PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrij Bakajovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Menezes
vs
Bakajovic

190 cm
27
250 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
27
277 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Menezes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrij Bakajovic!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakajovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Menezes.
Bakajovic has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Bakajovic misses with a shot to the body
and Menezes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bakajovic swings away with a body shot that misses
and Menezes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bakajovic doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Menezes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bakajovic tries to move into range but Menezes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bakajovic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Menezes pinned against the cage. Menezes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
An attempted straight right counter from Menezes misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakajovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Bakajovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bakajovic's elbow.
Bakajovic is trying to maintain a safe position but Menezes gets an underhook and turns Bakajovic into the cage.

Menezes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Menezes takes a swing at Bakajovic's ribcage but misses.
Menezes misses with a straight left.
Bakajovic blocks a jab.
Bakajovic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Menezes.

Bakajovic gets a double leg takedown into Menezes's guard.
Bakajovic slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bakajovic scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Menezes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bakajovic defends well.
Menezes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bakajovic.
Bakajovic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Menezes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bakajovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bakajovic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bakajovic postures up and lands a big shot to Menezes's brow.
Bakajovic 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.
Bakajovic postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakajovic working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Menezes's head.

Menezes working for a triangle but Bakajovic defends it easily.
Menezes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bakajovic controls the pace.
Menezes throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Bakajovic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bakajovic 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Bakajovic drives through and clinches with Menezes against the cage.
Bakajovic is trying to drag Menezes to the mat but Menezes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gabriel Menezes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrij Bakajovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bakajovic.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Menezes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Menezes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Menezes stalling in the clinch but Bakajovic improves position.
Menezes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bakajovic tries for a takedown. No joy.
I was talking to Menezes's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Menezes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bakajovic with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Menezes has a couple of punches blocked by Bakajovic.
Menezes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bakajovic stalls.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Menezes lands a nice uppercut.
Bakajovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bakajovic scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Menezes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Menezes throws a body shot but no joy.
Bakajovic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Menezes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bakajovic digs a good hook to Menezes's body.
Bakajovic misses the body punch
enabling Menezes to counter with a crisp jab.
Menezes scores with a jab to the jaw.
Menezes misses with an uppercut. Bakajovic saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakajovic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bakajovic just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bakajovic has closed the distance and engaged Menezes in a clinch.
Menezes is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Menezes trying to stall but Bakajovic improves his position.
Bakajovic missing with knees to the body.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Menezes here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Menezes stops a takedown attempt from Bakajovic.
Gabriel Menezes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrij Bakajovic.
A short left from Menezes.
Menezes taking a breather.
Menezes holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Menezes for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Menezes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Menezes.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Menezes.
Bakajovic is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Menezes is keeping busy.
Bakajovic is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakajovic trying to control the position but instead, Menezes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bakajovic into the cage.
Menezes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bakajovic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Menezes prevents it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Menezes tries to work over Bakajovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Menezes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Menezes as the two fighters clinch.
Bakajovic tries a knee to the head but Menezes blocks it.
Bakajovic takes a shot to the head.
Bakajovic is breathing heavily.
Menezes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bakajovic or not.
Gabriel Menezes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Menezes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Menezes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bakajovic can do to turn this around?
A short left from Menezes.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Menezes lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes stalling in the clinch but Bakajovic improves position.
Menezes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bakajovic backwards.
Menezes lands with a short shot to the head.
Menezes stops a takedown attempt from Bakajovic.
Menezes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Menezes drops Bakajovic onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Bakajovic is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

Bakajovic is rocked!
Menezes has a couple of punches blocked by Bakajovic.
Bakajovic is still on wobbly legs! Can Menezes finish him?
Menezes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Menezes lands a big right hand that drops Bakajovic! The killer instinct kicks in and Menezes finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Menezes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gabriel Menezes!