PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aristides Abel (ranked 475 p4p, 596 weight class) and Arthur Menezes (ranked 69 p4p, 91 weight class). Abel comes to the cage accompanied by Express Yourself. This should be fireworks!

Abel
vs
Menezes

190 cm
40
200
29 - 23 - 1

180 cm
38
190
30 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conquer

Vegan Gains
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aristides Abel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arthur Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abel feints and then cracks Menezes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Menezes down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Abel.
Menezes scores with a decent looking hook.
Menezes clobbers Abel with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Menezes misses with a body punch
and Abel counters with a nice uppercut.
Abel swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Menezes moves out of range of the body kick.
Abel throws a front kick that sends Menezes stumbling back into the cage.
Menezes bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Abel's head.
Abel tries a head kick but it misses.
Abel moves out of range as Menezes strikes.
Abel shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Abel takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menezes stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Menezes shoots in and drives through. Abel sprawls well.
Menezes ducks under a wild hook from Abel.
Menezes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Abel attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Menezes takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Menezes swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Abel throws an off balance right hand

and Menezes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Abel's guard.

Menezes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Abel manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Menezes has Abel in his guard.

Menezes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Abel gets to his feet. Menezes looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Abel sizes up Menezes with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Aristides Abel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab from Abel.
Abel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Menezes.
Abel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abel displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Menezes misses the shot to the body.
Arthur Menezes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menezes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Abel avoids it really well and circles away.
Abel throwing a counter right hand but Menezes manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abel leaves Menezes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aristides Abel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Menezes.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Menezes, as that shot connected.
Menezes connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Abel lands with a nice body punch.
Abel lands a nice hook to Menezes's body. Menezes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Abel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Abel leaves Menezes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Menezes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Menezes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Abel is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Menezes is controlling him well.
Abel trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Abel is not content to let Menezes control the position.
Abel is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abel stops Menezes from passing to mount.

Menezes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Abel tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Abel defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Menezes's arms.
Menezes is not going to allow Abel to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abel trying to get back to his feet but Menezes is in full control for now.

Abel is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Abel is trying to get back to his feet but Menezes has full control of the position and if anything, Abel has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Abel showing good submission defense here.
Our spies down at at Alpha Brasil inform us that Menezes has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Abel is trying to get back to his feet but Menezes has full control of the position and if anything, Abel has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aristides Abel will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A clash of legs there as Menezes blocks the low kick.
Menezes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Abel defends it well.
Menezes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Abel.
A cross from Menezes lands.
Menezes lands a nice shot that snaps Abel's head back.
Menezes lands a jab to Abel's midsection.
Menezes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
An inside leg kick from Abel misses.
Menezes tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Abel throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Abel ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Abel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Menezes moves away.

Menezes takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Menezes fails to land.
Abel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Menezes struggles to land a body shot inside as Abel controls his hands.
Menezes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Abel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some bone on bone action there as Menezes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Menezes with the counter takedown but Abel avoids it easily.
Abel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Menezes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes throws a nice looking combination but Abel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Menezes's corner calls for a 1-2. Menezes obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Abel is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Menezes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abel manages to avoid it.
Menezes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Menezes misses with a hook
and Abel counters with a nice body shot.
Abel finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Abel walks into a left hand.
Abel slips under a jab from Menezes.
Abel ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Menezes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Abel as he avoids it easily.
Abel misses with a low kick.
Abel defending well as Menezes loads up on a big left hand.
Abel throwing a counter right hand but Menezes manages to avoid it.
Menezes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Abel tries to avoid it but Menezes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Abel to the ground. Abel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Abel swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Left hook, right uppercut from Abel.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abel thuds his shin into the meat of Menezes's side.
Abel misses with a looping left.
Menezes lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abel throws a leg kick but Menezes sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Menezes feints the counter takedown.
Menezes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Abel looks to land a right hand but Menezes moved out of range.
Menezes just misses with a punch to the body.
Menezes thuds a left hand into Abel's body.
Abel wants to land a leg kick but Menezes is out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Menezes as he connects with a hook.
Abel thuds a left hand into Menezes's body.
Abel cracks Menezes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Abel.
Menezes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Abel's hands.
Menezes punishes Abel's body with a nice straight punch.
Menezes scores with a nice head shot.
Menezes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Abel moves away.
Abel takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nice defenses there by Menezes.
Menezes lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abel has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Menezes finds it's way round the side to connect with Abel's head.
Abel walks into a jab.
Abel ducks under a wild hook from Menezes.
Decent striking displayed by Menezes there.
Abel misses with a low kick.
Menezes throws a jab when Abel was well out of range.
It appears Abel was looking to counter with a kick there.
Menezes scores with a hook.
Abel scores with a leg kick.
Abel misses with a leg kick.
Menezes cracks a nice hook into Abel's ribs.
Menezes lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Menezes blocks a leg kick.
Menezes scores with a decent looking hook.
Menezes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Abel.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abel misses with a low kick.
Abel looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Menezes throws a good cross that connects.
Menezes tries to clinch but Abel moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Abel doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Abel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abel cracks Menezes with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Menezes shoots in looking for a takedown but Abel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Menezes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Aristides Abel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Menezes.
The fighters circling - Menezes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Abel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Menezes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Abel connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Menezes scrambles back to his feet.
Menezes connects with a single shot there.
Menezes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Abel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Abel looks for the body kick but Menezes saw that one coming.
Menezes digs a good body shot into Abel's ribs.
A head kick from Abel lands but Menezes takes it in his stride.
Abel works the jab nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes connects with a nice looking jab.
Abel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Menezes.
Arthur Menezes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Menezes thows a left - swing and a miss!
A little feinted left hand from Abel on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Menezes has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Abel finds it's way round the side to connect with Menezes's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Menezes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! 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.

