PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ele Meno (ranked 2868 p4p, 4609 weight class) and Paul Mills (ranked 290 p4p, 373 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.

Meno
vs
Mills

171 cm
25
155
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
155
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ele Meno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Mills!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meno is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mills.
Meno misses the jab.
Mills throws a shot to the body.
Meno missing with a left hand there. Mills was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Mills clinches with his opponent.
Meno is pressed up against the cage. Mills has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Meno down to the mat. Meno avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Meno digs a good hook to Mills's body.

Mills has Meno up against the cage in a clinch.
Mills drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mills goes for a takedown in the clinch but Meno prevents it.
Ele Meno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Mills.
Mills is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Meno is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A body shot lands from Meno.
Meno misses with a punch to the body.
Mills is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Meno gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mills drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Meno stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mills drops down looking for an ankle pick but Meno pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mills shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Meno sprawls well. Meno wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mills gets slowly back to his feet.
Mills looks winded!
Meno ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Meno tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mills is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Mills moves into the clinch.

Mills manages to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Meno accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Mills is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Meno is aware though and is defending well.
Meno looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Meno sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mills's guard.
Meno has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meno prevents Mills from standing back up.
Meno controlling the action here.

Mills actively working from the bottom here.
Mills wants to get back to his feet.
Meno content to control rather than advance.
Mills moves into full guard.
Mills lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mills won't allow Meno to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills trying to control but Meno is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mills is looking to stand up but Meno won't let him.

Mills gets to his feet. Meno looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mills is looking to clinch.

Mills has closed the distance and engaged Meno in a clinch.
Mills is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Meno is defending well.
Meno is looking to break free of the clinch but Mills has double underhooks.
Mills wants a takedown but no success here.
Meno struggles to land a body shot inside as Mills controls his hands.
Mills has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Meno avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mills takes a shot to the head.
Mills is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mills has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Meno is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Meno wants to get back to striking at distance but Mills won't allow it.
Meno is pressed up against the cage. Mills has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Meno down to the mat. Meno avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mills fails with an attempt to clinch.
Meno was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Meno scores with a sloppy right hand. Mills should have avoided that one.
Meno lands with a right hand.
Some wild striking there from Meno.
Mills moves in looking to clinch but Meno pushes him off.
Meno misses with a straight left.
Meno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mills manages to avoid it.

Mills clinches up with Meno and pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mills has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Meno after a bit of a struggle.
Meno gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mills.
Meno tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mills's elbow.
Mills blocks a body shot from Meno.
Meno gets underhooks to prevent Mills's takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Meno misses the shot to the body.

Mills moves into the clinch.
Mills is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Meno tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mills's elbow.

Mills has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Meno regains guard immediately.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mills gets to his feet. Meno looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Meno fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Meno looks to clinch
and Mills counters with a left to the body.

Mills takes the fight into the clinch.
Mills has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Meno after a bit of a struggle.
Mills is looking for a takedown.
Ele Meno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Mills.
Mills changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Meno fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A good leg kick by Mills.
Meno connects with a body shot.
Mills is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mills gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mills has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Meno is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Meno wants to break free but Mills has control.
Mills has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Meno after a bit of a struggle.
Meno prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mills tries for a takedown but Meno manages to get underhooks.
Meno wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Meno breaks from the clinch.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Mills - that will leave a mark!
Meno swats away the attempt to clinch by Mills.
Meno misses with a body shot.
Mills slips a jab from Meno.
Mills moves in looking to clinch but Meno pushes him off.
Meno connects with a right hand. Mills shakes it off.
Paul Mills seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mills has closed the distance and engaged Meno in a clinch.
Meno gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mills.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meno digs a right hand into Mills's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mills's gas tank.
Meno is trying to stall.
Mills drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mills blocks a body shot from Meno.
Ele Meno has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mills drops down looking for an ankle pick but Meno pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mills moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Mills moves in looking to clinch but Meno pushes him off.

