PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Menshikov (ranked 702 p4p, 92 weight class) and Albert Van Rooy (ranked 596 p4p, 78 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Menshikov
vs
Van Rooy

189 cm
30
275 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

196 cm
27
256 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Menshikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Albert Van Rooy!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Rooy tries to work over Menshikov's front leg with a kick but Menshikov checks it.
A counter left hand to the body from Menshikov misses its target.
Menshikov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Van Rooy in his tracks.
Van Rooy lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Menshikov missing with a left hand there. Van Rooy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Rooy has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Menshikov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Rooy throws a shot to the body.
Menshikov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Rooy was well out of range. Poor timing from Menshikov.
Van Rooy now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Van Rooy connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Van Rooy throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Van Rooy is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Van Rooy throws a leg kick but Menshikov checks it.
Van Rooy with a hook.
Van Rooy looks to throw the jab but Menshikov is out of range.
Menshikov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Van Rooy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Menshikov misses.
A little jabbing left from Van Rooy on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Menshikov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Menshikov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Rooy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Menshikov.
Menshikov cracks Van Rooy with a right hand to the side of the head.
Menshikov moves in looking to clinch but Van Rooy pushes him off.
Van Rooy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Menshikov.
Menshikov throws a jab when Van Rooy was well out of range.
Van Rooy slips a straight right by Menshikov.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Van Rooy, as that shot connected.
Maxim Menshikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menshikov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Rooy.
Menshikov scores with a body shot.
Van Rooy scores with a leg kick.
Menshikov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Rooy.
Some wild striking there from Menshikov.
Menshikov works the jab nicely.
Menshikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Rooy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menshikov blocks a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Menshikov swings for the body but Van Rooy moves out of range.
Menshikov misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice body kick there by Van Rooy.
The fighters circling - Menshikov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Menshikov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Rooy.
Menshikov throws a right and a left that Van Rooy avoids nicely.
Van Rooy lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Menshikov lands a slapping body shot.
Menshikov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Van Rooys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Van Rooy tries to work over Menshikov's front leg with a kick but Menshikov checks it.
Menshikov tries to clinch but Van Rooy is having none of it.
Menshikov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Menshikov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Menshikov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Rooy walks into a left hand.
Van Rooy slips under a jab from Menshikov.
Menshikov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Rooy.
Menshikov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Menshikov is looking to clinch but Van Rooy is avoiding it.
Van Rooy connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Menshikov just misses with a punch to the body.
It seemed like Van Rooy was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Van Rooy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Menshikov.
Menshikov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Van Rooy.
Van Rooy avoids the body shot from Menshikov.
A swing and a miss from Menshikov.
Van Rooy walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Menshikov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A swing and a miss from Van Rooy.
Menshikov throws a body shot but no joy.
Menshikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Van Rooy misses its intended target.
Menshikov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Van Rooy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Van Rooy slams his shin into Menshikov's torso.
Menshikov throws a right hand that misses
and Van Rooy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Menshikov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Rooy throws a shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Menshikov. Those never looked like landing.
Van Rooy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Menshikov with a body shot.
A slow jab from Menshikov misses its intended target.
Van Rooy scores with a nice right hand.
Van Rooy avoids the body shot from Menshikov.
Menshikov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Van Rooy takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Van Rooy lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Menshikov backs up against the cage.
Menshikov connects with a right hand. Van Rooy shakes it off.
Van Rooy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A low kick from Van Rooy misses
enabling Menshikov to counter with a crisp jab.
Van Rooy turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maxim Menshikov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Van Rooy throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Menshikov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Menshikov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Van Rooy eats them both and turns towards Menshikov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Menshikov tries to keep at a distance but Van Rooy has taken the fight into the clinch.
Van Rooy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Menshikov.
Van Rooy blocks a body shot from Menshikov.
Our sources have told us that Menshikov has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Van Rooy blocks an uppercut.
Menshikov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Rooy lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Menshikov has Van Rooy pushed against the cage.
Van Rooy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Rooy misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Van Rooy.
Van Rooy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Menshikov's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Menshikov.
Van Rooy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menshikov misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Rooy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Decent striking displayed by Menshikov there.