Menezes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Abel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Menezes somewhat.
Abel connects with a looping right hand.
Menezes tries to clinch up but Abel circles away and keeps his distance.
Menezes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Abel works Menezes's body with a nice hook.
Abel slips a jab from Menezes.
Abel slips under a jab from Menezes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Abel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good standup being displayed there by Menezes as he connects with a hook.
Menezes swings for the body but Abel moves out of range.
It looked like Abel wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Menezes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Abel manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Abel kicks Menezes off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes misses with a left hand
and Abel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Abel scoring well with a low kick there.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Abel lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Menezes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Menezes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Menezes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Abel to score with a decent uppercut.
Menezes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Menezes bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Abel's head backwards.
Menezes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Menezes tries to clinch but Abel moves out of range.

Menezes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Abel!
Abel wants to control but Menezes postures up.
Abel is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Menezes is controlling him well.
Menezes trying to control the action but Abel is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Abel sneaks out the side door and pushes Menezes away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Abel fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Menezes is out of range.
Abel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Menezes jabs Abel to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Menezes moves away from the strike by Abel.

Menezes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Abel, pushing him back against the cage.
Menezes's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Menezes works on Abel's body with a couple of short punches.
Menezes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Abel walks away with a smile on his face. Menezes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A lazy left from Menezes finds it's target.
Menezes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Abel. Abel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Abel will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Abel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Menezes lands a really nice looking cross but Abel seems unphased.
Menezes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Abel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A counter left hand to the body from Abel misses its target.
Menezes takes a swing at Abel's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abel throws a leg kick but Menezes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Menezes moves into range and connects with a jab.
Abel throws out a loose jab but Menezes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Menezes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A shot to the body from Menezes misses
enabling Abel to counter with a crisp jab.
Abel moves forwards but Menezes connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Abel looks to land a left hand but Menezes moved out of range nicely.
Menezes throws a sloppy body shot
and Abel counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Abel tries to work over Menezes's front leg with a kick but Menezes checks it.
Menezes looks to score with a jab to the body but Abel is just out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Menezes.
Abel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Menezes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Abel defends it well.
Menezes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Abel looks to throw the jab but Menezes is out of range.
A head kick from Abel lands but Menezes takes it in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Menezes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Abel connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Menezes scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abel throws a body kick that misses.
Menezes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Abel doesn't seem bothered though.
Good shot there by Menezes.
Menezes cracks Abel with a right hand to the side of the head.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Abel lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Menezes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Menezes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Menezes feints the counter takedown.
Menezes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Abel just misses with a punch to the body.
Menezes lands a right hook to the body.
Menezes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Menezes tries to clinch but Abel moves away
and Abel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Menezes ducks under a wild hook from Abel.
Abel throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes throws a body shot but no joy.
Abel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Menezes feints the counter takedown.
Menezes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abel blocks a jab.
Abel is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Aristides Abel.
I think Abel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!