PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Menezes (ranked 272 p4p, 347 weight class) and Mickey Garcia (ranked 38 p4p, 52 weight class). Garcia has chosen S.G. Sinnicks - St Patrick Battalion as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Menezes
vs
Garcia

180 cm
36
190
28 - 17 - 0

180 cm
28
185
20 - 6 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains
Conquer

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 28 - 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 20 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mickey Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Menezes lands a jab to the head.
Garcia ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Menezes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Garcia takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Menezes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garcia is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Menezes with a body shot.
Menezes throws a body punch but Garcia moves out of range.
Menezes just misses with a punch to the body.
A little jabbing left from Garcia on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Garcia lands a body shot.
Menezes works Garcia's body with a nice hook.
Menezes misses the jab.
Menezes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Garcia.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Menezes.
Garcia works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Menezes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Menezes works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Garcia with a jab.
Menezes has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Mapinguari Guerreiro in the buildup to the fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Menezes. Garcia does a little dance to reset his feet.
Garcia throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Menezes slips a jab from Garcia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes connects with a single shot there.
Garcia swings for the body but Menezes moves out of range.
Menezes misses the shot to the body.
Garcia is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Menezes with a body shot.
Menezes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Menezes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Garcia misses with a straight left.
Menezes shoots in looking for a takedown. Garcia tries to sprawl out of it but Menezes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Garcia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A countering left hand to the body from Garcia misses.
Garcia tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Menezes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Garcia's guard.
Menezes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Menezes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Menezes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Garcia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.
Menezes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garcia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.
Menezes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Garcia keeping full guard, as Menezes tries to pass.
Garcia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Garcia's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Menezes keeps moving.

Menezes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Garcia defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Menezes is looking for a triangle here but Garcia uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Garcia grinds an elbow into Menezes's temple.
Menezes is looking to reverse the position.
Menezes can't do much from the bottom here.
Menezes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Garcia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Garcia working away.
Garcia trying to control the action but Menezes is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menezes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to get back to full guard.
Garcia has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Menezes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Menezes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Garcia has managed to free his arm - good work.
Menezes is keen to just control but Garcia is a slippery customer.

Menezes wants to work for an arm triangle but Garcia is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Menezes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Garcia has managed to free his arm - good work.
Garcia is refusing to be controlled, as Menezes sits in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Menezes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice shot by Garcia.
Garcia scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Garcia throws a jab when Menezes was well out of range.
Garcia moves out of range as Menezes strikes.
Menezes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Garcia.
Menezes lands with a cross.
Arthur Menezes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menezes scores with a body shot.
Menezes swings widly with a right hand
and Garcia counters with a straight right hand.
Garcia pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Garcia slips a jab from Menezes.
Menezes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Garcia digs a good hook to Menezes's body.
Nice defenses there by Menezes.
Menezes throws out a loose jab but Garcia uses good head movement to avoid it.
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!
Garcia misses with a straight left.
Garcia swings for the body but Menezes moves out of range.
Menezes attempts a counter takedown but Garcia avoids it well and moves away.

Menezes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Garcia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Garcia gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Menezes's guard.

Menezes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Menezes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garcia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Garcia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Garcia is in close to Menezes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Menezes keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.

Menezes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Garcia with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Garcia passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes tries to roll over but Garcia keeps him under control.
Garcia scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Garcia drops an elbow to the side of Menezes's head.
Garcia lands strikes from half guard.
Menezes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Garcia scores with a couple of nice shots.
Garcia trying to control from half guard but Menezes is working away.
Menezes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Garcia there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garcia is keen to just control but Menezes is a slippery customer.
Garcia working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Menezes has hold of Garcia's hands but Garcia slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes regains full guard. Nicely done.

Menezes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Garcia defends it easily.

Menezes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Menezes keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.
Garcia looking to sit in guard and control but Menezes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Garcia is trying to keep Menezes in close.
Menezes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.
Menezes stopping the sweep attempt from Garcia.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Menezes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Garcia is keeping the position for now.
Menezes looking to sit in guard and control but Garcia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

Menezes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Garcia postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Garcia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Menezes ducks under a wild hook from Garcia.
Garcia swings for the body but Menezes moves out of range.
Menezes tries for a takedown but Garcia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mickey Garcia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Garcia misses with a series of wild punches.
Menezes lands a glancing blow to the side of Garcia's head.
Menezes looks to throw the jab but Garcia is out of range.
Menezes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Garcia moves away.
Menezes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Menezes lands with a cross.
Menezes tries to clinch but Garcia moves out of range.
Garcia swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Menezes gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garcia seems a little lost for a moment, as Menezes dominates the positioning.
Garcia manages to work his way to half guard, despite Menezes's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia gets full guard.
Arthur Menezes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Menezes advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Garcia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Menezes tries for a kimura but Garcia is defending well.
Garcia sneaks back into half guard.
Garcia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Garcia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Menezes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Garcia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia works over Menezes with some ground and pound from guard.
Garcia lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Garcia got a little sloppy there for a moment and Menezes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Garcia has managed to get both his arms back between Menezes's legs - danger averted.
Garcia landing with the ground and pound.
Garcia working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Menezes's head.

Menezes has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Garcia should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Menezes has tightened it up now! Garcia should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Arthur Menezes!
Arthur Menezes retains his middleweight title!
Mickey Garcia spoke after the fight, saying 'Can't believe the commission let me fight with Hep C...'.