PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jarod Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nielsen
vs
Menezes

161 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jarod Nielsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Menezes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nielsen did well to prevent Menezes getting side control.
Nielsen is trying to maintain the position but Menezes is very close to passing his half guard.
Menezes prevents Nielsen from improving his position.
Menezes working the head and body with strikes.
Menezes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
It looks like Menezes might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menezes lands strikes from half guard.
Menezes is thwarting Nielsen's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen keeping control of the position.
Nielsen is looking to control Menezes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nielsen avoid being mounted?
Menezes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Menezes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Menezes not doing much here.
Menezes is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Menezes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Menezes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Menezes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Menezes stalling.
Nielsen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nielsen trying to hold on to Menezes's head to control him but Menezes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is taking a breather. Nielsen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nielsen is trying to maintain the position but Menezes is very close to passing his half guard.
Menezes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Menezes stops Nielsen from getting back to his feet.
Nielsen controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Menezes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen wants to control but Menezes postures up.
Nielsen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Nielsen wants to control but Menezes postures up.
Nielsen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Menezes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Menezes controlling the position from side mount.
Nielsen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Menezes has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nielsen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Menezes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nielsen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nielsen is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Menezes 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.

Nielsen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Menezes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Menezes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Menezes is pushing down on Nielsen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nielsen is fighting to maintain full guard but Menezes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Menezes slips a nice elbow through Nielsen's hands, connecting with Nielsen's forehead.
Menezes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Menezes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nielsen has hold of Menezes's hands but Menezes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nielsen is trying to get back to full guard.
Nielsen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Menezes is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes is controlling the pace.
Menezes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nielsen is looking to control Menezes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nielsen avoid being mounted?
Menezes winds up and cracks Nielsen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Menezes not doing much here.
Nice strikes from Menezes there.
Nielsen is looking for a sweep. Menezes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Menezes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Menezes trying to control the pace.
Junior Menezes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Menezes closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nielsen quickly recovers to half guard.
Menezes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Nielsen is defending against the submission attempts here by Menezes.
Well, if Menezes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen trying to control but Menezes postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Menezes lands strikes from half guard.
Nielsen wants to improve his position but Menezes is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Menezes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A head kick misses from Menezes.
Nielsen connects with a crisp jab.

Menezes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nielsen to the mat! Nielsen manages to get full guard.
Menezes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Menezes forces his way into half guard.
Menezes slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menezes is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Nielsen manages to get to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menezes preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen trying to keep a closed guard but Menezes is proving a slippery customer.
Menezes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Menezes is looking to pass into half guard but Nielsen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nielsen is in guard.

Menezes wants to sweep here but Nielsen controlling him for the moment.
Menezes wants to get back to his feet but Nielsen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Nielsen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nielsen misses with a body shot.

Nielsen gets tackled into the cage by Menezes. Menezes maintains the clinch.
Nielsen blocks a body shot from Menezes.
Menezes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Menezes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Menezes looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Menezes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Menezes landing some decent shots from guard.
Menezes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes postures up.
Nielsen working a defensive guard but Menezes passes into half guard.
Menezes is thwarting Nielsen's attempts to control the position.
Nielsen trying to get back to full guard but Menezes takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Menezes controlling the position easily from mount.
Menezes landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is landing with some decent strikes but Nielsen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nielsen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Menezes looking to control and managing it successfully.
Menezes prevents Nielsen from getting the reversal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Menezes content just to control the position here.
Nielsen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior Menezes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Menezes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 26:30

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