It looks like Albert Van Rooy has been cut.
Van Rooy ducks under a wild hook from Menshikov.
Van Rooy appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Menshikov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Van Rooy counters with a nice uppercut.
Van Rooy with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Van Rooy is looking to slow Menshikov down with leg kicks.
Menshikov throws a lazy right hand but Van Rooy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Van Rooy replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Menshikov blocks it well.
Menshikov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Menshikov avoids the head kick by Van Rooy.
Menshikov moves out of range of the leg kick from Van Rooy.
Menshikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Van Rooy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Menshikov.
Menshikov loads up on a big right hand but Van Rooy slips the punch.
Van Rooy misses with a low kick as Menshikov jumps back.
Menshikov misses with a hook to the body
and Van Rooy finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Van Rooy throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Albert Van Rooy seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Rooy lands a nice shot to the body.
Menshikov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Menshikov takes a swing at Van Rooy's ribcage but misses.
Good leg kick by Van Rooy there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Van Rooy buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Van Rooy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Menshikov blocks an uppercut.
Van Rooy misses with a body punch.
Van Rooy can't find room to land a body shot as Menshikov controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Menshikov.
Nice body punch from Van Rooy - that landed with a thud.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Menshikov.
Van Rooy tries a body shot but Menshikov blocks it.
Menshikov swings wildly with an uppercut but Van Rooy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Menshikov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Menshikov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Menshikov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Van Rooy's elbow.
Albert Van Rooy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Menshikov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Van Rooys head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Rooy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Menshikov misses with the combination.
Nice shot by Menshikov.
Menshikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Menshikov throws a body shot but no joy.
Menshikov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Van Rooy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Menshikov.
Van Rooy wants to slow Menshikov down by chopping away at his legs.
Menshikov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Van Rooy counters with a body kick.
Van Rooy takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Van Rooy chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Menshikov blocks a jab.
Menshikov tries to clinch but Van Rooy is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Rooy comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Van Rooy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Menshikov.
Van Rooy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Menshikov takes one to the side of the head.
Van Rooy with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Menshikov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Van Rooy.
Menshikov swinging wildly here.
Van Rooy looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Menshikov connects with a crisp jab.
Menshikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Rooy moves away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Van Rooy.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Van Rooy. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Van Rooy with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Menshikov throws a hook to the side of Van Rooy's head but Van Rooy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - Menshikov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Albert Van Rooy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Albert Van Rooy's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Menshikov misses with a looping left.
A decent looking cross lands there for Menshikov.
Van Rooy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Menshikov.
Van Rooy lands a jab to the nose.
Menshikov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Van Rooy makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Menshikov really felt that one!
Menshikov throws a hook but Van Rooy avoids it easily.
A low kick from Van Rooy is predictable there
and Menshikov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Van Rooy thinking.
Van Rooy ducks right into an uppercut from Menshikov.
Menshikov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Van Rooy.
Van Rooy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Menshikov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Rooy misses with a straight right.
An attempted straight right counter from Menshikov misses the target.
Menshikov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Rooy.
Van Rooy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Menshikov with a body shot.
Van Rooy connects with a crisp jab.
Menshikov misses with a lunging right hand
and Van Rooy counters with a low kick, right behind Menshikov 's knee.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menshikov blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menshikov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Rooy throws out the jab.
Van Rooy bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Menshikov's head.
Van Rooy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Van Rooy dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Menshikov. That did some damage!
Menshikov throws a body punch but Van Rooy moves out of range.
Menshikov is looking to clinch but Van Rooy is avoiding it.
Menshikov scores with a one two! Van Rooy had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Van Rooy - that will leave a mark!
Van Rooy misses with a low kick.
Menshikov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Menshikov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Menshikov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Rooy throws a leg kick but Menshikov checks it.
Van Rooy connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Menshikov's hands.

Menshikov clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Menshikov takes a shot to the head.
Van Rooy lands a hook that snaps the head of Menshikov backwards.
Menshikov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Van Rooy up against the cage.
Van Rooy lands with a short shot to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Menshikov has a couple of punches blocked by Van Rooy.
A nice left hand lands by Van Rooy.
Menshikov misses with a punch on the inside.
Van Rooy lands with a right to the head.
Menshikov is trying to break free.
Van Rooy lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Menshikov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Menshikov misses with a body punch.
Menshikov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Van Rooy's elbow.
A short right from Van Rooy on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Van Rooy fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Rooy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Rooy struggles to land a body shot inside as Menshikov controls his hands.
Van Rooy scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Van Rooy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Good body shot from Van Rooy.
A right hook to the body lands for Van Rooy.
Van Rooy misses with a punch on the inside.
Van Rooy lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Van Rooy fails to land.
Van Rooy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Van Rooy working aggressively here.
Van Rooy throws a punch but it's blocked by Menshikov.
Van Rooy lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Rooy misses with a punch to the body.
Van Rooy can't find room to land a body shot as Menshikov controls the action.
Van Rooy misses with a body punch.

Van Rooy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Rooy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Menshikov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Rooy lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Menshikov misses with a looping left.
Van Rooy misses with a body kick.
Menshikov scores with a hook to the body. Van Rooy takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menshikov digs a good hook to Van Rooy's body.
Menshikov misses with a wild body shot.
Menshikov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Rooy.
Menshikov misses with a hook.

Menshikov clinches up against the cage.
Menshikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Van Rooy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Menshikovs head.
Menshikov misses with a body punch.
Van Rooy scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Van Rooy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Menshikov is looking to break free of the clinch but Van Rooy has double underhooks.
Menshikov is trying to break the clinch but Van Rooy has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Albert Van Rooy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Van Rooy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Albert Van Rooy!