PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Julian Reis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitchell Menchaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Reis
vs
Menchaka

173 cm
38
152 lbs
21 - 21 - 1

168 cm
28
143 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 21 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Julian Reis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mitchell Menchaka!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menchaka lands with a nice combination. Reis backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Julian Reis has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Menchaka leaves Reis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Menchaka scores with a punch to the head.
Menchaka lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Menchaka shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Menchaka scores with a nice strike.
Menchaka darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Menchaka misses with a body shot.
Reis throws a counter high kick but Menchaka was just alert enough to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sloppy strikes from Menchaka. Those never looked like landing.
Reis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Menchaka's waist but Menchaka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Reis off to one side.
Menchaka lands an overhand right.
Menchaka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Reis.

Reis manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Menchaka on his heels. He'll look to pass Menchaka's guard now, I'm sure.
Menchaka keeping full guard, as Reis tries to pass.
Menchaka wants to get back to his feet but Reis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Reis slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reis throws a big right hand that misses.
Menchaka wants to stand but Reis is controlling the position.
Reis tries to free his leg and advance position but Menchaka is retaining full guard.
Reis is working hard here to advance position.
Reis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Reis sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Menchaka's guard.
Reis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Reis is keen to just control but Menchaka is a slippery customer.
Reis throwing shots but Menchaka is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reis seems to be working for a kimura but Menchaka defends the submission attempt.
Menchaka controlling the position well.
Menchaka wants to get back to his feet.

Reis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Menchaka has managed to free his arm - good work.
Reis 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.
Reis stops Menchaka from getting back to his feet.
Reis works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menchaka's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Menchaka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Menchaka is squirming around, avoiding Reis's attempts to control the action.
Reis looking to finish with strikes here!
Reis won't let Menchaka get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Reis with good strikes from the mount here!
Reis thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Reis misses with a head shot.
Reis thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reis sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Reis raining down shots from the mount!
Menchaka is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Reis throwing strikes but Menchaka uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Reis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menchaka keeps working.
Reis thows a huge punch but Menchaka dodges it nicely.
Reis throwing shots but Menchaka is blocking nicely.
Reis stops Menchaka from getting back to his feet.

Reis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Reis wants to work for an arm triangle but Menchaka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Reis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Julian Reis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Reis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Julian Reis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Menchaka tries to keep at a distance but Reis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Reis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Menchaka can do to turn this around?

Menchaka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reis wants to clinch up but Menchaka keeps it at a distance.
Menchaka throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Reis's head.
Reis tries for a takedown but Menchaka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Menchaka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Menchaka misses with a wild combination.

Reis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Reis stops Menchaka from standing up.
Reis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Menchaka keeping full guard, as Reis tries to pass.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reis trying to control the position from guard on top but Menchaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menchaka wants to stand and escape but Reis is having none of it.
Reis works over Menchaka with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Reis trying to control but Menchaka is working from the bottom.
Menchaka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Reis throwing strikes but missing.
Reis stays in close to Menchaka's body and controls the position.
Reis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Reis is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Menchaka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Menchaka has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reis wants to sweep here but Menchaka controlling him for the moment.
Reis has a closed guard, preventing Menchaka from standing up.
Reis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Menchaka is one step ahead there.
Reis trying to keep a closed guard but Menchaka is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Menchaka is one step ahead there.

Menchaka stands up and waves to Reis to follow him.

Reis has closed the distance and engaged Menchaka in a clinch.
Reis tries to score a body lock takedown but Menchaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
I was talking to Reis's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Menchaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Menchaka stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Reis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Menchaka, pushing him back against the ropes.

Menchaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Reis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reis prevents Menchaka from getting back to his feet.
Reis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Reis throwing strikes but missing.
Reis won't allow Menchaka to get back to his feet.
Menchaka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Menchaka wants to stand but Reis is controlling the position.
Reis trying to control but Menchaka is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reis slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Menchaka pushes Reis away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Reis gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Julian Reis will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Julian Reis's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Reis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Reis showed some decent athleticism there.
Menchaka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Reis.
Reis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menchaka keeps working.
Menchaka regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Reis.

Reis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Menchaka manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Reis has Menchaka in his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menchaka wanted to stand there but Reis had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menchaka wants to stand and escape but instead Reis has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Menchaka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Reis.
Menchaka is looking to stand up but Reis isn't so interested in that idea.

Reis drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Menchaka dives on top into guard.

Reis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Reis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Menchaka's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reis trying to control but Menchaka is working from the bottom.
Reis stops Menchaka from standing up.
Reis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Reis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Reis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Menchaka is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Reis, into his guard.

Menchaka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Reis is trying to keep Menchaka in close.
Mitchell Menchaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reis looking for a sweep. Not yet Reis, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Menchaka manages to get himself to full guard.

Julian Reis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reis trying to control but Menchaka is working from the bottom.

Menchaka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Reis throwing strikes from guard but Menchaka blocks nicely.
Reis trying to control but Menchaka is working from the bottom.
Reis looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Menchaka misses with a body shot.
Menchaka stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Julian Reis.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Reis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian Reis!
An out of breath and clearly excited Julian Reis thanked Kore Fight Nutrition [TG] for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).