PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Menezes (ranked 128 p4p, 565 weight class) and Vino Selvatico (ranked 20 p4p, 84 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Vino Selvatico enters the cage!

Menezes
vs
Selvatico

180 cm
41
190
35 - 20 - 1

188 cm
29
188
15 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Shadow Realm Apparel

Brooklyn Apothecary
Urban Fighter

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 35 - 20 - 1, 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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vino Selvatico!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Ron Honeybunn and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Selvatico buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A jab from Menezes finds it's way through Selvatico's defenses.
Selvatico attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Selvatico keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Menezes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Selvatico.
Selvatico keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good work by Menezes as he checks the leg kick.
Menezes swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Menezes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Selvatico is trying to defend but Menezes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Menezes wants to control but Selvatico is keeping him busy.
Selvatico is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Selvatico avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Menezes.
Menezes wants to pass to mount but Selvatico is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Selvatico to regain full guard.
Menezes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Menezes tries to free his leg and advance position but Selvatico is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Menezes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Selvatico has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Selvatico controls Menezes momentarily but Menezes frees himself.
Menezes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Selvatico trying to control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Menezes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Menezes has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Alpha Brasil in the buildup to the fight.
Vino Selvatico is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Menezes checks a low kick from Selvatico.
Selvatico ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Menezes, as that shot connected.
Menezes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Menezes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Selvatico.
Selvatico throws a body kick that misses.
Selvatico looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Menezes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Menezes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Selvatico on the side of the head.
Selvatico uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Menezes.
Selvatico slips under a jab.
Menezes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Selvatico avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes misses with a hook.
Menezes thuds a left hand into Selvatico's body.
Menezes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Selvatico ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Menezes throws a lazy right hand but Selvatico sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Menezes blocks a jab.
Menezes connects with a crisp jab.
Menezes shoots in looking for a takedown but Selvatico manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Menezes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Menezes throws an overhand right that lands on Selvatico's shoulder, as Selvatico tries to avoid the shot.
Menezes backing away here, and Selvatico unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Arthur Menezes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Selvatico circles away from the clinch attempt.
Menezes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Selvatico does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Selvatico throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Menezes.
Some bone on bone action there as Menezes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Selvatico misses with a body shot.
Selvatico throws a body shot but no joy.
Menezes throws a lazy right hand but Selvatico sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes scores with a nice strike.
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!
Selvatico misses with a kick to the body.
Selvatico paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Selvatico throws a body shot but no joy.
Selvatico walks into a straight right hand from Menezes.
Selvatico slips a jab and a cross from Menezes.
Selvatico lands a leg kick that knocks Menezes off balance momentarily.

Menezes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Menezes tries to pass to full mount but Selvatico defends it.
Selvatico keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Menezes is trying to work for a kimura but Selvatico is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Menezes dominated 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.

Selvatico takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Menezes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Selvatico pinned against the cage. Selvatico gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Good standup being displayed there by Menezes as he connects with a hook.
Arthur Menezes is winning the standup battle so far.
Selvatico tries to land a front kick but Menezes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Menezes throws a poor cross that misses
and Selvatico counters with a nice kick to the body.
Menezes misses with a right hand
letting Selvatico counter with a right hand.
Good shot there by Menezes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menezes walks into a straight right hand from Selvatico.

Menezes looking to score a takedown here. Selvatico is defending well but Menezes drives through and ends up in Selvatico's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Menezes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Menezes trying to control but Selvatico is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selvatico not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Selvatico keeping moving, preventing Menezes from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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 passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Menezes tries to move to mount but Selvatico blocks the move with his legs.

Menezes is trying to get an arm triangle but Selvatico is defending well.

Menezes has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Selvatico is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Menezes yanks on the arm and Selvatico is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Menezes.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Arthur Menezes!
Vino Selvatico spoke after the fight, saying 'The better man won. I'll get back to the drawing board and work my ass off to get back to this spot. Thank you all. '.