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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Menezes (ranked 44 p4p, 151 weight class) and Penkosip Bizihwaile (ranked 6 p4p, 21 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 180 cm
42
190
38 - 20 - 1 |
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184 cm
35
191
23 - 18 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arthur Menezes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Penkosip Bizihwaile!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Steve Erwin and Francis DeMontford.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menezes misses with a lunging right hand
and Bizihwaile counters with a nice body shot.
Menezes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Menezes checks a low kick from Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile drives through and clinches with Menezes against the cage.
Bizihwaile struggles to land a body shot inside as Menezes controls his hands.
Menezes scores with a shoulder strike.
Bizihwaile content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bizihwaile pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Bizihwaile.
Menezes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Menezes tries to pull guard but Bizihwaile forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Menezes prevents a body shot from Bizihwaile.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Menezes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bizihwaile manages to break the clinch.
Bizihwaile connects with a good right hand that stumbles Menezes. Menezes circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bizihwaile avoids the body shot from Menezes.
Bizihwaile slips a straight right by Menezes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Menezes lands a nice looking body shot.
Bizihwaile has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A head kick misses from Bizihwaile.
Menezes half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Penkosip Bizihwaile is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bizihwaile, pushing him back against the cage.
Menezes successfully pulls guard.
Bizihwaile tries to free his leg and advance position but Menezes is retaining full guard.
Bizihwaile must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Menezes looking for a guillotine here but Bizihwaile defends easily.
Bizihwaile tries to free his leg and advance position but Menezes is retaining full guard.
Bizihwaile is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bizihwaile avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bizihwaile preventing the sweep.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bizihwaile trying to control the position from guard on top but Menezes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menezes keeping full guard, as Bizihwaile tries to pass.
Menezes looking for a guillotine here but Bizihwaile defends easily.
Menezes is looking for a triangle but Bizihwaile pushes his legs off easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Menezes is on top in guard.
Menezes trying to control but Bizihwaile is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Menezes tries to free his leg and advance position but Bizihwaile is retaining full guard.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but Bizihwaile is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bizihwaile looking to hit a scissor sweep but Menezes is one step ahead there.
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.
Menezes looking to sit in guard and control but Bizihwaile gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Menezes wants to sweep here but Bizihwaile controlling him for the moment.
Bizihwaile got a little sloppy there for a moment and Menezes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bizihwaile has managed to get both his arms back between Menezes's legs - danger averted.
Bizihwaile controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Menezes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Penkosip Bizihwaile will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!
Bizihwaile misses the jab.
Menezes checks a leg kick nicely.
Menezes digs a good hook to Bizihwaile's body.
Arthur Menezes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bizihwaile pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Menezes seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Bizihwaile throws a leg kick but Menezes moved away.
Menezes stuns Bizihwaile with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Menezes shoots in for a takedown but Bizihwaile shows good takedown defense.
Bizihwaile slips a straight right by Menezes.
Menezes takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Menezes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bizihwaile moves away.
Bizihwaile misses with an uppercut.
Bizihwaile pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Menezes is looking to wear down Bizihwaile with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Menezes drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bizihwaile wants to sweep here but Menezes controlling him for the moment.
Menezes forces his way into half guard.
Menezes wants to free his trapped foot but Bizihwaile is holding on for dear life with his legs.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes wants to advance to full mount but Bizihwaile doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Menezes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bizihwaile swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bizihwaile controls Menezes momentarily but Menezes frees himself.
Menezes tries to free his leg and advance position but Bizihwaile is retaining full guard.
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.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but Bizihwaile is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Menezes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Menezes tries to free his leg and advance position but Bizihwaile is retaining full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bizihwaile keeping moving, preventing Menezes from controlling successfully.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bizihwaile tries to clinch up but Menezes circles away and keeps his distance.
Menezes attempts a counter takedown but Bizihwaile avoids it well and moves away.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Menezes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bizihwaile walks away with a smile on his face. Menezes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bizihwaile throws a hook but Menezes avoids it easily.
Menezes drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bizihwaile sprawls and moves away.
Menezes cracks Bizihwaile with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Menezes cracks a nice hook into Bizihwaile's ribs.
Menezes avoids the head kick by Bizihwaile.
Menezes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bizihwaile momentarily.
Menezes connects with a body shot.
Bizihwaile throws a big shot that misses.
Menezes connects with a nice looking jab.
Menezes shoots for a double leg takedown but Bizihwaile sprawls well. He's pushed Menezes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bizihwaile uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Menezes.
Menezes tests Bizihwaile's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Menezes works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bizihwaile missing with a left hand there. Menezes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Menezes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Menezes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is trying to work for a kimura but Bizihwaile is defending well.
Menezes throwing shots but Bizihwaile is blocking nicely.
Menezes seems to be looking for submissions.
Bizihwaile is looking for a sweep. Menezes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Arthur Menezes dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Menezes walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bizihwaile misses with a head kick.
Menezes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bizihwaile!
The ground and pound from Menezes seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bizihwaile tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Menezes has knee on belly momentarily but Bizihwaile bucks him off and regains half guard.
Arthur Menezes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bizihwaile is not content to let Menezes control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bizihwaile sees it coming and defends easily.
Menezes is looking for a kimura here.
Menezes wants to take a breather but Bizihwaile is having none of it.
