PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonov Lopescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Socrates Menoleus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Socrates Menoleus has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Lopescu
vs
Menoleus

180 cm
18
173 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

182 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonov Lopescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Socrates Menoleus!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menoleus jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Lopescu tries to clinch there but Menoleus circles away.
Menoleus throws a right hand that Lopescu ducks under and follows up with a left that Lopescu also avoids with ease.
Menoleus swats away the attempt to clinch by Lopescu.
Menoleus throws a right and a left that Lopescu avoids nicely.
Menoleus moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Menoleus throws a series of punches but Lopescu avoids them all with ease.
Lopescu dodges the punch combination from Menoleus.
Lopescu wants to clinch up but Menoleus keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Menoleus.
Lopescu wants to clinch.
Lopescu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Menoleus circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopescu shoots in for a takedown but Menoleus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lopescu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Menoleus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Menoleus.
Lopescu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Menoleus swinging wildly here.
Decent striking displayed by Menoleus there.
Menoleus throws a right hand that Lopescu ducks under and follows up with a left that Lopescu also avoids with ease.
Menoleus lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lopescu tries to clinch up but Menoleus circles away and keeps his distance.
Menoleus dips to his left and cracks Lopescu with an uppercut!
Menoleus misses with a few strikes there.
Menoleus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Menoleus with a hook.
Lopescu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Menoleus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A punch lands to the side of Lopescu 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lopescu doesn't manage to clinch there - Menoleus circles away.
Menoleus fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lopescu wants to clinch up but Menoleus keeps it at a distance.
Lopescu fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonov Lopescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopescu shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Menoleus actively working from the bottom here.

Menoleus looking for submissions off his back.

Menoleus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lopescu keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Menoleus is staying active underneath Lopescu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Menoleus wants to get back to full guard.

Menoleus actively working from the bottom here.
Menoleus is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lopescu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Menoleus circles away.
Lopescu is breathing heavily.
Lopescu shoots in looking for a takedown. Menoleus tries to sprawl out of it but Lopescu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Menoleus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Menoleus leaves Lopescu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lopescu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Menoleus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Menoleus lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Menoleus.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Socrates Menoleus dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice takedown defense from Menoleus. No joy for Lopescu on that attempt.
Lopescu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A jab from Menoleus does it's job there.
Lopescu shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Menoleus bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lopescu's head backwards.
Menoleus darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Lopescu throws a combination that misses
and Menoleus counters with a two punch combo.
Menoleus displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lopescu gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Menoleus.
Lopescu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lopescu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Menoleus sprawls well. Menoleus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lopescu gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonov Lopescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Menoleus does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Menoleus.
Menoleus throws a series of strikes that have Lopescu backpedaling.
Menoleus throws a combination. Lopescu tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Menoleus misses with the combination.
Lopescu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Menoleus's waist but Menoleus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lopescu off to one side.
Lopescu shoots in looking for a takedown. Menoleus tries to sprawl out of it but Lopescu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Menoleus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

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.
Menoleus scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Menoleus might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Lopescu shoots in looking for a takedown. Menoleus tries to sprawl out of it but Lopescu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Menoleus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lopescu gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lopescu takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Menoleus lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lopescu backs up against the cage.
Menoleus misses with a wild combination.
Menoleus lands with a hook. Lopescu tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menoleus throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lopescu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Menoleus.
Lopescu looks for a takedown but Menoleus sprawls well.
Menoleus throws a series of punches but Lopescu moves out of range.
Lopescu tries to move into range but Menoleus moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Menoleus scores with a one two! Lopescu had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Menoleus throws a series of strikes that have Lopescu backpedaling.
Menoleus clobbers Lopescu with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menoleus misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lopescu dodges the punch combination from Menoleus.
A nice combination there by Menoleus.
Menoleus scores with a three punch combo!
Menoleus displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lopescu throws out the jab.
Lopescu fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Menoleus misses.
Menoleus throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Lopescu counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Socrates Menoleus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Lopescu has a takedown stuffed.
Antonov Lopescu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Menoleus's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Menoleus duly obliges.
Menoleus is working the combinations to good effect here.
Lopescu misses with a double jab
and Menoleus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lopescu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Menoleus.
Lopescu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Menoleus swivels and escapes.
Socrates Menoleus seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menoleus closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lopescu darts in trying to clinch
and Menoleus counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menoleus throws a series of strikes that have Lopescu backpedaling.
Menoleus misses with a double jab.
Menoleus scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lopescu.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonov Lopescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopescu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Menoleus.
Menoleus tries to bum rush Lopescu with a series of wild strikes but Lopescu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lopescu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Menoleus is fending him off so far but Lopescu persists. Nope, Menoleus circles away and we're back to standing.
Menoleus stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Menoleus wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menoleus throws a combination. Lopescu tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lopescu takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Menoleus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lopescu.
Menoleus lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lopescu circles away quickly and effectively.
Menoleus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Menoleus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice shot lands for Menoleus.
Menoleus throws a body kick that misses.
Menoleus throws a series of punches but Lopescu moves out of range.
Menoleus displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lopescu.
Lopescu shoots in for a takedown but Menoleus shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menoleus darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Menoleus scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Antonov Lopescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menoleus scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A lazy left from Menoleus finds it's target.
Menoleus lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lopescu backs up against the cage.
Lopescu shoots and misses
and Menoleus counters with a left and a right that stings Lopescu.
Lopescu is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Menoleus.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Menoleus!
Menoleus moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Menoleus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopescu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Menoleus lands with a nice combination. Lopescu backs away looking to recover.
Menoleus stuffs the takedown.
Menoleus misses with a double jab

and Lopescu counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Menoleus wants to improve his position but Lopescu is controlling well.

Menoleus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Menoleus actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Menoleus looking for submissions off his back.
Lopescu is trying to control. Menoleus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Socrates Menoleus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Menoleus winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Socrates Menoleus!