PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabricio Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Menezes's choice of entrance music: Charlinho, o menino que só queria estudar - Hermes & Renato. Fabricio Werdum had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Werdum
vs
Menezes

190 cm
27
289 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

225 cm
20
300 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabricio Werdum!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Charles Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Werdum walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

It looks like Fabricio Werdum has been cut.
Fabricio Werdum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Werdum showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Menezes.
Werdum looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Menezes is fending him off so far but Werdum persists. Nope, Menezes circles away and we're back to standing.

Werdum feints and as Menezes raises his hands in defense, Werdum changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Menezes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Werdum is controlling him.
Werdum wants to pass the guard but Menezes is keeping the position.
Menezes is wriggling around but Werdum manages to pass to half guard.
Werdum works his way into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Werdum is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Menezes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Werdum is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Menezes has escaped the position, nice work there.
Werdum wants to control but Menezes is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Werdum tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Werdum has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Werdum working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Werdum looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Werdum has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Menezes!
Werdum mounts Menezes! Really nice guard pass there!
The referee warns Menezes that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
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!
Werdum lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Menezes hang on?
Menezes takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum content just to control the position here.
Werdum with the ground and pound from mount.
Werdum has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Werdum working for a guillotine from mount but Menezes is in no mood to give up.
Werdum controlling the position easily from mount.
Werdum tries to control but Menezes wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Werdum is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Werdum extends the arm and Menezes is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Fabricio Werdum!
Fabricio Werdum retains his super heavyweight title!