipes to his feet.
Chad Mendes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pipes tries to sprawl but Mendes drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Pipes gets full guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Mendes gets to his feet - Pipes follows without any prompting.
Pipes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pipes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mendes avoids it really well and circles away.
Kyro Pipes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chad Mendes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Mendes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mendes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Mendes!