PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Crichton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Menezes has chosen Charlinho, o menino que só queria estudar - Hermes & Renato as his entrance music. Charles Menezes has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michael Crichton's chin.

Crichton
vs
Menezes

150 cm
30
300 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

225 cm
21
300 lbs
7 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Crichton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Charles Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Menezes forces Crichton back against the cage and clinches.
Crichton fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Menezes gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Crichton 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.

Crichton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Menezes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Crichton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Crichton lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Menezes!
Crichton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Menezes is looking to escape.

Crichton goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Menezes turns into him and now he's in Crichton's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Crichton is on top in guard.
Crichton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Menezes seems keen to control Crichton's posture.

Menezes has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Crichton off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Crichton lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Crichton.
Crichton shoots in for a takedown but Menezes shows good takedown defense.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Crichton moves into the clinch.

Crichton has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Menezes is trying to keep an underhook but Crichton manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is trying to control but can't.
Menezes won't allow Crichton to pass to mount.
Crichton working the head and body with strikes.

Crichton decides to return to a standing position.
Crichton shoots in looking for a takedown but Menezes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Crichton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Crichton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Crichton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Crichton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Menezes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Crichton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Menezes is trying to push Crichton away but Crichton has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Crichton wants to take the fight to the mat but Menezes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Menezes pushes Crichton back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes tries to circle away but Crichton has him pinned against the cage.
Menezes tries to pull guard but Crichton won't allow it.

Menezes decides to pull guard.
Menezes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Crichton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Menezes keeping moving, preventing Crichton from controlling successfully.
Crichton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Menezes is keeping the position for now.
Crichton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Crichton's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Crichton looking to pass the guard.
Crichton trying to control but Menezes is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crichton looking to pass the guard.
Crichton is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Crichton gets to his feet - Menezes follows without any prompting.
Crichton tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Menezes was well out of range. Poor timing from Crichton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Crichton dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Menezes misses with a combination
and Crichton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Crichton moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Crichton tries to close the distance and clinch but Menezes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Menezes throws a series of punches but Crichton moves out of range.
Crichton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Menezes misses with a few strikes there.
Charles Menezes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menezes slips under a jab.
Menezes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Menezes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Crichton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Crichton tries to pull guard but Menezes won't allow it.

Menezes jumps into guard, dragging Crichton to the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Menezes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Crichton trying to control but Menezes is working from the bottom.
Michael Crichton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Crichton looking to sit in guard and control but Menezes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menezes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Menezes preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crichton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Menezes.
Crichton trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Crichton is on top in guard.
Crichton passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crichton works to advance to full mount. Menezes defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
You get the feeling that Menezes really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Menezes is trying desperately to improve position.
Crichton lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Menezes hang on?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Crichton looking to isolate an arm here. Menezes doesn't see it coming and as Crichton extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Crichton!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Crichton!
During a confident post fight interview, Michael Crichton thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.