PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Spike Kimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spike Kimura has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kimura
vs
Menezes

180 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Spike Kimura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tiago Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Menezes gets a clinch.
Menezes wants a takedown but no success here.

Menezes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Menezes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Menezes scores with a head kick. Kimura tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kimura works over Menezes's head and body with a nice combination.
Menezes has a takedown stuffed.
Menezes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kimura defends it nicely.
Spike Kimura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Menezes.
Kimura is looking to clinch but Menezes is avoiding it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kimura lands an overhand right.
Menezes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kimura ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kimura fails to land the takedown.
Kimura is breathing heavily.
Kimura fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menezes forces Kimura back against the cage and clinches.

Menezes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Menezes moves into the clinch.

Menezes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Menezes has a takedown stuffed.
Menezes fails with the takedown.
Menezes throws a one two combo.
Nice sprawl there from Kimura as Menezes shoots in.
Kimura keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kimura moves into range and clinches up with Menezes.
Kimura is trying to force a seperation but Menezes has the dominant position.
Menezes can't get the takedown.
Menezes keeps control of Kimura as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Menezes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kimura's efforts to push away.
Kimura is trying to force a seperation but Menezes has the dominant position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Menezes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Menezes should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kimura misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Menezes dives in and grabs Kimura's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kimura pushes down on Menezes's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes fails to land with a series of punches.
Kimura shoots in and drives through. Menezes sprawls well.
Menezes scores with a head kick.
Kimura throws a series of punches but Menezes moves out of range.
Menezes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kimura misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Menezes moves into the clinch.
Menezes tries to pull guard but Kimura holds him up against the cage and eventually Menezes drops back down to his feet.

Kimura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kimura.
Kimura looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Menezes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Menezes shoots in for a double leg but Kimura sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kimura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Menezes pinned against the cage. Menezes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kimura closes the distance and clinches up with Menezes, looking for a takedown. Kimura pushes Menezes against the cage but Menezes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menezes leaves Kimura with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Menezes fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tiago Menezes will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Menezes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kimura sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Menezes fails with a takedown attempt.
Menezes moves in looking to clinch but Kimura pushes him off.
Kimura tries to clinch up but Menezes circles away and keeps his distance.
Menezes shoots for a double leg takedown but Kimura sprawls well. He's pushed Menezes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Spike Kimura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Menezes.
Kimura avoids the body shot from Menezes.
Horrible takedown by Menezes or perhaps it was just good defense by Kimura which made him look bad.
Kimura throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Menezes's waist but Menezes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kimura off to one side.
Tiago Menezes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Menezes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Menezes tries for a takedown but Kimura sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kimura shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Menezes sprawls well. Menezes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kimura gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kimura as he jumps to the side.
Menezes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kimura fails in his attempt to clinch.
Menezes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kimura doesn't seem bothered though.

Menezes forces Kimura back against the cage and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Kimura's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Menezes breaks the clinch.
Menezes tries to close the distance and clinch but Kimura swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kimura displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Menezes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimura is trying hard to land a takedown here. Menezes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Menezes misses with a body shot.
Kimura is trying hard to land a takedown here. Menezes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Menezes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kimura throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Menezes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kimura is fending him off so far but Menezes persists. Nope, Kimura circles away and we're back to standing.
Kimura tries to clinch there but Menezes circles away.
Both fighters circling a little - Menezes finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kimura blocks a head kick by Menezes.
Kimura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Menezes pinned against the cage. Menezes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Spike Kimura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kimura punishes Menezes's body with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes lands a front kick.
Kimura stuffs the takedown.
Kimura throws a series of punches but Menezes moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kimura.
Kimura tries for a takedown but Menezes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Menezes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kimura wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Menezes controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimura looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Menezes tries a body shot but Kimura blocks it.
Kimura wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Menezes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Menezes throws a sloppy head kick and Kimura moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Menezes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kimura is fending him off so far but Menezes persists. Nope, Kimura circles away and we're back to standing.
Kimura fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Menezes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kimura throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Menezes's waist but Menezes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kimura off to one side.
Kimura throws a nice looking combination but Menezes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Menezes moves into the clinch.
Menezes displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kimura up against the cage.
Kimura stops a takedown attempt from Menezes.
Menezes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kimura is defending well.

Menezes manages to break the clinch.
Menezes lands with a nice body punch.
Horrible takedown by Menezes or perhaps it was just good defense by Kimura which made him look bad.
Spike Kimura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Menezes.
Menezes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura fails to land the takedown.

Menezes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kimura, pushing him back against the cage.
Kimura wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Menezes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kimura to keep the fight standing.
Menezes tries to pull guard but Kimura holds him up against the cage and eventually Menezes drops back down to his feet.
Kimura wants to break the clinch but can't.

Menezes has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kimura uses from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimura won't allow Menezes to get back to his feet.
Menezes keeping moving, preventing Kimura from controlling successfully.
Kimura working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kimura advances position into side control!
Kimura is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Menezes's shoulder. That is not cool.
Menezes looking for a sweep but Kimura has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Menezes tries to hold on but Kimura postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is in all sorts of trouble here.
Menezes bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kimura looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kimura looking for a sweep. Not yet Kimura, not yet.
Menezes postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Menezes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Menezes throws a big elbow that misses.
Kimura will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Menezes stands up from Kimura's guard - Menezes perhaps looking for a knockout.
Horrible takedown by Menezes or perhaps it was just good defense by Kimura which made him look bad.
Menezes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kimura defends it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kimura paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiago Menezes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Menezes 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiago Menezes!