PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Filipe Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takakeno Kumikura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kumikura has chosen Gallhammer - Blind my eyes as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Takakeno Kumikura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mendes
vs
Kumikura

183 cm
22
190 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

184 cm
22
186 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Superior Ki Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Filipe Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takakeno Kumikura!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendes tries to clinch but Kumikura moves out of range.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick and Kumikura moves out of range easily.
Takakeno Kumikura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendes throws a series of strikes that have Kumikura backpedaling.
Kumikura misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mendes swats away the attempt to clinch by Kumikura.

Mendes feints and as Kumikura raises his hands in defense, Mendes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Mendes drops back looking for a leg! Kumikura is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kumikura manages to kick Mendes off! Mendes jumps back into Kumikura's guard.

Kumikura working for a triangle but Mendes defends it easily.
Kumikura looks gassed!
Kumikura has a closed guard, preventing Mendes from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumikura working a defensive guard here.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Kumikura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kumikura looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mendes passes into half guard.
Kumikura trying to hold on to Mendes's head to control him but Mendes postures up.
Mendes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mendes winds up and cracks Kumikura with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mendes wants to get back to his feet.
Mendes slips a nice elbow through Kumikura's hands, connecting with Kumikura's forehead.
Kumikura blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendes.
Mendes has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mendes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes looking to control but Kumikura is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mendes controlling his opponent.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kumikura is squirming around, avoiding Mendes's attempts to control the action.
Mendes controlling from mount.
Mendes wants to control the pace but Kumikura is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kumikura throwing hammer fists to the chest of Mendes. What's that going to do exactly?
Mendes tries to control but Kumikura wriggling away.
Kumikura tries to reverse the position but Mendes maintains control.
Mendes sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendes trying to control but he's not successful this time.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Filipe Mendes just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Kumikura closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filipe Mendes dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kumikura moves into the clinch successfully.

Kumikura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mendes shoots in but Kumikura avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mendes keeps the fight on the outside.
Kumikura stuffs the takedown attempt from Mendes. Mendes gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendes looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kumikura circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kumikura fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Kumikura tries to keep at a distance but Mendes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mendes gets underhooks to prevent Kumikura's takedown attempt.
Kumikura tries to pull guard but Mendes holds him up against the ropes and eventually Kumikura drops back down to his feet.
Filipe Mendes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takakeno Kumikura.

Mendes works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendes trying to control but Kumikura is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumikura is trying to control the position but Mendes postures up.
Kumikura keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.

Kumikura looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Mendes has picked Kumikura up and slammed him! Kumikura can't keep hold of the triangle and Mendes manages to pass to side control!

Mendes has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Kumikura forces Mendes back against the ropes and clinches.
Mendes tries to pull guard but Kumikura won't allow it.
Mendes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kumikura avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Mendes breaks from the clinch.
Mendes looks for a takedown but Kumikura sprawls well.
Kumikura wants to clinch

and Mendes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kumikura won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes lands a nice forearm strike.
Mendes wants to control but Kumikura is keeping him busy.
Mendes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kumikura to see if he's OK.
Kumikura wants to control but Mendes postures up.
Kumikura is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Mendes is staying active.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Mendes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Kumikura's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendes has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mendes tries to clinch up.

Kumikura rushes Mendes and presses him up against the ropes.
Kumikura connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mendes's face.

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

Mendes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Kumikura is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Mendes misses with a punch to the body.

Mendes breaks from the clinch.
Kumikura misses with a takedown

and Mendes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kumikura trying to control here.
Mendes is stalling here. Kumikura is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Mendes seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kumikura has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Kumikura working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendes wants to control but Kumikura postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filipe Mendes dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kumikura misses with a takedown

and Mendes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mendes is looking to take a break and control but Kumikura is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kumikura looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mendes trying to control the action but Kumikura is working from the bottom.
Kumikura pushes Mendes off but Mendes dives into side control.
Kumikura is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumikura takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kumikura tries to bench press Mendes off him but Mendes keeps the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kumikura closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mendes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kumikura won't be happy with that.
Mendes working the ground and pound from side control.
Mendes controls the position.
Mendes is putting a hurting on Kumikura here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mendes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kumikura keeps working.
Mendes lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kumikura down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumikura tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Mendes easily slips into full mount!
Kumikura tries to hold on but Mendes postures up.

Mendes is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kumikura has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kumikura!
Kumikura seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mendes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Mendes has his foot on Kumikura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kumikura works his way back into a safe position though.
Kumikura trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mendes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kumikura doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kumikura manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kumikura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kumikura stopping the sweep attempt from Mendes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kumikura misses with a takedown attempt

and Mendes counters with a single leg into guard. Kumikura didn't expect that.
Kumikura keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.
Kumikura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Mendes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Kumikura has his foot on Mendes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mendes works his way back into a safe position though.
Takakeno Kumikura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendes wants to control from the top but Kumikura keeps moving.
Filipe Mendes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Filipe Mendes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mendes, 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Filipe Mendes!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Filipe Mendes!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Filipe Mendes!

Filipe Mendes wins by unanimous decision!