PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thomaz Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miquel Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Taylor
vs
Mendoza

170 cm
27
151 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

165 cm
25
147 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thomaz Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Miquel Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Taylor throws a chopping leg kick but Mendoza manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mendoza doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.
Taylor throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mendoza moves in looking to clinch but Taylor pushes him off.

Mendoza moves into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Taylor scores with a nice short uppercut.
Taylor will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mendoza up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Taylor.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mendoza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mendoza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mendoza lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mendoza doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taylor is stalling here.
Taylor dodges an elbow strike from Mendoza.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendoza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mendoza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mendoza's hands.
Mendoza takes one to the side of the head.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendoza moves away.
Taylor throws a leg kick

and Mendoza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mendoza.
Taylor stalling against the cage.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Mendoza is controlling him.
Mendoza landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mendoza lands a knee to the head.
Mendoza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendoza tries a body shot but Taylor blocks it.
Mendoza lands a nice uppercut.
Mendoza blocks an uppercut.
Mendoza utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mendoza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taylor blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
Mendoza pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Taylor misses with the head strike.

Taylor manages to break the clinch.
Mendoza is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.

Mendoza rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mendoza misses with a knee to the head.
Mendoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taylor.
Taylor blocks the elbow strike.
Mendoza lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mendoza misses with a knee to the head.
Taylor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mendoza lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mendoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Taylor taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Taylor.
Taylor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mendoza tries to clinch but Taylor moves out of range.
Mendoza tries to clinch up.
Mendoza tries to clinch up.
Mendoza walks into a stiff left hand from Taylor.
Taylor is looking to land body kicks.
Nice body punch from Mendoza.
Mendoza checks the leg kick.
Mendoza wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Mendoza wants to clinch.
Mendoza closes the distance but Taylor moves to the side
and Taylor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mendoza gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Taylor.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taylor. Mendoza does a little dance to reset his feet.

Mendoza has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mendoza comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mendoza looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Taylor in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Mendoza.
Mendoza is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mendoza keeps control of Taylor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike from Mendoza.
Mendoza throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Taylor looking to slow down the pace here.
Mendoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mendoza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mendoza lands a knee to the body.
Taylor swings wildly with an uppercut but Mendoza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
Mendoza utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Mendoza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taylor blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miquel Mendoza dominated that round.
That's time! Taylor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mendoza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taylor loads up on a big right hand but Mendoza slips the punch.
Mendoza has a takedown stuffed.
Miquel Mendoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendoza moves out of range as Taylor throws a body kick.
Mendoza looks to land a combination but Taylor avoids it well.
Mendoza pivots, looking for a leg kick but Taylor is out of range and Mendoza settles back down.
Miquel Mendoza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Some bone on bone action there as Mendoza checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Taylor misses with a shot to the body
and Mendoza counters with a leg kick.
Mendoza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mendoza checks the leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Taylor throws a solid leg kick but Mendoza takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Taylor.
Jab, jab by Taylor - just one landing.
Horrible takedown by Mendoza or perhaps it was just good defense by Taylor which made him look bad.
Mendoza fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomaz Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miquel Mendoza.
Taylor lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Mendoza.
Taylor tried to score with a low kick but Mendoza checks it.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendoza moves away.
Mendoza on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Taylor lands with an uppercut that bounces Mendoza off the cage and back into range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taylor.
Taylor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Taylor!
Taylor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mendoza looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Taylor keeps Mendoza at a distance using the push kick.
Mendoza is looking to clinch.
Mendoza checks a leg kick nicely.
Mendoza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mendoza takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor scoring well with a low kick there.

Mendoza rushes Taylor and presses him up against the cage.
Mendoza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taylor blocks it with crossed arms.
Taylor lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mendoza backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Taylor gets through Mendoza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mendoza.
Mendoza looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Taylor lands a left hand.
Mendoza tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
Mendoza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Taylor wants to stall.
Taylor scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Still in the clinch, Taylor scores with a nice short uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taylor.
Mendoza misses with a knee strike.
Taylor will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mendoza up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mendoza throws an elbow but misses.
Taylor throws a punch but it's blocked by Mendoza.
Mendoza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mendoza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mendoza looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mendoza lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Taylor lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mendoza backwards.
Mendoza creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mendoza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Taylor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taylor.
Mendoza pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mendoza.
Mendoza lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.
Mendoza tries to land knees in the clinch but Taylor avoids the damage to the body.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but Mendoza avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the cage.
Miquel Mendoza seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Taylor avoids the elbow strike from Mendoza, against the cage.
Mendoza lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.
Mendoza trying to land knees to the body.
Mendoza is trying to drag Taylor to the mat but Taylor just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Taylor is trying to maintain a safe position but Mendoza gets an underhook and turns Taylor into the cage.
Taylor swings wildly with an uppercut but Mendoza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendoza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendoza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A nice left hand lands by Taylor.
Mendoza gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomaz Taylor dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Taylor misses the jab.
Mendoza tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Mendoza misses.
Taylor throws a leg kick

so Mendoza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Taylor has his hands on Mendoza's head, controlling the position.
Taylor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mendoza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor is pulling down on Mendoza's head to control his posture.
Mendoza throwing strikes from guard but Taylor blocks nicely.
Taylor wants to sweep here but Mendoza controlling him for the moment.

We're going to have a standup here because Thomaz Taylor wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mendoza wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza looks to throw the jab but Taylor is out of range.
Mendoza takes a kick to the side of the head.
Mendoza on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Taylor finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Taylor pivots, looking for a leg kick but Mendoza is out of range and Taylor settles back down.
Mendoza tries to clinch up
and Taylor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mendoza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taylor swings for the body but Mendoza moves out of range.
Mendoza tries for a takedown but Taylor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mendoza getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mendoza throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Thomaz Taylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendoza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taylor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mendoza. Mendoza circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mendoza misses with a head kick.
Taylor jabs Mendoza right on the nose. Mendoza blinks but takes it well.
Taylor just misses with a punch to the body.
Mendoza tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
Mendoza is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Mendoza wants to clinch
and Taylor counters with a stiff right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor looks for the body kick but Mendoza saw that one coming.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Mendoza.
Mendoza avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A combination from Mendoza does no damage.
Mendoza is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
Mendoza shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
That kick from Taylor tenderised Mendoza's leg. Mendoza is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taylor pinned against the cage. Taylor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mendoza misses with a wild combination.
Mendoza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taylor.
Good standup being displayed there by Taylor as he connects with a hook.
Taylor wants to land a leg kick but Mendoza is out of range.
Mendoza checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Taylor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Some bone on bone action there as Mendoza checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Taylor scores with a hook to the body. Mendoza takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt
and Taylor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Taylor throws a solid leg kick but Mendoza takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Taylor.
Mendoza doesn't manage to clinch there - Taylor circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mendoza looks to clinch
and Taylor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mendoza wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
A thudding body kick lands there by Taylor!
Thomaz Taylor is winning the standup battle so far.
Mendoza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to avoid it but Mendoza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taylor to the ground. Taylor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thomaz Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miquel Mendoza.
Mendoza throws a right hand that Taylor ducks under and follows up with a left that Taylor also avoids with ease.
A solid leg kick lands there for Taylor.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taylor.
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!
Taylor connects with a crisp jab.
Mendoza tries to clinch but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor tries to score with a low kick but Mendoza moves his leg out of the way.
Taylor thuds his right hand into Mendoza's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Taylor connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendoza takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Mendoza turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Mendoza is just out of range.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendoza moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomaz Taylor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taylor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomaz Taylor!
Thomaz Taylor seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.