PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ananada Bunyasarn (ranked 3428 p4p, 393 weight class) and Arthur Menezes (ranked 3946 p4p, 434 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Arthur Menezes was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Bunyasarn
vs
Menezes

185 cm
20
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ananada Bunyasarn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arthur Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menezes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Bunyasarn to counter with a crisp jab.
Menezes looks to score with a jab to the body but Bunyasarn is just out of range.
A quick step to the side and Bunyasarn tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Menezes with a poor takedown
and Bunyasarn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Menezes shoots in looking for a takedown. Bunyasarn tries to sprawl out of it but Menezes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bunyasarn manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ananada Bunyasarn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Menezes.

Menezes dives in and scores a takedown into Bunyasarn's guard.
Menezes trying to control but Bunyasarn is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menezes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bunyasarn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bunyasarn wants to sweep but no luck.
Menezes is pushing down on Bunyasarn's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bunyasarn is fighting to maintain full guard but Menezes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bunyasarn knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Menezes on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes works his way into side control.
Menezes sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bunyasarn is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Menezes tries for a kimura but Bunyasarn is defending well.

Menezes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Menezes working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Menezes is trying to get an arm triangle but Bunyasarn is defending well.
Menezes working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Menezes is trying to get an arm triangle but Bunyasarn is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Menezes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bunyasarn is trying to improve his position.

Menezes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bunyasarn has escaped the position, nice work there.

Menezes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bunyasarn can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Bunyasarn works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Menezes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menezes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Menezes passes to side control.

Menezes goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bunyasarn has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Menezes but great work by Bunyasarn.
Menezes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Menezes is looking for a sweep.
Bunyasarn trying to control the position but Menezes is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is trying to improve his position.
Bunyasarn is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Menezes can't do much from the bottom here.
Menezes tries to bench press Bunyasarn off him but Bunyasarn keeps the position.
Menezes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bunyasarn's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Menezes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bunyasarn pulls his head out easily.
Menezes trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Menezes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bunyasarn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bunyasarn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bunyasarn scores with a shot to the body.
Bunyasarn fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Menezes.
Bunyasarn looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bunyasarn lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Menezes backs up against the cage.
Menezes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bunyasarn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Menezes ducks under a wild hook from Bunyasarn.
And Menezes tries to counter it with a takedown but Bunyasarn pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Bunyasarn moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Menezes takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bunyasarn misses with an uppercut

and Menezes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bunyasarn keeping moving, preventing Menezes from controlling successfully.
Menezes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bunyasarn is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bunyasarn can't keep his opponent in guard - Menezes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bunyasarn is trying to get back to full guard.
Arthur Menezes has got the better of the ground game so far.

Menezes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Menezes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Menezes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Bunyasarn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Menezes throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Menezes trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Menezes looking to secure an arm triangle but Bunyasarn defends it well.

Menezes is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bunyasarn has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bunyasarn!

Bunyasarn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Menezes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bunyasarn has managed to get both his arms back between Menezes's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bunyasarn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bunyasarn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bunyasarn trying to control the position from guard on top but Menezes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Menezes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Menezes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bunyasarn defends well.

Menezes is looking for a triangle but Bunyasarn pushes his legs off easily.

Menezes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Menezes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bunyasarn controls the pace.
Menezes working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Menezes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bunyasarn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Menezes is tightening it up a little... Bunyasarn has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Bunyasarn reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Bunyasarn taps out! Nice BJJ there by Menezes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Arthur Menezes!