PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Reslley Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Pablo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Menezes
vs
Pablo

180 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Reslley Menezes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Pablo!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Pablo with that takedown attempt.
Menezes tries a low kick but Pablo avoids it.

Pablo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Menezes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pablo working the strikes but Menezes uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Menezes wants to control but Pablo is keeping busy.
Pablo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Menezes tries to reverse the position but Pablo maintains control.
Menezes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pablo with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Pablo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Menezes turns into him and now he's in Pablo's guard.

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

Pablo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pablo looks gassed!

Menezes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pablo, up you get!
Menezes doesn't manage to clinch there - Pablo circles away.

Menezes scores a takedown into full mount!

Menezes goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pablo is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablo is fighting to break Menezes's control of his arms but Menezes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Menezes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Menezes keeping full guard, as Pablo tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Pablo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pablo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pablo stops Menezes from standing up.

Pablo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pablo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Menezes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juan Pablo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pablo fails with the takedown
and Menezes counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pablo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Menezes circles away.
Pablo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Reslley Menezes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Pablo.

Menezes gets a clinch.
A short left from Menezes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menezes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pablo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Menezes taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pablo has Menezes pressed against the cage.
Pablo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Menezes has him pressed against the cage.
Pablo gets underhooks to prevent Menezes's takedown attempt.
Menezes trying to control the position but instead, Pablo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Menezes into the cage.

Menezes is fighting off a takedown attempt but Pablo is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Menezes to the mat. Menezes regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Menezes throws his legs up looking for a submission but Pablo uses it to pass to side control.
Menezes is trying to control Pablo's posture but Pablo avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Pablo easily slips into full mount!

Pablo wants to finish this one by submission but Menezes is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Pablo.
Menezes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablo breaks from Menezes's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pablo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Menezes tries to improve his position but instead Pablo has taken his back!
Well, with Pablo on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Menezes is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Menezes showing good submission defense here.
Menezes can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Pablo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Pablo stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Menezes wants to clinch up but Pablo keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Pablo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Pablo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Menezes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pablo's guard now.
Menezes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pablo keeping moving, preventing Menezes from controlling successfully.
Juan Pablo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Menezes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Menezes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Menezes tries to stand but Pablo is controlling from the bottom.

Pablo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Menezes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pablo has his foot on Menezes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Menezes works his way back into a safe position though.
Menezes lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pablo is trying to keep Menezes in close.
Pablo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Menezes's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Menezes keeping moving, preventing Pablo from controlling successfully.
Pablo tries to free his leg and advance position but Menezes is retaining full guard.
Menezes has Pablo pulled in close to control his posture.
Pablo trying to control the position from guard on top but Menezes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Menezes controls Pablo momentarily but Pablo frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Menezes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pablo manages to get himself to full guard.
Menezes stopping the sweep attempt from Pablo.
Menezes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pablo trying to keep a closed guard but Menezes is proving a slippery customer.
Juan Pablo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pablo is controlling Menezes's posture.
Pablo trying to keep a closed guard but Menezes is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reslley Menezes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pablo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Juan Pablo!