Bossed the first two rounds? First yes, and the first minute or so of the second, then Nate came back and finished the round strongly. I personally had the fight as a draw, Conor winning 1st and 4th, splitting the 2nd, Nate winning 3rd and 5th. Many pros felt Nate won though. Either way, Nate was robbed of at least a draw. Great fight though, both fighters deserve huge props for that.
Mendes couldn't finish him because he was ****ed after having just two weeks to prepare for a huge fight, if he had the same amount of time as Conor, he woudn't have gassed so quickly.
He taps because he panics, he doesn't know what he's doing on the ground and that's why he quits. First Nate fight, allowed Nate to get easy mount, then rolled to his back for Nate to sink in the RNC. Joe Duffy fight, taken down in 30 seconds, again allows his opponent to gain full mount and then sink in the head and arm choke. Baring in mind his so called world class coach is a black belt in BJJ, you'd think his best student would know a thing or two on the ground.