PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Menzies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Williamson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Menzies
vs
Williamson

170 cm
24
140 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

178 cm
26
134 lbs
10 - 8 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Alpha-Male Supplements +Laundry Service)

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Menzies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Anthony Williamson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Skip Squint and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menzies ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Williamson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Menzies has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Williamson finds it's way round the side to connect with Menzies's head.
Menzies loads up on a big right hand but Williamson slips the punch.
Menzies throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Williamson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Menzies needs to keep his hands up - Williamson had a free shot at his head there.
Menzies shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Williamson as he jumps to the side.
Williamson lands a nice shot to the body.
Williamson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Williamson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Menzies uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Williamson.
Menzies just misses with a punch to the body.
Menzies swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Williamson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Williamson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Menzies.
Williamson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Williamson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Menzies's head backwards.
Williamson cracks Menzies with a right hand to the side of the head.
Williamson lands a head shot.
Williamson misses with a straight left.
Williamson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Williamson fails to land with a series of punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Menzies takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menzies dodges the punch combination from Williamson.
Williamson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Williamson throws a series of punches but Menzies avoids them all with ease.
Williamson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Williamson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Menzies checks it well.
Menzies fails in his attempt to clinch.
Williamson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Menzies has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A slapping leg kick lands for Williamson.
Menzies misses with a body shot.
Menzies fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Menzies tries to clinch but Williamson is having none of it.
Menzies throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Williamson throws a looping overhand right but Menzies ducks down to avoid it.
Williamson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Menzies throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Williamson lands a really nice looking cross but Menzies seems unphased.
Williamson stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Menzies. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williamson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williamson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Menzies sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Menzies ducks under a wild hook from Williamson.
Menzies needs to keep his hands up - Williamson had a free shot at his head there.
Nice straight punches there by Williamson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Williamson.
Menzies rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Williamson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Williamson is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Menzies had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williamson misses with a wild combination.
Menzies drops his hands momentarily and Williamson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Williamson throws a right hand that Menzies ducks under and follows up with a left that Menzies also avoids with ease.
Menzies tries to close the distance and clinch up but Williamson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Good standup being displayed there by Williamson as he connects with a hook.
Williamson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Williamson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Menzies ducks under a wild hook from Williamson.
An inside leg kick from Williamson misses.
Williamson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Menzies.
Williamson misses with a series of wild punches.
Menzies will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Williamson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Anthony Williamson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Williamson.
Williamson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Menzies.
Menzies tries to score with some ground and pound. Williamson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Williamson wants to get back to his feet but Menzies drags him back down.
Menzies postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Menzies is trying to get an arm triangle but Williamson is defending well.
Menzies postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menzies slows the pace down.
Menzies connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Williamson some visible discomfort.
Menzies throws an elbow but Williamson slips to the side and avoids it well.

Menzies thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Menzies misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Menzies goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Williamson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Menzies but great work by Williamson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Williamson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Menzies ducks right into an uppercut from Williamson.
Anthony Williamson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Menzies missing with a left hand there. Williamson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Williamson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Menzies is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Williamson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Williamson lands the left hand.
Menzies shoots in but no luck this time.
Williamson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A combination from Williamson does no damage.
Menzies ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Menzies tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Williamson was well out of range. Poor timing from Menzies.
Menzies throws a big shot that misses.
Menzies takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Menzies throws a looping overhand right but Williamson ducks down to avoid it.
Anthony Williamson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Menzies slips a straight right by Williamson.
Menzies throws a jab when Williamson was well out of range.
Menzies misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sloppy strikes from Williamson. Those never looked like landing.
Williamson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Williamson looks to land a left hand but Menzies moved out of range nicely.
Williamson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Menzies throws out the jab.
Menzies keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Williamson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Williamson.
Menzies walks into a left hand.
Menzies pivots, looking for a leg kick but Williamson is out of range and Menzies settles back down.
Menzies tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Williamson was well out of range. Poor timing from Menzies.
Williamson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Williamson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Williamson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Williamson lunges at Menzies with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Menzies's hand.
Williamson misses with a looping left.
Menzies shoots for a double leg takedown but Williamson sprawls well. He's pushed Menzies's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Menzies. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williamson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A left and a right from Williamson both land. Nice combination.
Williamson connects with a single shot there.
Williamson defending well as Menzies loads up on a big left hand.
Menzies throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Menzies ducks right into an uppercut from Williamson.
No joy there for Williamson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Williamson throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menzies scores with the left hand. Williamson knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice sprawl there from Williamson as Menzies shoots in.
Williamson tests Menzies's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menzies takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Menzies takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Menzies throws a jab but it's blocked by Williamson.
Menzies throws a right hand that Williamson ducks under and follows up with a left that Williamson also avoids with ease.
A big left from Menzies misses.
Williamson throws a looping overhand right but Menzies ducks down to avoid it.
Menzies slips under a jab from Williamson.
Williamson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Menzies misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice defenses there by Menzies.
Menzies closes the distance and clinches up with Williamson, looking for a takedown. Menzies pushes Williamson against the cage but Williamson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Menzies.
Menzies lunges at Williamson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Williamson's hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menzies ducks under a wild hook from Williamson.
Williamson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Williamson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Menzies.
A jab from Williamson does it's job there.
Williamson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Menzies. That did some damage!
Williamson moves away from the strike by Menzies.
Menzies tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Williamson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Menzies tries a head kick but it misses.
Williamson lands with a cross.
Williamson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Menzies. Menzies circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Williamson misses with a looping right.
Williamson moves out of range as Menzies strikes.
Williamson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Williamson lands a head shot.
Williamson blocks a jab.
Menzies changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Williamson tries to avoid it but Menzies manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Williamson to the ground. Williamson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Williamson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Menzies momentarily.
Menzies throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Williamson's waist but Williamson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Menzies off to one side.
Menzies throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williamson throws a body punch but Menzies moves out of range.
Williamson throws a series of strikes that have Menzies backpedaling.

Menzies is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Williamson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Oh Menzies is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Williamson throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Menzies's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Williamson dives in looking to finish as Menzies flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Williamson's strikes! Williamson is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Menzies's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Menzies was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anthony Williamson!
Anthony Williamson really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that MMA ANIMAL logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.