PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Anderson
vs
Menezes

180 cm
26
157 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
156 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mikel Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson 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 Anderson off to one side.
Anderson misses with a straight right.
Anderson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Menezes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Anderson throws a right and a left that Menezes avoids nicely.
Anderson looks for a takedown but Menezes sprawls well.
Menezes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Anderson swivels and escapes.
Anderson wants to clinch up but Menezes keeps it at a distance.

Anderson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Menezes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Menezes from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson wants to sweep but no luck.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Menezes from controlling successfully.
Anderson controlling Menezes's posture.
Menezes postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikel Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anderson shoots in looking for a takedown but Menezes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Anderson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Menezes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Anderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Anderson misses with a hook.
Anderson closes the distance and clinches up with Menezes, looking for a takedown. Anderson pushes Menezes against the cage but Menezes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anderson instigates a clinch.

Menezes gets control of Anderson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Menezes will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Menezes being controlled here, momentarily.
Anderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Menezes has a closed guard, preventing Anderson from standing up.
Anderson is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Anderson. No joy for Menezes on that attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Menezes tries to land knees in the clinch but Anderson avoids the damage to the body.
Anderson is trying to drag Menezes to the mat but Menezes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Anderson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Menezes smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson throws a sloppy head kick and Menezes moves out of range easily.
Anderson closes the distance and clinches up with Menezes, looking for a takedown. Anderson pushes Menezes against the cage but Menezes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Menezes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Anderson tries to avoid it but Menezes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Anderson to the ground. Anderson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Menezes fails to land the takedown.
Anderson tries to clinch there but Menezes circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes slaps away a takedown attempt from Anderson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Anderson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Menezes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mikel Anderson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Menezes looking to score a takedown here. Anderson is defending well but Menezes drives through and ends up in Anderson's guard.
Anderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Anderson, not yet.
Anderson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Menezes on the ground.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Menezes from controlling successfully.
Menezes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Anderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Menezes is one step ahead there.

Menezes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Anderson, up you get!
Anderson shoots in for a takedown but Menezes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Menezes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Anderson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Anderson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Menezes closes the distance and clinches up with Anderson, looking for a takedown. Menezes pushes Anderson against the cage but Anderson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Anderson 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 Anderson off to one side.

Anderson closes the distance and pushes Menezes back into the cage.

Menezes gets control of Anderson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Menezes will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Menezes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Menezes looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Menezes is breathing heavily.

Menezes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Menezes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Anderson is looking to escape.
Menezes working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Menezes looking to control but Anderson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Anderson wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Menezes is working for a guillotine from mount but Anderson frees his head quite easily.

Menezes working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Anderson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wanderlei Menezes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Menezes goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Anderson turns into him and now he's in Menezes's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menezes looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes keeping moving, preventing Anderson from controlling successfully.
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.
That's time! Anderson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Menezes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Menezes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Anderson misses the shot to the body.
Anderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Menezes was well out of range. Poor timing from Anderson.
Anderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Anderson. Menezes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Menezes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Anderson avoids it really well and circles away.
Anderson shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menezes gets a double leg takedown into Anderson's guard.
Menezes looking to pass the guard.
Menezes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Anderson keeps moving.

Anderson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anderson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Menezes is aware though and is defending well.
Menezes looking to pass the guard.
Anderson wants to improve his position but instead Menezes has moved into half guard.
Menezes wants to take a breather but Anderson is having none of it.
Menezes controlling the action here.
Menezes tries to pass to full mount but Anderson defends it.
Anderson is looking to control Menezes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Anderson avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Menezes wants to pass to mount but Anderson is defending the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wanderlei Menezes was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Menezes avoids the body shot from Anderson.
Menezes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Anderson but Anderson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mikel Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Menezes.
Anderson looks to land a body kick but Menezes moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson moves to clinch but Menezes breaks away

and Menezes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anderson trying to keep a closed guard but Menezes is proving a slippery customer.
Menezes throws a big elbow that misses.
Menezes is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Anderson keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Menezes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Menezes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

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