PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axel Gauberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Menezes
vs
Gauberts

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Menezes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Axel Gauberts!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gauberts tries to keep at a distance but Menezes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Menezes misses with a punch to the body.
Menezes tries a body shot but Gauberts blocks it.
Gauberts slowing the pace effectively.

Gauberts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Menezes moves to clinch but Gauberts breaks away

and Gauberts counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Menezes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gauberts controlling from the top position.
Menezes has a closed guard, preventing Gauberts from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gauberts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Menezes swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Axel Gauberts wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gauberts shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Menezes as he avoids it easily.

Menezes moves into the clinch successfully.
Menezes being controlled against the cage.
Menezes working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gauberts is trying to break the clinch but Menezes has him pressed against the cage.

Gauberts pulls guard successfully.
Gauberts trying to control the position.

Menezes stands up from Gauberts's guard - Menezes perhaps looking for a knockout.

Menezes closes the distance and pushes Gauberts back into the cage.
Gauberts looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Menezes displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gauberts up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes lands an uppercut.
Gauberts goes for a takedown attempt but Menezes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gauberts closes this distance looking for a takedown but Menezes circles away.
Marcelo Menezes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axel Gauberts.
The fight stays on the outside here - Menezes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Menezes moves in looking to clinch but Gauberts pushes him off.
Nice takedown defense from Menezes. No joy for Gauberts on that attempt.
Gauberts fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gauberts looks gassed!
Menezes tries to clinch up.
Menezes wants to clinch.
Gauberts swats away the attempt to clinch by Menezes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gauberts manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Menezes moves in looking to clinch but Gauberts pushes him off.

Menezes clinches.
Menezes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Menezes blocks an uppercut.
Gauberts avoiding damage.
Menezes stalling in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gauberts working hard to break the clinch.
Menezes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Axel Gauberts will probably get the nod.
That's time! Menezes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gauberts tries to keep at a distance but Menezes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gauberts is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Menezes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gauberts tries for a takedown. No joy.
Menezes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Menezes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Menezes lands with a left to the head.
Menezes lands a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gauberts tries to pull guard but Menezes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Marcelo Menezes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axel Gauberts.
Gauberts wants to take the fight to the mat but Menezes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Gauberts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gauberts swats away the attempt to clinch by Menezes.
Menezes tries to clinch but Gauberts moves out of range.

Menezes has Gauberts up against the cage in a clinch.
Menezes can't break the clinch.
Menezes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gauberts wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short left from Menezes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gauberts has a couple of punches blocked by Menezes.
Menezes can't break the clinch.
Menezes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gauberts is breathing heavily.
Gauberts tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gauberts has a couple of punches blocked by Menezes.
Gauberts tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Menezes avoids it.
Menezes is struggling to control the position.
Menezes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gauberts is trying to push Menezes away but Menezes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Menezes tries to work over Gauberts's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gauberts wants to stall.
Gauberts tries to pull guard but Menezes won't allow it.
Menezes has Gauberts pressed against the cage.
Menezes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Menezes scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gauberts tries for a takedown. No joy.

Gauberts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Menezes has closed the distance and engaged Gauberts in a clinch.
Gauberts prevents Menezes from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes slows down the pace here.
Gauberts is trying to stall.
Menezes takes a knee to the side of the body.
Menezes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Menezes lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gauberts backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Menezes dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Menezes stuffs the takedown.

Gauberts moves into the clinch.
Menezes digs a right hand underneath Gauberts's ribcage. Gauberts let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gauberts tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Menezes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Menezes managing to block the knees to the body from Gauberts.
A bit of stalling here from Menezes.
Menezes scores with a shoulder strike.
Menezes is pressed up against the cage. Gauberts has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Menezes down to the mat. Menezes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Marcelo Menezes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axel Gauberts.
Gauberts swats away the attempt to clinch by Menezes.

Menezes has Gauberts up against the cage in a clinch.
Gauberts taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gauberts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Menezes to work.
Gauberts jumps guard but Menezes stands there with Gauberts around his waist. Gauberts gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Menezes wants to get back to striking at distance but Gauberts won't allow it.
Menezes leaning against his opponent.
Gauberts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Menezes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gauberts has him pressed against the cage.
Menezes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gauberts is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Menezes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Menezes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Menezes.
Menezes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Menezes gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Gauberts jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Menezes walks away with a smile on his face. Gauberts gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Menezes has Gauberts up against the cage in a clinch.
Menezes scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes taking a breather.
Marcelo Menezes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gauberts has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Menezes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gauberts working aggressively here.
Gauberts wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Menezes has Gauberts pressed against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Menezes for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes lands a right hand.
Gauberts tries for a takedown but Menezes manages to get underhooks.
Menezes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gauberts jumps guard but Menezes stands there with Gauberts around his waist. Gauberts gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Menezes lands a body punch.
Gauberts tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Menezes avoids it.
Gauberts misses with an elbow over the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gauberts is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Menezes scores with a shot to the side of Gauberts's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcelo Menezes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Menezes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelo Menezes!