PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Terska Nupikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Menzies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Menzies will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nupikka
vs
Menzies

150 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Terska Nupikka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Menzies!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Menzies shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nupikka's guard.
Menzies stays in close to Nupikka's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nupikka working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Menzies preventing the sweep.
Nupikka looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Menzies with a flurry of punches that miss.
Menzies wants to get up but he can't break Nupikka's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nupikka lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Nupikka tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Nupikka is looking for a triangle but Menzies pushes his legs off easily.
Menzies is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nupikka scores with a nice shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Menzies postures up and lands a big shot to Nupikka's brow.
Menzies stopping the sweep attempt from Nupikka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menzies connects with a couple of short punches.
Menzies loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nupikka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nupikka wants to sweep here but Menzies controlling him for the moment.
Menzies trying to control the position from guard on top but Nupikka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nupikka looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Menzies puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Menzies working over Nupikka with some ground and pound. Nupikka looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Menzies is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nupikka is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Menzies lands a nice short elbow.
Nupikka striking from half guard on the bottom.
Nupikka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Menzies.
Menzies has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nupikka wants to improve his position but Menzies is controlling well.
Nupikka wants to control but Menzies is keeping busy.
Menzies trying to control the action but Nupikka is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nupikka is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Menzies's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Menzies's back!
Menzies manages to reverse the position and now he's in Nupikka's guard. Nice work there by Menzies.
Nupikka is trying to keep Menzies in close.
Nupikka is trying to hold Menzies in close to prevent damage but Menzies has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nupikka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Menzies pulls his head out easily.
Menzies lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Menzies is nestled in close to Nupikka, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ground and pound from Menzies.
Menzies is trying to control the action in half guard but Nupikka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Menzies prevents Nupikka from improving his position.
Menzies trying to control the action but Nupikka is working from the bottom.
Nupikka gets full guard.
Menzies scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nupikka is striking from the bottom but Menzies uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Menzies throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nupikka is trying to get back to full guard.

Menzies is working for a kimura but Nupikka is defending it quite comfortably.
Nupikka is trying to get back to full guard.
Menzies passes to side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menzies lands an elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nupikka regains half guard.
Menzies is trying to control. Nupikka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Menzies not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Menzies is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Menzies dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nupikka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Menzies but Menzies pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nupikka fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Nupikka or perhaps it was just good defense by Menzies which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terska Nupikka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nupikka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Menzies throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Menzies throws a right and a left that Nupikka avoids nicely.
Menzies throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Menzies lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nupikka backs up against the cage.
Menzies keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nupikka misses with a takedown attempt - Menzies sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Terska Nupikka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menzies swinging wildly here.
Nupikka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Menzies as he jumps to the side.
Menzies scores with a nice strike.
Menzies fails to land with a series of punches.
Menzies lands with a nice combination. Nupikka backs away looking to recover.
Menzies misses with a series of wild punches.
Menzies tries to clinch but Nupikka is having none of it.
Nupikka shoots in for a takedown but Menzies shows good takedown defense.
Nupikka fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menzies with a hook.

Nupikka bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Menzies sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Menzies is looking to improve his position.
Menzies is trying is best to control the position here.
Menzies is trying to maintain the position but Nupikka is very close to passing his half guard.
Nupikka with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nupikka slips a nice elbow through Menzies's hands, connecting with Menzies's forehead.
Menzies has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nupikka is working away from the top position though.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Menzies is looking for a sweep. Nupikka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nupikka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nupikka missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Menzies has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nupikka is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menzies avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nupikka.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nupikka connects with a nice short shot to Menzies's temple.
Nupikka trying to control from half guard but Menzies is working away.
Menzies trying to control here.
Nupikka lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menzies gets full guard.
Menzies avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Menzies is trying to keep Nupikka in close.

Menzies looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Menzies is breathing heavily.
Nupikka is working Menzies over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nupikka with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nupikka is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Menzies is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nupikka throws a big right hand that misses.
Nupikka throws a big right hand that misses.
Steve Menzies has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nupikka trying to control the position from guard on top but Menzies is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Menzies will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Menzies scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nupikka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Menzies scores a takedown into full mount!
Nupikka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Menzies looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Nupikka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Menzies controlling the position easily from mount.
Menzies with the ground and pound from mount.
Nupikka is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nupikka knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Menzies on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Menzies connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Menzies tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Menzies can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nupikka is looking to escape.
Nupikka is looking to improve his position but Menzies isn't that keen on the idea.
Menzies trying to control but Nupikka is having none of it.
Nupikka is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nupikka tries to hold on but Menzies postures up.
Nupikka is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Menzies unloading with bombs!
Menzies looking to control but Nupikka is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nupikka sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Nupikka is in trouble now - Menzies has advanced to mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nupikka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Menzies controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nupikka is looking to get to half guard.
Menzies tries to control but Nupikka wriggling away.
Nupikka slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Menzies wants to stand up but Nupikka is controlling the position.
Nupikka trying to control but Menzies postures up.
Nupikka wants to improve his position but Menzies is controlling well.
Menzies performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Steve Menzies wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nupikka shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Menzies pinned against the cage. Menzies gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Menzies lands a jab.
Menzies thumps Nupikka with a low kick.
Menzies is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Menzies stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Menzies wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terska Nupikka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Menzies scores with a punch to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice takedown defense from Menzies. No joy for Nupikka on that attempt.
A punch lands to the side of Nupikka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Terska Nupikka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve Menzies is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nupikka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Menzies as he jumps to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Menzies comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Menzies has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Menzies!