PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sosni Menya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big Hurt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sosni Menya has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Menya
vs
Hurt

193 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
197 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sosni Menya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Big Hurt!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Menya. No joy for Hurt on that attempt.
Menya shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hurt decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Menya's guard.
Hurt prevents Menya from getting back to his feet.
Hurt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Menya is looking to stand up but Hurt isn't so interested in that idea.
Hurt wants to control from the top but Menya keeps moving.
Menya controlling Hurt's posture.
Menya is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Menya trying to control the action but Hurt is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menya has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Hurt works to full guard.
Hurt really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Menya. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hurt is trying to keep Menya in close.
Hurt is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hurt looks gassed!
Hurt keeping moving, preventing Menya from controlling successfully.
Hurt can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Menya controls the pace.

That's two 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.
Menya is standing up over Hurt. Hurt looks to escape but Menya dives into side control.
Menya throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Menya stands up.
Hurt throws a series of punches but Menya moves out of range.
Hurt misses with a looping left.
Menya avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hurt stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Menya.
Menya misses with a takedown attempt

and Hurt counters with a takedown into side control.
Menya is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menya is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hurt is controlling him well.
The strikes coming from Hurt are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Menya sneaks out the side door and pushes Hurt away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Menya has managed to clinch.
Menya tries to break free but Hurt pushes him back against the cage.
Hurt tries for a takedown but Menya manages to get underhooks.
The referee is keeping an eye on Menya - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Hurt manages to break the clinch.
Menya fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sosni Menya. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hurt looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Menya!
Hurt working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hurt is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Menya working to try and regain half guard.
Hurt lands a big elbow.
Hurt scoring with strikes but Menya is staying in there.
Menya is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hurt working Menya over with strikes here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menya working to try and regain half guard.
Menya is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Hurt dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Menya shoots in for a takedown but Hurt shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Menya misses with a takedown attempt

and Hurt counters with a nice double leg into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hurt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Menya bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hurt's guard.

Menya postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hurt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Menya, into his guard.

Hurt stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Menya avoids a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hurt shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Menya's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Menya wants to stand up but Hurt is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menya wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hurt is now in half guard.
Menya trying to control from the bottom.
Hurt throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hurt working Menya over with strikes.
Menya is trying to stand up here but Hurt is controlling him well.
Hurt lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Hurt is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Menya has managed to free his arm - good work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A combination from Hurt does no damage.

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.
Menya avoids a punch combination nicely.
Menya fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hurt.

Menya pushes Hurt up against the cage in a clinch.
Menya is pressed up against the cage. Hurt has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Menya down to the mat. Menya avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Menya shoots in for a double leg but Hurt sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sosni Menya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Hurt.
Menya shoots in but Hurt avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hurt throws a hook but Menya avoids it easily.
Menya throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hurt's head.
Hurt closes the distance looking to clinch
and Menya counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hurt closes the distance and clinches.

Hurt turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hurt manages to end up in side control.
Hurt working away.
Hurt lands a nice forearm strike.
Menya gets back to half guard.
Hurt lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hurt looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hurt is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hurt throws a strike but Menya avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Menya looking for a sweep. Not yet Menya, not yet.
Hurt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Menya swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hurt is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hurt must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Menya wants to sweep here but Hurt controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hurt rushes Menya and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Hurt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hurt moves into range and clinches up with Menya.

Menya manages to break the clinch.
Menya dodges the punch combination from Hurt.
Menya slips a jab and a cross from Hurt.
Menya misses with a takedown
and Hurt counters with a stiff right hand.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Menya.

Menya rushes Hurt and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Menya has Hurt pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hurt manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A body shot lands from Menya.
Menya just leaning against Hurt, taking a breather.
Menya taking a breather.

Menya lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Menya thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hurt trying to control but Menya postures up.
Big Hurt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurt punching from the bottom.
Menya is just content to waste time from the top position. Hurt takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Menya not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hurt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Menya is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hurt pulls his head out easily.
Hurt throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Menya regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hurt.
Hurt wants to control from the top but Menya keeps moving.
Menya utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Menya wants to stand up but Hurt is controlling him.
Menya is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Menya is looking to clinch but Hurt is avoiding it.
Menya tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hurt swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hurt decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Hurt is working for a kimura but Menya is defending it quite comfortably.
Menya wants to get back to full guard.
Hurt drops an elbow to the side of Menya's head.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menya avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hurt.
Menya wants to get back to full guard.

Hurt looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Menya misses with a series of wild punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Big Hurt.
I've got Hurt 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Big Hurt!