PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Menzies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bubba Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Menzies comes to the cage accompanied by 7th seal. Bubba Smith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Steve Menzies's chin.

Menzies
vs
Smith

170 cm
28
140 lbs
14 - 18 - 0

190 cm
28
133 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 14 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Menzies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bubba Smith!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Ben Hemmingworth and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Menzies sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Steve Menzies has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bubba Smith.
Menzies with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Menzies is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Menzies down to the mat. Menzies avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Menzies takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
An inside leg kick from Menzies misses.

Smith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Menzies to the mat! Menzies manages to get full guard.
Menzies might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws an elbow that misses. Menzies uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Menzies!
Menzies postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Menzies postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Menzies postures up.
Menzies loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Menzies trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

Smith has his foot on Menzies's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Menzies works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Menzies passes into half guard.
Menzies throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menzies passes to full mount!
Menzies is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smith felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Smith wants to hold on but Menzies pushes him away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Menzies's attempts to control the action.
Smith regains half guard.
Smith is looking to control Menzies's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Menzies is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Menzies prevents Smith from improving his position.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Menzies 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.
Smith throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Menzies trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Menzies throwing strikes but missing.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Menzies from controlling successfully.

Smith throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Menzies escapes and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menzies is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bubba Smith will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Menzies waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith wants to clinch up but Menzies keeps it at a distance.
Smith tries for a takedown but Menzies circles away easily
and Menzies counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Menzies lands a lovely overhand right.
Menzies stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Steve Menzies has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bubba Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menzies swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Menzies sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.

Smith forces Menzies back against the cage and clinches.
Menzies goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Menzies breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Menzies was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith throws a hook but Menzies avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menzies pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Menzies scores with a sloppy right hand. Smith should have avoided that one.
Menzies misses with a wild combination.

Smith takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Menzies is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Menzies has his back to the cage.
Menzies is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menzies throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Menzies misses with the head strike.
Menzies wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Menzies fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Menzies is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smith is keeping busy.
Menzies misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Menzies shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Menzies taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Menzies is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Menzies gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menzies swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Menzies counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Menzies swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Menzies sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Menzies tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith avoids a wild elbow strike from Menzies.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Menzies dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Menzies throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and Menzies only half commits.
Menzies throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Menzies off to one side.
Menzies dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Menzies counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Menzies throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Menzies scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Smith doesn't seem bothered though.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Menzies sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Menzies displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Steve Menzies has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bubba Smith.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith lands a nice hook to Menzies's body. Menzies takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bubba Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menzies moves into range and connects with a jab.
Steve Menzies is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Menzies counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Smith is rocked!
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menzies lands a body shot.
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Menzies finish him?
Menzies goes for a small jab and connects. Now Menzies goes in closer pressing the issue. Left hook, right straight! Smith stumbles back but Menzies runs in with a huge uppercut knocking Smith to the ground! What a finish! You have to wonder if Smith will ever be the same after a knockout like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Steve Menzies!
A victorious Steve Menzies thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.