PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Gaarlandt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Mengel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Gaarlandt
vs
Mengel

184 cm
19
234 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
27
265 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricardo Gaarlandt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Mengel!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Reed Andrews and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mengel throws a wild body kick that Gaarlandt sees coming a mile off.
Mengel takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mengel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gaarlandt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mengel scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gaarlandt moves out of range as Mengel strikes.

Mengel gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mengel swings wildly with an uppercut but Gaarlandt uses good head movement to avoid it.

Mengel manages to break the clinch.
Mengel misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gaarlandt counters with a one-two to the body.
Mengel lands the left hand.
Gaarlandt uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mengel.
We've been told by Gaarlandt's head coaches at Stark Slugger Society - NY that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Gaarlandt getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaarlandt throws a right and a left that both miss.

Mengel forces Gaarlandt back against the cage and clinches.
Mengel lands with a short shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mengel.
Mengel looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Mengel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mengel looks to land a left hand but Gaarlandt moved out of range nicely.
Mengel throws a lazy uppercut
and Gaarlandt makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Mengel has Gaarlandt up against the cage in a clinch.

Mengel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaarlandt shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mengel eats them both and turns towards Gaarlandt to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Mengel moves into range and clinches up with Gaarlandt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mengel.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gaarlandt is looking to break free of the clinch but Mengel has double underhooks.
Mengel lands an uppercut.
Gaarlandt is trying to force a seperation but Mengel has the dominant position.
A short right from Mengel on the inside.

Mengel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gaarlandt's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Gaarlandt duly obliges.
Mengel throws a hook but Gaarlandt blocks it.
Gaarlandt avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mengel moves in looking to clinch but Gaarlandt pushes him off.
Mengel jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from Gaarlandt. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaarlandt comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mengel throws a right hand that misses
and Gaarlandt counters with a one-two to the body.
Gaarlandt ducks under a wild hook from Mengel.
Gaarlandt drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Mengel misses with an uppercut. Gaarlandt saw that one coming.
A slow jab from Mengel misses its intended target.
Mengel misses with a left hand
and Gaarlandt counters with a straight right hand.
Mengel blocks a jab.
Mengel throws a big shot that misses.
Gaarlandt takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gaarlandt throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Mengel has closed the distance and engaged Gaarlandt in a clinch.

Mengel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gaarlandt slips under a jab.
Gaarlandt blocks a head kick by Mengel.
Nice uppercut there from Mengel.

Mengel closes the distance and pushes Gaarlandt back into the cage.

Mengel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gaarlandt connects with a crisp jab.
Mengel misses with an uppercut
and Gaarlandt connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mengel misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Mengel dominated that round.
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.

Mengel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gaarlandt sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mengel might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Mengel tests Gaarlandt's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mengel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Mengel in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Mengel loads up on a big right hand but Gaarlandt slips the punch.
George Mengel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mengel missing with a left hand there. Gaarlandt was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gaarlandt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mengel throws a right hand that misses
enabling Gaarlandt to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gaarlandt moves out of range of the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Gaarlandt.
Gaarlandt takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mengel throws a hook but Gaarlandt blocks it.
Mengel misses with a lunging right hand
and Gaarlandt connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mengel lands a high kick!
Gaarlandt uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mengel.
Gaarlandt throws a nice looking combination but Mengel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Mengel closes the distance and clinches.
Gaarlandt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Mengel breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Mengel misses the target.
Mengel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaarlandt drops his hands momentarily and Mengel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mengel misses the shot to the body.
Mengel pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mengel clinches up against the cage.
Gaarlandt takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Ricardo Gaarlandt has been cut.

Mengel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaarlandt lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mengel backs up against the cage.
Mengel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gaarlandt swats away the attempt to clinch by Mengel.

Mengel forces Gaarlandt back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mengel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mengel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gaarlandt sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gaarlandt lands an overhand right.
Mengel scores with a jab.
Gaarlandt uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mengel.
Gaarlandt throws out a loose jab but Mengel uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Mengel misses.
Mengel wants to clinch up but Gaarlandt keeps it at a distance.
Ricardo Gaarlandt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gaarlandt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mengel misses with a lunging right hand
and Gaarlandt counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mengel thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaarlandt takes one to the chin there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mengel tries a head kick but it misses.
Mengel looks to land a left hand but Gaarlandt moved out of range nicely.
Mengel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mengel throws a head kick but Gaarlandt moves out of range.
Gaarlandt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gaarlandt misses with a double jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mengel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice defenses there by Gaarlandt.
Gaarlandt bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Mengel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Gaarlandt's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A big left from Mengel misses.
Gaarlandt blocks a head kick by Mengel.
Gaarlandt throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gaarlandt moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gaarlandt stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gaarlandt lands a head shot.
Gaarlandt throws a right hand that Mengel ducks under and follows up with a left that Mengel also avoids with ease.
Mengel lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gaarlandt takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mengel misses with an uppercut.
Mengel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gaarlandt.
Mengel fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gaarlandt getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mengel wants to clinch.

Mengel has closed the distance and engaged Gaarlandt in a clinch.
Gaarlandt tries to break free but Mengel pushes him back against the cage.

Mengel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mengel gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mengel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mengel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gaarlandt scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good exchange - Mengel coming out on top.
Gaarlandt keeps the fight on the outside.
Gaarlandt checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Mengel throws a poor cross that misses
and Gaarlandt cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mengel swings widly with a right hand
and Gaarlandt counters with a nice uppercut.
Gaarlandt moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaarlandt misses with a double jab
and Mengel counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Gaarlandt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mengel.
George Mengel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A head kick from Mengel lands but Gaarlandt takes it in his stride.
Mengel misses with a looping right.
The fighters circling - Mengel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mengel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gaarlandt.
Gaarlandt throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mengel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gaarlandt sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mengel misses with a body kick.
Gaarlandt lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Mengel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mengel throws a lazy right hand but Gaarlandt sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gaarlandt avoids the body shot from Mengel.
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!
Mengel misses with a hook
and Gaarlandt counters with a series of strikes. Mengel will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gaarlandt blocks a jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Danga de danga de dang - Gaarlandt scores with a four punch combination!
Gaarlandt swings for the body but Mengel moves out of range.
Ricardo Gaarlandt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mengel misses with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to George Mengel.
Well Mengel 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Mengel!
George Mengel decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.