PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darren Cortes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hans Mentagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Cortes
vs
Mentagawa

150 cm
20
130 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

166 cm
28
135 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darren Cortes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hans Mentagawa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mentagawa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mentagawa.
Cortes tries to pull guard but Mentagawa forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.

Mentagawa gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cortes regains guard.
Mentagawa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mentagawa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cortes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortes tries to pass to full mount but Mentagawa defends it.

Mentagawa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cortes seems to be working for a kimura but Mentagawa defends the submission attempt.
Cortes is looking to stall here but Mentagawa recovers full guard.
Cortes stopping the sweep attempt from Mentagawa.
Cortes throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two 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.
Mentagawa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Mentagawa is looking for a triangle here but Cortes uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Mentagawa is looking for a sweep.
Mentagawa regains half guard, as Cortes was trying to land strikes.
Mentagawa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mentagawa trying to control but Cortes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cortes seems to be working for a kimura but Mentagawa defends the submission attempt.

Mentagawa is defending against the submission attempts here by Cortes.
Cortes wants to free his trapped foot but Mentagawa is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cortes is just content to waste time from the top position. Mentagawa takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cortes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cortes trying to control but Mentagawa is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mentagawa looking to score a takedown here. Cortes is defending well but Mentagawa drives through and ends up in Cortes's guard.

Cortes has an active guard here but Mentagawa has managed to pass into half guard.
Mentagawa is nestled in close to Cortes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Mentagawa dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Cortes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mentagawa replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Cortes blocks it well.
Cortes fails with the takedown

and Mentagawa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cortes wants to get back to his feet.
Cortes is trying to control but can't.
Cortes scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Mentagawa manages to mount him!
Cortes wants to control but Mentagawa is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mentagawa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cortes looks a forlorn figure.

Cortes is rocked!

It looks like Darren Cortes has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes tries to improve his position but instead Mentagawa has taken his back!
Cortes looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Mentagawa looking for the choke from the back.

Mentagawa working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Mentagawa is hanging on to Cortes's back as he tries to escape.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Mentagawa looking to break Cortes's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Cortes remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Mentagawa will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Cortes is in a bad position with Mentagawa working for a choke. Cortes manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortes throws an elbow that misses. Mentagawa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cortes's guard. Nice move by Mentagawa!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cortes is on top in guard.

Cortes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mentagawa tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mentagawa keeping moving, preventing Cortes from controlling successfully.

Mentagawa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cortes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cortes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cortes postures up in Mentagawa's guard and throws a big left but Mentagawa blocks it.
Cortes throws an elbow that misses. Mentagawa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cortes's guard. Nice move by Mentagawa!

Cortes looking for a guillotine here but Mentagawa defends easily.
Mentagawa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mentagawa wants to pass the guard but Cortes is keeping the position.
Mentagawa forces his way into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mentagawa tries to pass to full mount but Cortes defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Mentagawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Darren Cortes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mentagawa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cortes throws a big right hand that misses.
Mentagawa has a closed guard, preventing Cortes from standing up.
Mentagawa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortes looking to pass the guard.
Mentagawa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Mentagawa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cortes trying to control but Mentagawa is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cortes tries for a takedown but Mentagawa circles away easily

so Mentagawa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mentagawa advances to half guard.
Cortes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Cortes has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Mentagawa escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Mentagawa!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mentagawa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Mentagawa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cortes has escaped the position, nice work there.

Mentagawa is trying to get an arm triangle but Cortes is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortes is trying to control Mentagawa's posture but Mentagawa avoids it.
Mentagawa blocks the strikes from Cortes.
Mentagawa avoids the strikes from the bottom by Cortes.
Cortes is looking to regain half guard here but Mentagawa keeps moving and retains side control.
Cortes is trying to control Mentagawa's posture but Mentagawa avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mentagawa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mentagawa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Mentagawa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cortes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
A control attempt from Cortes but he's now mounted!

And that's the end of the fight!
Hans Mentagawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mentagawa 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hans Mentagawa!