PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nick Lawless (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nick Lawless has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lawless
vs
Menezes

178 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

176 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Lawless!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bryan Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawless slips a jab and a cross from Menezes.
Menezes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lawless rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Menezes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Lawless drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lawless's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Lawless 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.

Lawless gets to his feet - Menezes follows without any prompting.
Lawless will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Menezes throws a series of punches but Lawless moves out of range.
Lawless looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Lawless has managed to clinch.
Lawless keeps control of Menezes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Menezes leaning against his opponent.
Lawless is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawless wants to take the fight to the mat but Menezes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Lawless goes for a takedown attempt but Menezes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Lawless. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lawless darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lawless wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menezes keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lawless is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lawless is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lawless is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Menezes defends it well.

Lawless is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lawless wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menezes keeps working.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Menezes is defending against the submission attempts here by Lawless.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menezes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lawless is working away from the top position though.
Lawless seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Menezes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Lawless is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Menezes sees it coming and defends easily.
Lawless trying to control the action but Menezes is working from the bottom.

Lawless is looking for a kimura but Menezes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lawless to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawless trying to control the action but Menezes is working from the bottom.
Lawless perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Menezes taking some punishment here, with Lawless in his half guard.
Lawless throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lawless trying to control the action but Menezes is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lawless is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Menezes!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawless can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Menezes is looking to escape.
Menezes looks winded!
Menezes tries to lock up and control but Lawless gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Lawless dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Menezes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lawless counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Menezes is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bryan Menezes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menezes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lawless manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Menezes wants to clinch but Lawless slips to the side

and Lawless counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lawless working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Menezes's head.
Lawless seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Lawless pushing down on Menezes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lawless has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lawless looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Lawless landing strikes from the mount and Menezes is in trouble!
Menezes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawless trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lawless fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Lawless working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Lawless can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Menezes is looking to escape.
Lawless landing strikes from the mount and Menezes is in trouble!
Lawless landing strikes, looking to finish!

Lawless looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Menezes has left one of his arms exposed and Lawless doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Menezes screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nick Lawless!
In his post fight interview, Nick Lawless started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.