PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Menzies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshida Kotaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kotaro is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Dance Yourself Clean. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Menzies
vs
Kotaro

170 cm
28
140 lbs
13 - 17 - 0

194 cm
35
139 lbs
25 - 21 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Menzies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Yoshida Kotaro!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Winston Howard and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menzies throws an off balance right hand
and Kotaro counters with a straight right hand.
Some bone on bone action there as Kotaro checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Menzies takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Menzies misses the body punch
and Kotaro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Menzies tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kotaro was well out of range. Poor timing from Menzies.
Menzies uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kotaro.
Menzies throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Kotaro to counter with a crisp jab.
Kotaro is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Menzies misses with a few strikes there.
A telegraphed right hand from Menzies misses the target.
Kotaro keeps the fight on the outside.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kotaro.
Menzies missing with a left hand there. Kotaro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kotaro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kotaro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menzies comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Steve Menzies seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menzies looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Menzies throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Menzies uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kotaro.
Menzies throws a body kick that misses.
Nice body punch from Menzies.
Menzies shoots for a takedown but Kotaro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Menzies closes the distance and clinches.
Kotaro working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kotaro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kotaro with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Menzies blocks the elbow strike.
Kotaro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Knees to the body from Kotaro.
A short uppercut from Kotaro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Menzies decides to pull guard.
Menzies looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Kotaro drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Menzies dives on top into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kotaro pushes Menzies off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Menzies throws an off balance right hand
and Kotaro counters with a big head kick but Menzies shrugs it off.
Menzies tries to clinch
and Menzies takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Menzies throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Menzies looks to land a left hand but Kotaro moved out of range nicely.
Menzies throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kotaro throws the left hand but Menzies avoids the punch easily.
Menzies staying out of range there.
Menzies throws an overhand right that lands on Kotaro's shoulder, as Kotaro tries to avoid the shot.
Menzies tries for a takedown but Kotaro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Menzies.
Kotaro avoids a kick to the body.
Menzies misses with a body shot.
Menzies thows a leg kick but Kotaro checks it
and Kotaro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kotaro throws a jab but it's blocked by Menzies.
Kotaro slips under a jab from Menzies.
Menzies throws a low kick but Kotaro avoids it.
Menzies throws a shot from downtown. Kotaro moves away and avoids it.
Menzies connects with a nice looking jab.
Kotaro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Menzies.
Menzies throws out a loose jab but Kotaro uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Menzies throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Menzies fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Menzies. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menzies defending well as Kotaro loads up on a big left hand.
Menzies throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Menzies is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Kotaro's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Menzies fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Menzies throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kotaro thuds a left hand into Menzies's body.
Kotaro throws a lazy right hand but Menzies sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Menzies fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kotaro avoids it really well and circles away.
Menzies throws the left hand but Kotaro avoids the punch easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A jab from Menzies misses.
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 Steve Menzies will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kotaro throws a head kick that misses.
Menzies throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kotaro counters with a left to the body.
Kotaro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Menzies throws a poor cross that misses
and Kotaro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kotaro takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kotaro slips a jab and a cross from Menzies.
Menzies misses with a hook.
Steve Menzies is winning the standup battle so far.
Menzies throws a right hand that misses
and Menzies takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kotaro takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Good standup being displayed there by Menzies as he connects with a hook.
Menzies uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kotaro.
Menzies throws a lazy right hand but Kotaro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Menzies.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menzies cracks a nice hook into Kotaro's ribs.
Kotaro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Menzies swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Menzies does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Menzies looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kotaro is fending him off so far but Menzies persists. Nope, Kotaro circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from Menzies does no damage.
Kotaro with a hook.
Menzies misses with a looping right.
Menzies throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kotaro counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Menzies is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nice sprawl there from Kotaro as Menzies shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Menzies. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Menzies fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kotaro manages to avoid it.
Menzies shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kotaro as he jumps to the side.
Kotaro moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Menzies throws out a leg kick but Kotaro moves out of range and Menzies only half commits.
No joy there for Menzies, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Menzies connects with a looping right hand.
Menzies misses with a hook. Kotaro ducked under it nicely.
Kotaro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kotaro moves away from the strike by Menzies.
Menzies misses with a right hand
and Kotaro counters with a head kick.
Kotaro is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Menzies looks to throw the jab but Kotaro is out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Menzies takes a swing at Kotaro's ribcage but misses.
A low kick from Menzies misses
and Kotaro counters with a straight right hand.
Kotaro has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kotaro throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menzies takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kotaro ducks under a wild hook from Menzies.
A clash of legs there as Kotaro blocks the low kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Menzies.
Menzies looks to land a combination but Kotaro avoids it well.
Yoshida Kotaro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Menzies throws out a powerful jab.
Kotaro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Menzies manages to avoid it.
A big left from Menzies misses.
Kotaro blocks a jab.
Menzies swats away the attempt to clinch by Kotaro.
Menzies walks into a straight right hand from Kotaro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menzies thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kotaro has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kotaro there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kotaro lands a lovely overhand right.
A swing and a miss from Menzies.
Menzies swings widly with a right hand
and Kotaro counters with a head kick.

Menzies is rocked!
Menzies darts in trying to clinch
and Kotaro counters with a right hand to the body.
Oh Menzies is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A jab from Menzies misses.
Menzies tries to clinch up
and Kotaro counters with a head kick that wobbles Menzies - left then right he sways and one more bomb from Kotaro sends him down. This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yoshida Kotaro!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Yoshida Kotaro waved his t-shirt featuring Black Belt Nutrition #=========||=========# 's logo in front of the cameras.