PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Nunez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago Nunez looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Nunez
vs
Menezes

176 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
156 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Santiago Nunez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nunez enables Menezes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nunez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nunez is trying to control the position but Menezes postures up.
Menezes trying to control but Nunez is working from the bottom.
Nunez 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.
Menezes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nunez keeping moving, preventing Menezes from controlling successfully.

Nunez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Menezes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Menezes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nunez's head.
Menezes trying to control but Nunez is working from the bottom.
Menezes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nunez's head.
Menezes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Menezes controlling from the top position.
Nunez is trying to control the position but Menezes postures up.
Menezes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Menezes with a nice head shot there.
Nunez wants to stand up but Menezes is controlling him.
Nunez is breathing heavily.
Menezes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Menezes connects with a couple of short punches.
Nunez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Menezes is one step ahead there.
Menezes throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes chips away with some ground and pound.
Menezes works over Nunez with some ground and pound from guard.
Menezes scoring with punches to the head and body.
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!
Menezes landing with the ground and pound.
Nunez controlling Menezes's posture.
Menezes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Menezes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Menezes with a nice head shot there.
Menezes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nunez's head.
Menezes throws a big elbow that misses.
Menezes landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Menezes scoring with some ground and pound.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Nunez keeps moving.
Nunez has momentary wrist control but Menezes slips an elbow through the middle.
Nunez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Menezes postures up and lands a big shot to Nunez's brow.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but Nunez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Menezes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Menezes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nunez's head.
Menezes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nunez keeping moving, preventing Menezes from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nunez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Menezes lands a couple of elbows.
Menezes lands a couple of digs.
Menezes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nunez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Nunez keeps moving.
Nunez looking for a sweep. Not yet Nunez, not yet.
Menezes with a nice head shot there.
Menezes stays in close to Nunez's body and controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menezes looking to sit in guard and control but Nunez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Menezes is looking to stand up but Nunez isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Menezes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Menezes forces Nunez back against the cage and clinches.
Nunez is trying to force a seperation but Menezes has the dominant position.

Menezes jumps guard and drags Nunez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Menezes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Menezes wants to stand up but Nunez is controlling him.
Nunez stands and throws Menezes's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Menezes wants to get back to his feet.

Nunez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nunez clinches with his opponent.
Nunez is working for takedown but Menezes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Menezes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Menezes scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nunez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Menezes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Menezes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nunez backwards.
Nunez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Nunez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nunez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Menezes throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nunez has a couple of punches blocked by Menezes.
Nunez fails to pull guard.

Menezes breaks from the clinch.
Menezes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nunez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nunez shoots and misses

and Menezes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Menezes.

Menezes turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
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!
Menezes cracks Nunez with a big elbow.
Menezes creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Menezes wants to control but Nunez is keeping him busy.
Nunez can't do much from the bottom here.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Nunez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Nunez takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Nunez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Menezes connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nunez some visible discomfort.
Nunez takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Menezes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Menezes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Menezes lands a decent elbow from side control.
Nunez on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes working the ground and pound.
Menezes working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Menezes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menezes wants to control but Nunez is keeping him busy.
Menezes landing a few strikes.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Nunez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Menezes controlling from side mount.
Menezes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nunez pushes Menezes away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Menezes gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Menezes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Menezes drives through with a takedown into guard.
Menezes controls from within his opponent's guard.
Menezes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Menezes connects with a couple of short punches.
Menezes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nunez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Menezes postures up in Nunez's guard and throws a big left but Nunez blocks it.
Menezes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wanderlei Menezes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Menezes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but Nunez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Menezes scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but Nunez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nunez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Menezes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Menezes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Menezes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Menezes connects with a couple of short punches.
Nunez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Menezes.
Menezes scoring with some ground and pound.
Menezes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Menezes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Menezes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Menezes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Menezes lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nunez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Menezes postures up and lands a big shot to Nunez's brow.
Menezes with a nice head shot there.
Menezes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Menezes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Menezes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Menezes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Menezes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Nunez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but Nunez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Wanderlei Menezes hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nunez misses with a hook
and Menezes counters with a two punch combo.
Nunez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Menezes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Menezes.
Menezes misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Menezes works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Menezes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Menezes cracks Nunez with a solid left hand.
Nunez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Menezes is one step ahead there.
Menezes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wanderlei Menezes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
Menezes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nunez trying to strike off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nunez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Menezes controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

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