PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joao Mendigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Collin McRidger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Mendigo
vs
McRidger

175 cm
22
168 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joao Mendigo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Collin McRidger!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendigo throws a right and a left that McRidger avoids nicely.
Mendigo misses with a takedown attempt - McRidger sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mendigo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McRidger.
Mendigo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McRidger.
McRidger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mendigo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McRidger tries to avoid it but Mendigo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McRidger to the ground. McRidger escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McRidger tries to bum rush Mendigo with a series of wild strikes but Mendigo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McRidger tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendigo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McRidger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mendigo works the jab nicely.

It looks like Collin McRidger has been cut.
McRidger misses with a double jab.
A punch combination from McRidger misses.
McRidger fails in his attempt to clinch.
McRidger misses with a double jab

and Mendigo counters with a takedown into side control.
McRidger looks gassed!

Mendigo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McRidger, who protects the arm well.
Mendigo throws an elbow but McRidger slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendigo tries to move into full mount but can't pass McRidger's legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendigo throws a strike aimed at the side of McRidger's head but McRidger avoids it well.
Mendigo advances to full mount.

Mendigo wants to finish this one by submission but McRidger is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mendigo.

Mendigo wants to finish this one by submission but McRidger is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mendigo.
Mendigo wants to control the pace but McRidger is squirming around nicely.
McRidger wants to hold on but Mendigo pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Mendigo working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
McRidger tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mendigo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… McRidger turns into him and now he's in Mendigo's guard.
Mendigo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McRidger trying to control but Mendigo is working from the bottom.

Mendigo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McRidger doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McRidger manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mendigo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendigo looking for a guillotine here but McRidger defends easily.

McRidger stands up and waves to Mendigo to follow him.
McRidger closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mendigo counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McRidger is looking to reverse the position.

Mendigo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McRidger is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mendigo tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendigo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McRidger is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mendigo working away.

Mendigo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
McRidger wants to control but Mendigo postures up.
McRidger is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Mendigo is staying active.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McRidger fails in his attempt to clinch.
A nice combination there by McRidger.
A punch combination from McRidger misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Mendigo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Collin McRidger's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mendigo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McRidger keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McRidger shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mendigo looks for a takedown but McRidger sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Mendigo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McRidger is looking to clinch but Mendigo is avoiding it.
McRidger misses with the combination.
McRidger throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendigo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mendigo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fight stays on the outside here - McRidger looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

McRidger shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendigo is desperately trying to improve his position but McRidger has a good base and remains in mount.
Mendigo manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Mendigo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mendigo trying to hold on to McRidger's head to control him but McRidger postures up.
Mendigo wants to get back to full guard.
Mendigo wants to control but McRidger is keeping busy.

That's two 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.
Mendigo is looking to get back to full guard here but McRidger has managed to pass to side control instead.
McRidger prevents Mendigo from getting the reversal.
McRidger sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mendigo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Joao Mendigo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendigo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendigo tries to regain full guard. Instead though, McRidger has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

McRidger gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
McRidger tries to clinch but Mendigo is having none of it.
McRidger fails to land with a series of punches.

Mendigo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Mendigo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McRidger is just riding it out for now. Mendigo eventually gives up the hold.

Mendigo is looking for a kimura but McRidger is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mendigo to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McRidger is trying to stand.

Mendigo seems to be working for a kimura but McRidger defends the submission attempt.
McRidger wants to get back to his feet.
Mendigo trying to control the action but McRidger is working from the bottom.

Mendigo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mendigo trying to mount his opponent but McRidger defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Collin McRidger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Collin McRidger's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

McRidger gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McRidger stalling in the clinch.
Mendigo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McRidger smiles and moves away.
McRidger is looking to clinch but Mendigo is avoiding it.
Mendigo slips a jab and a cross from McRidger.
McRidger is looking to clinch but Mendigo is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mendigo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendigo advances nicely into full mount.

Mendigo working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
McRidger tries to lock up and control but Mendigo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendigo swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and McRidger is now in Mendigo's guard. A big mistake from Mendigo there, giving up the dominant position!

Mendigo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. McRidger is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mendigo.
McRidger trying to control the position but Mendigo is working away.
Mendigo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked McRidger off and has taken his back!

Mendigo is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. McRidger is defending well though. Mendigo let's go of the attempt for now.
Mendigo struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendigo is trying to stick to McRidger's back but McRidger is turning into Mendigo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Mendigo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by McRidger.

Mendigo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mendigo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Mendigo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McRidger can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Mendigo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McRidger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Mendigo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McRidger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Mendigo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendigo looking to hit a scissor sweep but McRidger is one step ahead there.
Mendigo is working hard here to advance position.

Mendigo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McRidger wants to pass the guard but Mendigo is keeping the position.

Mendigo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. McRidger is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Mendigo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take McRidger's back instead.
McRidger is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Mendigo off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

McRidger manages to escape to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McRidger tries to clinch up.
Mendigo shoots and misses

and McRidger counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mendigo's guard now.
Mendigo looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendigo, not yet.
Mendigo throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Mendigo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendigo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Mendigo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McRidger passes into half guard.
Mendigo is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Collin McRidger.
I think McRidger has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!