PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JD Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Menezes
vs
Smith

180 cm
22
156 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
168 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Menezes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, JD Smith!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Menezes gets the takedown into side control.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.

Menezes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Menezes creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Smith sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Menezes misses with the ground and pound.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Menezes trying to control the position but Smith is working away.
Menezes working the body and head with strikes.
Menezes is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Menezes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smith is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Menezes staying calm.
Smith pushes Menezes away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Menezes gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Menezes is staying tight to Smith's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Menezes trying to control the position but Smith is working away.

Wanderlei Menezes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Smith looks for a takedown but Menezes sprawls well.
A jab from Smith misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch up.

Smith gets a clinch.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The referee is keeping an eye on Smith - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Menezes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Menezes tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Menezes drops back down to his feet.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Smith receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Menezes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith lands with a nice body kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith lands a head kick!
A clash of legs there as Menezes blocks the low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Menezes tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
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 Wanderlei Menezes will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith misses with a double jab.

Menezes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Come on Smith - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Menezes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.
Smith has Menezes pressed against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by JD Smith.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Menezes tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with a nice low kick that buckles Menezes's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith instigates a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Menezes's brow.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but Menezes leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Menezes is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Menezes avoids it.
Smith avoiding damage as Menezes throws knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Menezes fails to land.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Menezes is trying to maintain a safe position but Smith gets an underhook and turns Menezes into the cage.
Smith trying to stall but Menezes improves his position.
Menezes tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smith lands a nice elbow.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Menezes is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Menezes blocks an elbow strike.
Smith effectively controlling the action here.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Menezes.
Smith taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Menezes blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to work over Menezes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith with a knee to the head.
Menezes is trying to pull guard but Smith turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Smith can't find room to land a body shot as Menezes controls the action.
Smith scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Menezes is defending well for now.
Smith scores a nice knee to the body.

Smith connects with a massive knee from the clinch and Menezes goes down! Smith jumps into full mount looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JD Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Menezes tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith wants to clinch up but Menezes keeps it at a distance.
Menezes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith throws a leg kick but Menezes sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Menezes swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Smith shoots in but Menezes avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Smith clinches up with Menezes and pushes him back against the cage.
Menezes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Menezes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Menezes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Smith prevents it.
Smith tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Menezes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith lands an elbow inside.
Smith is struggling to control the position.
Menezes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Menezes stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a nice knee to the body.
Menezes avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Menezes avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd are getting on Smith's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a shot to the side of Menezes's head.
Smith taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by JD Smith.
That kick from Smith tenderised Menezes's leg. Menezes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Smith wants to slow Menezes down by chopping away at his legs.
Menezes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Smith with a hook.
Menezes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Menezes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith throws a leg kick but Menezes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Smith throws a leg kick which misses Menezes's front leg but catches the back leg as Menezes tries to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes staying out of range there.
Smith looks to land a combination but Menezes avoids it well.
Menezes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Menezes persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
JD Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JD Smith!