PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Menezes (ranked 1409 p4p, 2728 weight class) and Ralphie White (ranked 182 p4p, 361 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Menezes
vs
White

180 cm
32
190
23 - 16 - 0

191 cm
35
200
5 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arthur Menezes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ralphie White!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menezes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Menezes gets the takedown into side control.

Menezes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. White knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
White is not content to let Menezes control the position.
White can't do much from the bottom here.
White is not content to let Menezes control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Menezes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, White has escaped the position, nice work there.
White regains half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Menezes's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.

White actively working from the bottom here.
Menezes trying to control the action but White is working from the bottom.
Menezes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. White defending well though.
White wants to get back to full guard.
Menezes thows a huge punch but White dodges it nicely.

Menezes seems to be working for a kimura but White defends the submission attempt.
Menezes trying to control the action but White is working from the bottom.
White tries to get to full guard but Menezes has control of the leg.

That's two 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.
Menezes wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.
White wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. White manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Menezes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. White swivels though and keeps the full guard.
White has his hands on Menezes's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but White is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
White gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
White throws a front kick that sends Menezes stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White with a nice calf kick.
White thumps Menezes with a low kick.
Menezes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before White has time to react.
Menezes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Menezes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but White manages to avoid it.
Menezes lands a slapping body shot.
White looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Menezes connects with a body shot.
White takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Menezes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
White paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Menezes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
White lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Menezes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. White is trying to defend but Menezes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
White felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Menezes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Menezes seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Menezes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and White defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
White is looking for a sweep. Menezes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Menezes throwing shots but White is blocking nicely.
White wants to control but Menezes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Menezes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
White is concentrating on defense, preventing Menezes from advancing position.

Menezes wants to work for an arm triangle but White is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
White is positioning himself well to prevent Menezes advancing to mount.
White has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Menezes is working away from the top position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Menezes dominated that round.
That's time! Menezes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

White slips under a jab from Menezes.
Menezes jabs at White's body.
Menezes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
White throws a hook but Menezes blocks it.
White throws a head kick but Menezes moves out of range.
White uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Menezes.

White throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Menezes was covering up waiting for the punch and White finishes the takedown easily into guard.
White trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Menezes manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Menezes advances position into side control!
White is being controlled here.
Menezes is chipping away with strikes.
White tries to get back to half guard but can't.
White is trying to work for a sweep but Menezes has mounted him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes looking to control but White is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Menezes working for a guillotine from mount but White is in no mood to give up.
Arthur Menezes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Menezes pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
White is in all sorts of trouble here.
Menezes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that White can do to turn this around?
Menezes tries to control but White wriggling away.

Menezes looking to secure an arm triangle but White defends it well.
White reaches up and holds on to Menezes to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White is in all sorts of trouble here.
Menezes unloads with some shots from mount but White bucks and avoids them well.

Menezes wants to finish this one by submission but White is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Menezes.
White is wriggling around trying to escape.
Menezes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as White is looking to escape.
White really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes controlling the pace for now.
Menezes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Menezes looking to ground and pound but White is blocking nicely.
White is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Menezes lands a big shot there that rocks White but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Menezes raining down hammerfists from mount.
Menezes lands a big shot to the head and White winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Arthur Menezes!