PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brent Stanton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Menzies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stanton
vs
Menzies

167 cm
28
138 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
140 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under! $20

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brent Stanton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Menzies!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Bruno Hogan and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stanton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stanton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Menzies swivels and escapes.
Menzies throws a left and a right that both miss

and Stanton counters with a single leg into guard. Menzies didn't expect that.
Menzies lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stanton!
Menzies postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Stanton looks a forlorn figure.
Menzies trying to control but Stanton is having none of it.
Stanton keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Menzies pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Menzies has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stanton bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Stanton controlling from the top position.

Menzies looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton tries to free his leg and advance position but Menzies is retaining full guard.
Stanton won't allow Menzies to sweep him here.
Menzies bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stanton's guard.
Stanton keeping moving, preventing Menzies from controlling successfully.

Stanton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Menzies is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stanton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Stanton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Menzies showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stanton throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menzies postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stanton keeping moving, preventing Menzies from controlling successfully.
Stanton trying to keep a closed guard but Menzies is proving a slippery customer.
Menzies pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stanton is keeping the position for now.
Menzies trying to control but Stanton is working from the bottom.

Steve Menzies has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stanton.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Menzies shoots in and bounces Stanton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Menzies accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stanton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Menzies can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Stanton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Menzies can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Menzies wants to control from the top but Stanton keeps moving.
Menzies advances position into side control!
Stanton parries the strikes from Menzies easily there. Menzies is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Stanton to escape.
Stanton is looking for a sweep.
Sloppy strikes there by Menzies.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton struggling a bit here.
Menzies is working Stanton over with some ground and pound from side control.
Menzies takes a little break here. Stanton wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Stanton wants to control but Menzies postures up.
Menzies controls the position.
Menzies scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Stanton to see if he's OK.
Menzies wants to control but Stanton is keeping him busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stanton tries to bench press Menzies off him but Menzies keeps the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stanton wants to control but Menzies postures up.
Stanton is not content to let Menzies control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Menzies dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stanton throws the kick towards the body but Menzies avoids it.
Menzies misses with a double jab.

Stanton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice body punch from Menzies - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Stanton has Menzies pressed against the cage, preventing Menzies from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stanton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Menzies gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Menzies has Stanton pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Menzies pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Stanton tumbling to the mat - Menzies dives into Stanton's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Menzies controls the pace.
Stanton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Menzies.
Stanton manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Stanton throws some wild stikes that Menzies manages to avoid easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Menzies sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Menzies is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Stanton seems to be looking for submissions.

Menzies actively working from the bottom here.
Stanton is looking to stall here but Menzies recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menzies trying to control the position.
Menzies looking for a sweep. Not yet Menzies, not yet.
Menzies keeping moving, preventing Stanton from controlling successfully.
Menzies is trying to control the position but Stanton postures up.
Steve Menzies has got the better of the ground game so far.
Menzies keeping full guard, as Stanton tries to pass.
Stanton trying to control but Menzies is working from the bottom.
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!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stanton shoots in looking for a takedown. Menzies tries to sprawl out of it but Stanton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Menzies manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Menzies's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Menzies duly obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brent Stanton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Menzies tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Stanton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Menzies looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No joy there for Menzies, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Menzies scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Menzies wants to control but Stanton is keeping him busy.
Menzies takes a little break here. Stanton wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menzies working away.
Menzies in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Stanton is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Menzies off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanton is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Stanton gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Stanton gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Stanton apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Menzies shoots in and gets a takedown into Stanton's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Menzies pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stanton is keeping the position for now.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stanton holds on and takes a little breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menzies preventing the sweep.
Stanton is trying to control the position but Menzies postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Menzies 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Menzies throws a jab but it's blocked by Stanton.
Stanton blocks the body kick.

Stanton feints and as Menzies raises his hands in defense, Stanton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Menzies is pulling down on Stanton's head to control his posture.
Menzies keeping moving, preventing Stanton from controlling successfully.
Menzies is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Menzies controls Stanton momentarily but Stanton frees himself.
Menzies wants to sweep here but Stanton controlling him for the moment.
Stanton throws a big elbow that misses.
Menzies pulls Stanton in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stanton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Menzies is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Steve Menzies.
Stanton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Menzies as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stanton is defended easily by Menzies.
Menzies misses with a few strikes there.
Steve Menzies seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menzies throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stanton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Menzies sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stanton somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brent Stanton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stanton shoots in looking for a takedown but Menzies manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stanton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menzies tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stanton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Menzies throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Stanton avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stanton has his takedown stuffed
and Menzies makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Stanton is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Menzies's half guard.
Menzies has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stanton is working away from the top position though.
Stanton wants to free his trapped foot but Menzies is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Menzies is looking to control Stanton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Menzies avoid being mounted?
Stanton wants to control but Menzies is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton is just content to waste time from the top position. Menzies takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Menzies trying to keep a closed guard but Stanton is proving a slippery customer.
Stanton tries to free his leg and advance position but Menzies is retaining full guard.
Menzies seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Stanton wants to control from the top but Menzies keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stanton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Brent Stanton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Menzies bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stanton parries the strikes from Menzies easily there. Menzies is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Stanton to escape.
Menzies cracks Stanton with a big right hand but Stanton just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton is trying to control Menzies's posture but Menzies avoids it.
Menzies controls the position.
Stanton is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menzies wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stanton keeps working.
Stanton takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Menzies sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Stanton is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Menzies decides to stand back up. Menzies steps back and let's Stanton get back to his feet.
Steve Menzies is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Menzies stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Menzies comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Menzies has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Menzies!
Steve Menzies managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under! $20, into his post fight interview.