Augusto Mendes

Augusto Mendes vs. Aljamain Sterling

Round 1
Sterling opens with some heavy kicks to the lead leg of "Tanquinho," who spends the opening minute coming forward but isn't able to do much effective striking. Sterling goes to the body with a right hand, waits for Mendes to step forward again, then changes levels for a takedown at the base of the fence. Mendes shifts underneath and drops back for a heel hook, forcing Sterling to stand up and pull his leg free. Sterling kicks at the legs of Mendes until referee Mario Yamasaki orders the Brazilian back to his feet. Sterling gets clipped with a right hand and has to quickly extract his head from a guillotine as Mendes jumps guard. Mendes switches to a triangle/armbar attempt, then switches to an omoplata and sweeps to top position. Sterling sits up and drives forward as Mendes sizes him up for another guillotine. Sterling seems unfazed and easily frees his head again, and now it's Sterling on top with one minute left in the round. Mendes holds Sterling in butterfly guard as the New Yorker pounds away with short right hands to the ribs.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterling

Round 2
Sterling catches Mendes coming forward and clips the Brazilian with a right hand over the top. The "Funkmaster" presses Mendes against the wall with an underhook and stomps at his feet, then scores with a knee to the body. Mendes reverses with double underhooks, now with three minutes on the clock, looking to trip Sterling to the floor. Sterling hops on one foot but can't escape Mendes' clutches, and now Tanquinho scores with a knee to the body. There's not much happening in the clinch, and finally the bantamweights separate with 80 seconds left in the round. Sterling is pressing forward with punches on the suddenly tired-looking Mendes, but not landing anything cleanly. Sterling hits a trip takedown with 30 seconds left and now begins to score with some hammerfists in the final moments.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sterling
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterling

Round 3
Sterling places a pair of left hands on the face of Mendes in the opening minute. After mixing in a few kicks, the New Yorker comes back with a clubbing left hook that turns Mendes' head. Sterling gets caught leaning inside and nearly has his neck snatched up by Mendes, but Sterling drops to his knees and frees himself from the potential choke. Back up comes Sterling to once again press Mendes against the cage with an underhook. Mendes reverses to the outside but can't do anything with the position before referee Yamasaki breaks up the fighters. Down to the final two minutes now, Mendes swings and misses with a big right hand but his momentum carries him forward and allows him to clinch Sterling against the wall. Sterling loops right hands around the back of Mendes' head, while Mendes seems content to lean Sterling against the wall. Sterling reverses, blocks an attempt by Mendes to reap a leg, then scores a takedown of his own. Mendes posts and stands immediately, marching forward on Sterling with 30 seconds on the clock. Sterling looks the fresher man down the stretch, evading Mendes' punches and countering with a big right hand. Sterling puts a pair of lefts on Mendes' jaw in the closing seconds, and this one will go to the judges.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)

The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Augusto Mendes via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00