Menezes is really struggling to control Bizihwaile but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Menezes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bizihwaile doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Menezes.
Menezes 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.
Menezes is keen to just control but Bizihwaile is a slippery customer.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bizihwaile fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Menezes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bizihwaile's hands.
Menezes connects with a right hand. Bizihwaile shakes it off.
Bizihwaile closes the distance and clinches.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bizihwaile tries a body shot but Menezes blocks it.
Menezes works on Bizihwaile's body with a couple of short punches.
Menezes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bizihwaile smiles and moves away.
Menezes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bizihwaile can do to turn this around?
Bizihwaile tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bizihwaile explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Menezes misses with a body shot.
Bizihwaile goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bizihwaile tries a head kick but it misses.
Bizihwaile swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Menezes works the jab nicely.
Bizihwaile throws a sloppy head kick and Menezes moves out of range easily.
Menezes attempts a counter takedown but Bizihwaile avoids it well and moves away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bizihwaile. That's going to slow Menezes down.
Menezes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Menezes goes for a double leg but Bizihwaile avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bizihwaile continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bizihwaile is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Menezes is keeping busy.
Menezes swings wildly with an uppercut but Bizihwaile uses good head movement to avoid it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes has a couple of punches blocked by Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nice body punch from Bizihwaile.
Menezes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Menezes pulls Bizihwaile into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Menezes looking for subs off his back but Bizihwaile has passed one foot through into half guard.
Bizihwaile prevents Menezes from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Menezes is working hard here to advance position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but Arthur Menezes did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!
Bizihwaile dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Menezes. That did some damage!
Menezes misses with an uppercut. Bizihwaile saw that one coming.
A head kick misses from Bizihwaile.
Bizihwaile misses with a wild body shot.
Menezes scores with a jab. Bizihwaile acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bizihwaile darts in and clinches Menezes up against the cage.
Menezes struggles to land a body shot inside as Bizihwaile controls his hands.
A nice left hand lands by Menezes.
Menezes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bizihwaile is keeping busy.
Menezes drags the fight down to the ground.
Menezes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menezes working for a triangle but Bizihwaile defends it easily.
Bizihwaile controlling from the top position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bizihwaile's corner is telling him to maintain position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Menezes has an active guard here but Bizihwaile has managed to pass into half guard.
Menezes gets back to full guard.
Menezes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Menezes throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bizihwaile uses it to pass to side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes can't do much from the bottom here.
Bizihwaile wants to control but Menezes is keeping him busy.
Bizihwaile taking a breather here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Menezes gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Menezes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bizihwaile pulls his head out easily.
Bizihwaile is thwarting Menezes's attempts to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Menezes is looking for a sweep. Bizihwaile is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jab, jab by Menezes - just one landing.
Menezes connects with a right hand. Bizihwaile shakes it off.
Bizihwaile displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Menezes throws out the jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Arthur Menezes had his way with Penkosip Bizihwaile in that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Bizihwaile uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Menezes.
Bizihwaile counters with a body kick.
Menezes blocks a low kick nicely.
Bizihwaile fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Menezes has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bizihwaile does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Bizihwaile displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Menezes.
Bizihwaile slips a straight right by Menezes.
Bizihwaile throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Menezes's head.
Menezes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bizihwaile darts in and clinches Menezes up against the cage.
Bizihwaile doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Menezes lands a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bizihwaile lands a shoulder strike.
Bizihwaile stalling in the clinch.
Bizihwaile manages to break the clinch.
Bizihwaile throws a hook but Menezes avoids it easily.
Decent striking displayed by Menezes there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Menezes throws a body shot but no joy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes scores with a jab to the jaw.
Menezes tries to clinch but Bizihwaile is having none of it.
Bizihwaile appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Jab by Bizihwaile.
Menezes avoids the head kick by Bizihwaile.
Menezes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bizihwaile momentarily.
Bizihwaile lands with a kick to the temple. Menezes shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Menezes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Menezes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bizihwaile defends it well.
Bizihwaile trying to control here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Bizihwaile is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Menezes is working for a submission of some sort.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Bizihwaile is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bizihwaile is trying to maintain the position but Menezes is very close to passing his half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Menezes wants to work for an arm triangle but Bizihwaile is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Menezes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bizihwaile knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Menezes lands a nice hook to Bizihwaile's body. Bizihwaile takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bizihwaile wants to slow Menezes down by chopping away at his legs.
Menezes shoots in looking for a takedown but Bizihwaile manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Menezes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Menezes misses with a hook. Bizihwaile ducked under it nicely.
Bizihwaile buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Menezes works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bizihwaile throws a leg kick but Menezes moved away.
Menezes feinted with a counter takedown.
Penkosip Bizihwaile has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Menezes lands a jab-cross combination.
Bizihwaile dodges the punch combination from Menezes.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bizihwaile.
Arthur Menezes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Menezes connects with a right hand. Bizihwaile shakes it off.
Bizihwaile takes one to the chin there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Menezes is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bizihwaile's half guard.
Bizihwaile wants to get back to full guard.
Menezes is thwarting Bizihwaile's attempts to control the position.
Menezes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur Menezes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Menezes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 49:46
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 49:46
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Menezes!
Arthur Menezes retains his middleweight title!
Penkosip Bizihwaile spoke after the fight, saying 'Time to rethink my career.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
40% |
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