PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Willy Coffey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Menzies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Coffey
vs
Menzies

168 cm
29
138 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

170 cm
23
140 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Willy Coffey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Menzies!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coffey tries to clinch but Menzies moves out of range.
Coffey tries to clinch but Menzies is having none of it.

Menzies gets a double leg takedown into Coffey's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Menzies is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Menzies postures up in Coffey's guard and throws a big left but Coffey blocks it.
Coffey working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Menzies.
Menzies stays in close to Coffey's body and controls the position.
Menzies working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Menzies wants to control from the top but Coffey keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menzies pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Coffey is keeping the position for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Steve Menzies wasn't active enough on the ground.

Coffey gets a clinch.

Coffey wants the takedown. Menzies is fighting it off but Coffey persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Menzies's guard against the cage.
Menzies is trying to control the position but Coffey postures up.
Menzies looking for a sweep. Not yet Menzies, not yet.
Coffey working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Menzies controls Coffey momentarily but Coffey frees himself.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Coffey is fighting to break Menzies's control of his arms but Menzies is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Steve Menzies.
Coffey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Menzies paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Coffey has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coffey misses with a punch to the body.
Coffey with a knee to the head.
Menzies manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Coffey can't find room to land a body shot as Menzies controls the action.
Coffey lands a hook to the side of the head.
Coffey lands with a light punch inside.

Coffey ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Coffey no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Menzies slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Menzies landing strikes.
Menzies laying and praying for a moment but Coffey takes advantage and regains half guard.
Menzies missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menzies throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Coffey to regain full guard.
Menzies has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Coffey is proving hard to escape from.
Coffey 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menzies trying to control the position from guard on top but Coffey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Menzies throwing strikes but missing.
Menzies has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menzies wants to control from the top but Coffey keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Steve Menzies has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Menzies lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Menzies shoots in looking for a takedown but Coffey manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Menzies's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Menzies avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Coffey checks a low kick from Menzies.
Sloppy strikes from Coffey. Those never looked like landing.
Coffey tries to clinch up but Menzies circles away and keeps his distance.
Menzies works the jab nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menzies misses with a series of wild punches.
Coffey fails with an attempt to clinch.
Coffey closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Menzies connects with a good right hand that stumbles Coffey. Coffey circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
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!

A looping hook to the body misses from Menzies. Coffey does a little dance to reset his feet.
Coffey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Menzies paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Coffey.
Menzies swats away the attempt to clinch by Coffey.
Coffey tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Menzies manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Menzies fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Coffey avoids it really well and circles away.
Coffey wants to clinch up but Menzies keeps it at a distance.
A jab lands there for Menzies.
Coffey tries to clinch but Menzies is having none of it.
Menzies closes this distance looking for a takedown but Coffey circles away.
Coffey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Coffey is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Menzies.
Coffey tries to clinch up but Menzies circles away and keeps his distance.
Menzies tests Coffey's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Coffey tries to close the distance and clinch but Menzies swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coffey takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Coffey takes the fight into the clinch.
Menzies is trying to maintain a safe position but Coffey gets an underhook and turns Menzies into the cage.
Menzies wants to break free but Coffey has control.
Coffey tries to land knees in the clinch but Menzies avoids the damage to the body.
Coffey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Coffey is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Coffey is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Willy Coffey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Menzies.

Coffey breaks from the clinch.
Coffey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Menzies tries to avoid it but Coffey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Menzies to the ground. Menzies escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Menzies has Coffey up against the cage in a clinch.
Menzies scores with a nice hook to the head.
Coffey has Menzies pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coffey avoiding damage as Menzies throws knees to the body.

Menzies pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Menzies cracks Coffey with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Menzies tries to bum rush Coffey with a series of wild strikes but Coffey uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menzies connects with a good right hand that stumbles Coffey. Coffey circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Coffey is looking to clinch.
Coffey ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Coffey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab, jab by Menzies - just one landing.
Coffey tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Menzies manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Menzies avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Coffey tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Menzies manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Coffey gets caught flat footed, as Menzies shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Menzies looking to sit in guard and control but Coffey gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Steve Menzies has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menzies seems keen to control Coffey's posture.
Coffey with a flurry of punches that miss.
Coffey has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Menzies pulls Coffey in close to prevent any damage.
Menzies trying to keep a closed guard but Coffey is proving a slippery customer.
Coffey makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Menzies has control of Coffey's left arm, preventing Coffey from doing any damage.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Steve Menzies wasn't active enough on the ground.
Coffey walks into a left hand.
Menzies cracks Coffey with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Menzies moves into range and clinches up with Coffey.
A knee to the head by Coffey.
Menzies is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Coffey is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coffey struggles to land a body shot inside as Menzies controls his hands.
Coffey is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Menzies to keep the fight standing.
Coffey lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Coffey 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Menzies trying to control but Coffey is working from the bottom.
Menzies is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Coffey keeping moving, preventing Menzies from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Coffey 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 showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Coffey tries to clinch but Menzies is having none of it.

Coffey gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Coffey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Menzies is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Coffey to keep the fight standing.
Coffey is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Coffey wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Menzies has him pressed against the cage.

Coffey successfully pulls guard.

Menzies decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Willy Coffey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Menzies dips to his left and cracks Coffey with an uppercut!
Menzies might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Menzies shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Coffey as he jumps to the side.
Willy Coffey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Menzies.
Good shot there by Menzies.
Menzies circles away from the clinch attempt.

Menzies shoots in and gets a takedown into Coffey's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Menzies lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menzies wants to pass the guard but Coffey is keeping the position.
Menzies's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Menzies throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Coffey works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Menzies wants to control from the top but Coffey keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Menzies slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Steve Menzies.
Coffey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Menzies paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Menzies.
Menzies wants to clinch up but Coffey keeps it at a distance.
Steve Menzies seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menzies avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Coffey takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Menzies tries to score a power double leg takedown but Coffey sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Menzies somewhat.
Menzies shoots for a double leg takedown but Coffey sprawls well. He's pushed Menzies's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Coffey moves into the clinch successfully.
Menzies tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Coffey just stands there and leans against the cage.
Menzies leaning his opponent against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menzies gets underhooks to prevent Coffey's takedown attempt.
Coffey scores with a nice hook to the head.
Coffey is trying to pull guard but Menzies has him pressed against the cage.
Coffey throws a head punch that misses.

Coffey breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Menzies. Those never looked like landing.
Menzies circles away from the clinch attempt.
Menzies lunges at Coffey with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Coffey's hand.
Menzies shoots in looking for a takedown. Coffey tries to sprawl out of it but Menzies keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Coffey manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Menzies stuffs the takedown attempt from Coffey. Coffey gets slowly back to his feet.
Coffey moves in looking to clinch but Menzies pushes him off.
Menzies shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Coffey eats them both and turns towards Menzies to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Menzies lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Coffey at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menzies keeps the fight on the outside.

Menzies shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Menzies showed some decent athleticism there.
Menzies wants to pass the guard but Coffey is defending well.
Menzies takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Menzies keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Menzies is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Coffey defends it well.
Menzies controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Menzies comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Menzies winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Menzies!
Steve Menzies made sure to mention his sponsor, XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under! in his post fight interview.