PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Menezes (ranked 174 p4p, 116 weight class) and Macca Outback (ranked 23 p4p, 17 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Menezes
vs
Outback

180 cm
43
190
40 - 22 - 1

188 cm
31
193
24 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Shadow Realm Apparel

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 40 - 22 - 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 24 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Macca Outback!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Outback misses the shot to the body.
Outback misses with a wild body shot.
Menezes looks to throw the jab but Outback is out of range.
Menezes is looking to clinch.
Menezes shoots and misses
and Outback counters with a nice body shot.
No luck for Menezes with that takedown attempt.
Outback avoids the body shot from Menezes.
Menezes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Menezes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Menezes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Menezes throws an off balance right hand
and Outback counters with a good, hard body kick but Menezes shrugs it off.
Menezes tries to clinch but Outback is having none of it.
Outback now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Menezes jabs Outback to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Menezes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Outback counters with a good low kick that Menezes was not able to check.
Menezes has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Alpha Brasil in the buildup to the fight.
Outback fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Menezes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Outback with the inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Menezes is defended easily by Outback.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Menezes. Outback does a little dance to reset his feet.
Outback uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Menezes.
Arthur Menezes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menezes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Menezes throws a jab but it's blocked by Outback.
Outback misses with a straight right.

Menezes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Outback looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Outback is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Menezes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Menezes is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Outback is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Menezes trying to control the action but Outback is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Menezes is trying to get an arm triangle but Outback is defending well.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Outback is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Menezes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Outback, who protects the arm well.
Outback is trying to control Menezes's posture but Menezes avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Outback is trying to get back to half guard.

Menezes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Menezes working the ground and pound but Outback is defending the strikes.
Outback really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Menezes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Menezes trying to control the position but Outback is working away.
Outback tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Menezes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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.

Menezes is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Outback is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Outback tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Menezes presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Outback 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.
Outback is squirming around, avoiding Menezes's attempts to control the action.
Menezes throws some wild stikes that Outback manages to avoid easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Menezes swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Outback is now in Menezes's guard. A big mistake from Menezes there, giving up the dominant position!

Menezes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Outback defends well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Outback misses with a body shot.
Menezes takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Menezes needs to keep his hands up - Outback had a free shot at his head there.
Menezes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Outback counters with a good low kick that Menezes was not able to check.
Outback avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Outback looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Outback swats away the attempt to clinch by Menezes.
Menezes takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Outback fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Menezes has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Outback misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Menezes.
Menezes misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menezes scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice shot lands for Menezes.
Outback misses the shot to the body.
Outback moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menezes throws a body shot but no joy.
Menezes wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Outback connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A jab from Menezes misses.
Menezes thuds a left hand into Outback's body.
Menezes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Macca Outback seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Outback wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Menezes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Outback counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Outback lands a leg kick that knocks Menezes off balance momentarily.
Outback displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Menezes throws out the jab.
Menezes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Outback defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Menezes.

Menezes has taken the fight to the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Outback.
Outback lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Outback lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Outback.
A short right from Outback.
Menezes tries to throw a body punch but Outback avoids it by throwing Menezes back against the cage.
Menezes tries to pull guard but Outback holds him up against the cage and eventually Menezes drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Outback makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Menezes decides to pull guard.

Menezes is looking for a triangle here but Outback uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Menezes prevents Outback from improving position.
Menezes wants to control but Outback postures up.
Outback wants to control but Menezes is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Outback working away.
Menezes sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Menezes has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Outback. Oh but Menezes has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Outback goes limp - he's gone! Menezes jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Arthur Menezes!