PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joao Menegale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Soares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soares has chosen AC/DC - Hells Bells as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Menegale
vs
Soares

175 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Menegale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Soares!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Soares has managed to clinch.
Menegale missing with knees to the body.
Menegale tries to land knees in the clinch but Soares avoids the damage to the body.
Menegale trying to land knees to the body.
Soares tries for a takedown but Menegale manages to get underhooks.
Menegale tries to land a knee to the head but Soares blocks with his arms.
Menegale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soares is defending well for now.
Menegale prevents the takedown attempt.
Menegale unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Menegale misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soares.
Menegale tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Soares lands a knee to the head.
Menegale tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Soares avoids it.
Menegale tries to land knees in the clinch but Soares avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menegale tries to land a knee to the head but Soares blocks with his arms.
Soares has Menegale pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Menegale manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Joao Menegale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Soares.
Menegale throws a knee to the head but misses.
Menegale with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Menegale with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Menegale misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menegale using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Soares has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Menegale is breathing heavily.
Soares goes for a takedown attempt but Menegale pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Soares drives through and clinches with Menegale against the cage.
Soares looking to stall.
Menegale using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Soares has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Soares tries to score a body lock takedown but Menegale shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A knee to the head by Menegale.
Menegale scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Paulo Soares has been cut.

Soares manages to pull guard.
Menegale postures up.
Menegale working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Soares wants to sweep but no luck.
Soares trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menegale has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Paulo Soares was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Menegale shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Soares napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Soares wants to control but Menegale postures up.
Soares is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Menegale's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Menegale is pressing down on Soares's thigh, looking to free his foot. Soares is holding on for now.
Soares works his way to full guard. Good work.
Soares looking to control.
Soares looking for a sweep. Not yet Soares, not yet.

Soares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Menegale can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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!
Soares wants to sweep here but Menegale controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares looking to control.
Soares pulls Menegale in to control the position.
Soares trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Soares is on top in guard.
Soares postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Menegale wants to get back to his feet but Soares is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Soares trying to control the position from guard on top but Menegale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Menegale is looking to sweep but instead, Soares has passed into half guard.

Soares decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Soares looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Menegale is fending him off so far but Soares persists. Nope, Menegale circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paulo Soares will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paulo Soares's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Soares looks for a takedown but Menegale sprawls well.
Soares works Menegale's body with a nice hook.
Soares is looking to clinch.
Soares tries to clinch but Menegale moves out of range.
Menegale tries a head kick but it misses.
Joao Menegale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Menegale clinches with his opponent.
Soares on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soares managing to block the knees to the body from Menegale.
Soares tries for a takedown. No joy.
Menegale unloads a knee to the mid-section. Soares lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Menegale tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Menegale tries to land a knee to the head but Soares blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soares goes for a takedown attempt but Menegale pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Joao Menegale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Soares.
Menegale stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Menegale wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menegale has taken the fight to the clinch.
Menegale trying to land knees to the body.
Menegale misses with a knee strike.
Menegale is pressed up against the cage. Soares has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Menegale down to the mat. Menegale avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Soares closes this distance looking for a takedown but Menegale circles away.
Menegale tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soares paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Soares gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Menegale's face as Soares controls the position.

Menegale throws Soares to one side and escapes!

Soares gets tackled into the cage by Menegale. Menegale maintains the clinch.
Soares is working for takedown but Menegale is calmly controlling the position for now.
Menegale tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Menegale misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menegale using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Soares has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Menegale landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Soares has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Menegale avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Menegale lands a knee to the body.
Menegale tries to land a knee to the head but Soares blocks with his arms.
Soares goes for a takedown in the clinch but Menegale prevents it.
Menegale lands a nice knee to the body.
Soares tries for a takedown. No joy.
Menegale with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Menegale tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Soares avoiding damage as Menegale throws knees to the body.
Soares is trying to stall.
Menegale throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Soares blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares drops down looking for an ankle pick but Menegale pulls his leg out and moves away.
Menegale misses with a head kick.
Menegale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Soares throws a nice inside leg kick.
Soares tries to close the distance and clinch but Menegale swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Soares wants to clinch up but Menegale keeps it at a distance.
Soares fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soares fails with an attempt to clinch.
A left and a right from Soares both land. Nice combination.
Soares keeps the fight on the outside.
Menegale doesn't manage to clinch there - Soares circles away.
Joao Menegale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Menegale. No joy for Soares on that attempt.
Menegale throws a head kick but Soares moves out of range.

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.
Soares lands with a nice body punch.
Soares tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Menegale manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Soares stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Soares wants it to stay on the feet.

Soares rushes Menegale and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Soares drops down looking for an ankle pick but Menegale pulls his leg out and moves away.
Menegale stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Menegale wants it to stay on the feet.
Menegale throws a head kick but Soares moves out of range.
Soares fails with a takedown attempt.
Menegale swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Soares counters by clinching up.
Soares goes for a takedown in the clinch but Menegale prevents it.
Soares drops down looking for an ankle pick but Menegale pulls his leg out and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Soares.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joao Menegale will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paulo Soares's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Menegale closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Soares sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Menegale is trying to control the action in half guard but Soares is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Soares wants to control but Menegale is keeping busy.
Soares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Menegale throwing shots but Soares is blocking nicely.
Soares trying to hold on to Menegale's head to control him but Menegale postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Soares moves into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soares trying to keep a closed guard but Menegale is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Menegale!

Soares jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Menegale manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Menegale is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soares wants to control but Menegale is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menegale is trying to control Soares's posture but Soares avoids it.
Soares wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menegale keeps working.
Soares creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Menegale sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Soares in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Menegale knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soares on the ground.
Soares wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menegale keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Soares controlling from side mount.
Menegale is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Soares is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Menegale is trying to escape and Soares transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Menegale is forced to tap! Nice work there by Soares! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Paulo Soares!