PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Menezes (ranked 495 p4p, 695 weight class) and Andriy Voronin (ranked 72 p4p, 106 weight class). Voronin has chosen Katyusha as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Menezes
vs
Voronin

180 cm
36
190
26 - 17 - 0

186 cm
38
195
35 - 18 - 2

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conquer
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arthur Menezes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andriy Voronin!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Voronin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Menezes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Menezes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Voronin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Voronin looks to score with a jab to the body but Menezes is just out of range.
Menezes connects with a nice looking jab.
Menezes fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck for Menezes with that takedown attempt.

Voronin moves into range and clinches up with Menezes.
Voronin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Voronin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Menezes blocks an uppercut.

Menezes decides to pull guard.
Voronin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Menezes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Voronin is stalling in the full guard.

Menezes working for submissions but it's allowed Voronin to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Voronin is looking for a kimura here.

Voronin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Voronin is just content to waste time from the top position. Menezes takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Menezes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Menezes keeping moving, preventing Voronin from controlling successfully.
Voronin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Menezes is keeping the position for now.

Menezes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Menezes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Voronin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Menezes keeping moving, preventing Voronin from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Menezes looking for a guillotine here but Voronin defends easily.

Menezes is looking for a triangle here but Voronin uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Voronin working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Menezes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Voronin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menezes keeps working.
Menezes wants to control but Voronin postures up.
Voronin tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Menezes is trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Menezes manages to get back to half guard.
Voronin stalling away here and it's allowed Menezes to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Voronin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Menezes shoots in and drives through. Voronin sprawls well.
Menezes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Voronin has time to react.
Menezes slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Voronin pushes Menezes away with a front kick.
Voronin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Menezes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Voronin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Voronin throws a nice head kick!
Menezes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Voronin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Menezes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Menezes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Menezes misses with a hook
and Voronin counters with a leg kick.

Voronin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Menezes tries to pull guard but Voronin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Voronin tries to throw a body punch but Menezes avoids it by throwing Voronin back against the cage.
Menezes's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Menezes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Menezes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Voronin to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menezes manages to pull guard.
Voronin wants to control from the top but Menezes keeps moving.
Menezes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Voronin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Voronin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Menezes manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Voronin controls Menezes momentarily but Menezes frees himself.
Arthur Menezes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Voronin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Menezes passes into side control.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Voronin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voronin tries to bench press Menezes off him but Menezes keeps the position.
Voronin is not content to let Menezes control the position.
Voronin is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Menezes is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Menezes is looking to work his way around to Voronin's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Menezes trying to control but Voronin is having none of it.
Voronin is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Menezes has hold of Voronin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Voronin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Menezes looking to control but Voronin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Voronin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
You get the feeling that Voronin really doesn't like being in this position too much.

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.
Voronin manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Voronin gets back to full guard.
Menezes trying to control but Voronin is working from the bottom.
Voronin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Menezes looking to sit in guard and control but Voronin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Voronin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Menezes is keeping the position for now.
Voronin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Menezes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Voronin defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Arthur Menezes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Menezes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Menezes scores with a punch to the head.
Menezes fails to land the takedown.
Menezes has been working on his balance at Mapinguari Guerreiro, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Voronin.

Menezes gets a takedown into half guard.
Menezes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Menezes is looking to advance position but Voronin won't allow it.
Menezes trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voronin is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voronin is still trying to improve position.
Voronin wants to control but Menezes is keeping busy.
Menezes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Menezes seems to be looking for submissions.
Voronin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Menezes is working away from the top position though.

That's two 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.

Menezes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Voronin looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Voronin wants to improve his position but Menezes is controlling well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Andriy Voronin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Menezes throws a body punch but Voronin moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Menezes. Voronin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice straight punches there by Menezes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Menezes.
Menezes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Voronin is fending him off so far but Menezes persists. Nope, Voronin circles away and we're back to standing.
A big right from Voronin misses.
Menezes takes a swing at Voronin's ribcage but misses.
Menezes backing away here, and Voronin unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Voronin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Menezes circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Menezes.
Voronin throws a low kick, looking for Menezes's leg but Menezes calmly moves out of range.
Menezes looks to land a left hand but Voronin moved out of range nicely.
Voronin appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Voronin misses with a wild body shot.
Voronin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Voronin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Menezes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A punch lands to the side of Voronin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Voronin throws a leg kick but Menezes checks it.
Menezes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Menezes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Voronin was well out of range. Poor timing from Menezes.

Menezes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Voronin is trying to defend but Menezes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Voronin makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Arthur Menezes is winning the standup battle so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Menezes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Menezes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Menezes looking for a submission but Voronin manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Voronin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Menezes's guard.

Voronin's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Menezes working for a triangle but Voronin defends it easily.
Voronin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Menezes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Menezes clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Voronin tries to move into range but Menezes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Voronin throws out a leg kick but Menezes moves out of range and Voronin only half commits.
Voronin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Voronin looks to land a body kick but Menezes moved away.
Arthur Menezes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Voronin throws a body shot but no joy.
Menezes connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Menezes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Menezes lands a jab to the head.
Menezes takes a swing at Voronin's ribcage but misses.
Voronin tries to work over Menezes's front leg with a kick but Menezes checks it.
Nice jab there from Menezes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voronin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Menezes.
Menezes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Voronin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Menezes keeps the fight on the outside.
Menezes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Menezes lands a nice shot that snaps Voronin's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes misses with a wild body shot.
Menezes takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Menezes misses with a hook.
Voronin is trying to counter with his kicks.
Voronin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Menezes misses with a straight left.
Menezes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Menezes lands a jab to the nose.
Menezes blocks a jab.
Menezes lands a body shot.
Menezes throws a lazy right hand but Voronin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Menezes connects with the punch.
Voronin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Voronin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Menezes slips under a jab from Voronin.
A combination from Voronin does no damage.
Menezes misses with a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menezes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Voronin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Menezes avoids the head kick by Voronin.
Menezes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Voronin as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes blocks a head kick by Voronin.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Voronin just misses with a punch to the body.
Menezes looks to score with a jab to the body but Voronin is just out of range.
The fighters circling - Voronin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Menezes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Menezes moves away from the strike by Voronin.
Menezes lands a glancing blow to the side of Voronin's head.
Voronin loads up on a big right hand but Menezes slips the punch.
Menezes throws out a loose jab but Voronin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Menezes looks to throw the jab but Voronin is out of range.
Voronin is looking to clinch but Menezes is avoiding it.

Voronin tries to keep at a distance but Menezes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Voronin misses with a short punch on the inside.

Menezes ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Menezes no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Menezes keeping moving, preventing Voronin from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Menezes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Voronin is aware though and is defending well.
Menezes keeping full guard, as Voronin tries to pass.
Voronin stopping the sweep attempt from Menezes.
Menezes keeping full guard, as Voronin tries to pass.

Menezes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Voronin is looking to work some ground and pound but Menezes has wrist 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.

Menezes looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Voronin is defending well. Menezes quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Voronin has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Menezes celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Arthur Menezes!
Arthur Menezes retains his middleweight title!