PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Frye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Menk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Frye
vs
Menk

184 cm
21
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Don Frye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eric Menk!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menk misses with a takedown
and Frye counters with a nice uppercut.

Menk throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Frye was covering up waiting for the punch and Menk finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Frye is looking to stand up but Menk isn't so interested in that idea.

Menk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Menk is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Frye wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Frye on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Frye tries to get out of the position.
Frye is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menk drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Menk jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Frye knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Menk on the ground.

Menk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Frye looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menk wants to control from the top but Frye keeps moving.
Frye is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Menk is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Frye is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Frye has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Frye looking to pass the guard.
Menk avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Frye's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Frye trying to control the position from guard on top but Menk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Menk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Frye's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frye trying to control the position.
Menk is looking to stand up but Frye won't let him.

Menk is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Menk pushing down on Frye's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Menk looks gassed!

Menk is looking for a kimura but Frye is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Menk to get the leverage.
Frye is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Frye is refusing to be controlled, as Menk sits in half guard.
Frye is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Menk seems to be looking for submissions.
Frye has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Menk is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Menk is trying to control the action in half guard but Frye is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Menk is looking to advance position but Frye won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Menk dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Menk misses with a wild combination.
Menk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Frye cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Frye moves into the clinch.

Frye pulls Menk into guard.
Frye wants to stand up but Menk is controlling him.
Menk wants to control from the top but Frye keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Frye keeping moving, preventing Menk from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Menk looking to sit in guard and control but Frye gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Frye stands and steps away. Menk gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Frye shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Menk avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Menk is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Frye won't allow Menk to pass to mount.
Menk uses his free foot to push down on Frye's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Frye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Menk goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Frye is on top in guard.
Frye throws a big right hand that misses.

Menk looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Frye sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Frye in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frye forces his way into half guard.
Frye tries to pass to full mount but Menk defends it.
Frye thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Menk to regain full guard.
Frye postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four 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.
Menk is looking to stand up but Frye isn't so interested in that idea.
Menk keeping moving, preventing Frye from controlling successfully.
Frye lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Frye trying to control but Menk is working from the bottom.

Menk looking for a guillotine here but Frye defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eric Menk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Frye scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Eric Menk has got the better of the ground game so far.

Frye swings around for an armbar but Menk sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Frye's guard.
Menk passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Menk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Frye keeps working.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Frye wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Menk has hold of Frye's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Frye tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Menk cranks the arm and Frye screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Frye, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Eric Menk!