PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Van White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). White comes into the arena with Hey Baby, Que Paso? blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

White
vs
Menezes

165 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
156 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Van White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White wants to clinch but Menezes slips to the side

and Menezes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
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 White walks away with a smile on his face. Menezes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Menezes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
White wants to clinch

and Menezes counters with a single leg into guard. White didn't expect that.
White can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Menezes controls the pace.
White might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
White keeping full guard, as Menezes tries to pass.
Menezes trying to control the position from guard on top but White is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.

Wanderlei Menezes has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
White fails in his attempt to clinch.
Menezes fails with the takedown.
Van White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Menezes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

White moves into the clinch.
White throws a punch but it's blocked by Menezes.
Menezes tries to pull guard but White forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
White misses with a short punch on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Menezes.
White fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Menezes drags the fight down to the ground.
White trying to control the position from guard on top but Menezes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Menezes is working an open guard so White takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
White closes the distance but Menezes moves to the side

and Menezes moves into the clinch.
White working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, White creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
White tries to throw a body punch but Menezes avoids it by throwing White back against the cage.
White misses with the head strike.
Menezes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Menezes misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Menezes manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Menezes with that takedown attempt.
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!
White is looking to clinch.
White is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
White tries to clinch but Menezes moves away

and Menezes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in White's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
White is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White keeping full guard, as Menezes tries to pass.
Menezes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
White knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Menezes on the ground.
White is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Menezes looking to pass the guard.
White striking off his back but it's not causing Menezes any problems.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Menezes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Wanderlei Menezes wasn't active enough on the ground.
Menezes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Menezes fails with the takedown.
Menezes swats away the attempt to clinch by White.
White wants to clinch

and Menezes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in White's guard now.
White is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Menezes is controlling him.
Menezes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Menezes dominated that round.
That's time! White's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

White closes the distance but Menezes moves to the side

so Menezes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Menezes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on White, up you get!
Menezes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. White defends it nicely.
Menezes circles away from the clinch attempt

and Menezes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
White swings wildly with an uppercut but Menezes uses good head movement to avoid it.
White swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Menezes jumps guard but White turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Menezes drags the fight down to the ground.
White is looking to stand up but Menezes won't let him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes wants to stand but White is controlling the position.
White throws a strike but Menezes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

White is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
White working aggressively here.
White lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Menezes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
White throws a punch but it's blocked by Menezes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
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 White walks away with a smile on his face. Menezes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Van White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Menezes.
White fails with an attempt to clinch.
White darts in trying to clinch

so Menezes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
White is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Menezes trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
Menezes tries to free his leg and advance position but White is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes slips nicely into half guard.

White is defending against the submission attempts here by Menezes.
Menezes content to control rather than advance.
White is looking to escape.

Menezes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Menezes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White is in trouble now - Menezes has advanced to mount!
White is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
White tries to buck Menezes off but he can't manage it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Menezes controlling from mount.
White tries to lock up and control but Menezes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menezes controlling the position easily from mount.
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 the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

White tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Menezes counters with a nice double leg into side control. White won't be happy with that.
Menezes wants to control but White is keeping him busy.
White trying to remain calm as Menezes controls from the top position.
Menezes trying to control the action but White is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Menezes landing a few strikes.
Menezes controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes avoids the strikes from the bottom by White.
Menezes is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down White's shoulder. That is not cool.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wanderlei Menezes was stalling too much, according to the referee.
White tries to clinch up but Menezes circles away and keeps his distance.
White wants to clinch but Menezes slips to the side

and Menezes counters with a shoot takedown. White fights it but they end up in guard.
Menezes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Menezes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Menezes prevents White from getting back to his feet.
Menezes wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Wanderlei Menezes.
White closes the distance but Menezes moves to the side

and Menezes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in White's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Menezes stops White from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Menezes's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Wanderlei Menezes.
White tries to clinch up

and Menezes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
White wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.
White on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
White avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Menezes.
Menezes trying to control the pace.
Let's hope that Menezes has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Wanderlei Menezes has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
White darts in trying to clinch

and Menezes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
Menezes content to stall in guard here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menezes wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
Wanderlei Menezes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
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.
Van White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Wanderlei Menezes wasn't active enough on the ground.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Menezes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Menezes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Menezes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

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