PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Menzies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralle Pihl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pihl is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Run to the hills. Ralle Pihl has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Steve Menzies's chin.

Menzies
vs
Pihl

170 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

175 cm
26
140 lbs
8 - 18 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Menzies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ralle Pihl!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menzies avoids a punch combination nicely.
Menzies throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pihl stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Menzies - that will leave a mark!

Pihl moves into the clinch successfully.
Pihl will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Menzies up against the cage.

Pihl has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Menzies uses from the top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Menzies throwing strikes from guard but Pihl blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pihl not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Menzies looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Menzies trying to control but Pihl is working from the bottom.
Menzies stops Pihl from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menzies is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

We're going to have a standup here because Steve Menzies wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Menzies with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pihl defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Menzies.
Pihl uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Menzies.
Menzies slaps away a takedown attempt from Pihl, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pihl misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Menzies.
The fight stays on the outside here - Menzies looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pihl uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Menzies.
Pihl shoots in looking for a takedown but Menzies manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pihl's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Menzies throws a right and a left that Pihl avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Pihl with that takedown attempt.
Steve Menzies has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralle Pihl.
Menzies throws a hook but Pihl avoids it easily.
Menzies misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pihl will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Menzies scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Menzies connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Pihl's hands.
Pihl looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Menzies is fending him off so far but Pihl persists. Nope, Menzies circles away and we're back to standing.
Menzies fails in his attempt to clinch.
Menzies connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pihl. Pihl circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pihl throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pihl fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice takedown defense from Menzies. No joy for Pihl on that attempt.
Menzies connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Menzies as Pihl shoots in.
Pihl looks gassed!
Menzies tries to score with a low kick but Pihl moves his leg out of the way.
Pihl walks into a stiff left hand from Menzies.
Pihl stuffs the takedown.
Menzies looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pihl swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Menzies to counter with a crisp jab.
No joy there for Pihl, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pihl tries to close the distance and clinch up but Menzies swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Pihl gets the takedown into side control.
Pihl is trying to ground and pound but Menzies uses the momentary lack of control by Pihl to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Menzies manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menzies seems keen to control Pihl's posture.
Pihl really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Menzies. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Menzies manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pihl manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Menzies controlling from the top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pihl can do anything to dispel that myth.

Pihl is looking for a triangle but Menzies pushes his legs off easily.

Menzies drops back looking for a leg! Pihl is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pihl manages to kick Menzies off! Menzies jumps back into Pihl's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pihl preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Menzies dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Menzies shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pihl's guard.
Pihl controls Menzies momentarily but Menzies frees himself.
Menzies lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menzies stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pihl swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Menzies landing some decent shots from guard.
Pihl can't keep his opponent in guard - Menzies advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Menzies takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Menzies not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Menzies 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.
Pihl has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Menzies is working away from the top position though.

Menzies wants to work for an arm triangle but Pihl is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Menzies slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pihl trying to control from the bottom.
Menzies with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pihl controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Menzies is looking to take a break and control but Pihl is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Menzies misses the jab.
Menzies's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Menzies duly obliges.
Pihl will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pihl shoots in looking for a takedown but Menzies manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pihl's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menzies throws a nice looking combination but Pihl bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pihl uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Menzies.
Pihl has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Pihl fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pihl is trying hard to land a takedown here. Menzies sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Steve Menzies has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralle Pihl.
Menzies circles away from the clinch attempt
and Menzies counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pihl fails to land with a series of punches.
Menzies tests Pihl's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Good leg kick by Menzies there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ralle Pihl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Menzies cracks Pihl with a good jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menzies will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Menzies scores with the left hand. Pihl knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheers as Menzies lands an impressive looking overhand right. Pihl doesn't seem phased though.
Menzies connects with the punch.
Menzies throws a right and a left that both miss.
Menzies swats away the attempt to clinch by Pihl.
A left and a right from Menzies both land. Nice combination.
Menzies swings for the body but Pihl moves out of range.
Pihl throws a quick inside leg kick.
Menzies throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Menzies moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pihl shoots in looking for a takedown but Menzies manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pihl's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice takedown defense from Menzies. No joy for Pihl on that attempt.
Pihl misses with a two punch combination.
Steve Menzies seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pihl gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Menzies.
Menzies doesn't manage to clinch there - Pihl circles away.
Menzies lands with a cross.
Pihl on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Menzies shoots in for a double leg but Pihl sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menzies's corner calls for a 1-2. Menzies obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Pihl fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Menzies manages to avoid it.
Pihl defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Menzies.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Menzies dominated that second round.
That's time! Menzies's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pihl tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Menzies swivels and escapes.
The fighters circling - Menzies throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pihl throws a series of punches but Menzies moves out of range.

Menzies fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pihl sprawls well initially but Menzies persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Menzies looks to land a strike but Pihl avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Menzies scoring with punches to the head and body.
Menzies postures up and lands a big shot to Pihl's brow.
Menzies trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Menzies stands and throws Pihl's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Menzies trying to control the position but Pihl is working away.
Pihl is trying to get back to half guard.
Pihl wants to get back to his feet but Menzies drags him back down.
Pihl takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pihl tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Menzies wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Menzies working the body and head with strikes.
Menzies works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Menzies wants to control but Pihl is keeping him busy.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steve Menzies!
After the big win, Steve Menzies made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under! and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.