Mills has Meno up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Meno working hard to break the clinch.
Meno is leaning against Mills and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Meno struggles to land a body shot inside as Mills controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills drops down looking for an ankle pick but Meno pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ele Meno is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Meno is looking to clinch.
Meno tries to bum rush Mills with a series of wild strikes but Mills uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Meno misses with a few strikes there.
Meno fails with an attempt to clinch.

Mills gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mills jumps guard but Meno stands there with Mills around his waist. Mills gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Meno is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Meno lands a shot to the body.
Mills is working for takedown but Meno is calmly controlling the position for now.
Meno tries to throw a body punch but Mills avoids it by throwing Meno back against the cage.
Mills is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mills has Meno pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Meno manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Meno is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Meno softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Mills jumps into guard, dragging Meno to the mat.
Meno trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meno is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Meno postures up.
Meno controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Meno has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Meno trying to control the position from guard on top but Mills is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mills has his foot on Meno's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Meno works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ele Meno will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Mills closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Meno tries a body shot but Mills blocks it.
Mills drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A right handed body shot lands from Meno.
Mills has Meno pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Meno manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mills has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Meno after a bit of a struggle.
Ele Meno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Mills.
Mills has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Meno is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mills's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mills jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Meno walks away with a smile on his face. Mills gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Meno connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mills. Mills circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Some wild striking there from Meno.
Mills is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mills takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Meno gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Meno wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Meno tries a body shot but Mills blocks it.
Meno is trying to push Mills away but Mills has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meno is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Mills has Meno pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Meno manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mills is trying to drag Meno to the mat but Meno just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Meno lands a hook that snaps the head of Mills backwards.
Meno is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mills can do to turn this around?
Meno tries to throw a body punch but Mills avoids it by throwing Meno back against the cage.
Mills is looking for a takedown.
Meno working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mills tries for a takedown. No joy.
Meno misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Meno is trying to break the clinch but Mills is controlling him.
Mills prevents a body shot from Meno.
Meno scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mills is looking for a takedown.
Meno lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Mills or not.
Mills goes for a takedown attempt but Meno pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Meno throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meno throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mills stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Meno throws a body punch but Mills moves out of range.
Meno looks to land a right hand but Mills moved out of range.
Mills uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Meno.
Meno throws out a loose jab but Mills uses good head movement to avoid it.
Meno misses with a straight right.
Mills has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Meno is looking to clinch.

Mills closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Meno is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mills is trying to control the action in half guard but Meno is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Mills stands up and beckons Meno to join him on the feet.
Meno swats away the attempt to clinch by Mills.
Meno throws a body shot but no joy.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mills.
Paul Mills has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Meno misses with a punch to the body.
Mills's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Meno tries to break the clinch but Mills is controlling the position.
Meno throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Mills changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Meno fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Meno misses with a double jab.

Mills pushes Meno up against the cage in a clinch.
Meno can't break the clinch.
Mills has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Meno is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Meno lands a right hand.
Meno wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mills has him pressed against the cage.
Mills has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Meno is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Meno misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mills has Meno pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Meno manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mills blocks a body shot from Meno.
Mills drops down looking for an ankle pick but Meno pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mills throws a body punch but Meno moves out of range.
Meno tests Mills's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Meno throws a hook but Mills avoids it easily.
Mills feints the counter takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Meno. Mills does a little dance to reset his feet.
Meno backing away here, and Mills unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Mills lands with a good body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Meno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mills tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Meno paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Meno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mills.
Meno throws a jab when Mills was well out of range.
Mills throws a right hand that Meno ducks under and follows up with a left that Meno also avoids with ease.

Mills clinches up against the cage.
Ele Meno is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Meno trying to control the position but instead, Mills has worked for underhooks and has pushed Meno into the cage.
Mills lands a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ele Meno showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Meno, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ele Meno!