PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between King Kong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Menezes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). King Kong has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kong
vs
Menezes

225 cm
28
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
27
156 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, King Kong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kong misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kong tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Menezes defends well and Kong ends up having to push Menezes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Menezes.
Menezes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Menezes stalling against the cage.
Kong has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Come on Menezes - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Menezes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Menezes takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Menezes jumps into guard, dragging Kong to the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kong prevents Menezes from getting back to his feet.
Menezes looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Menezes is wriggling around but Kong manages to pass to half guard.
Menezes is positioning himself well to prevent Kong advancing to mount.
Menezes wants to control the action here but instead Kong manages to pass to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong looking to control but Menezes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Menezes is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Menezes is looking to get to half guard.
Menezes is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Kong wants to take Menezes's back here but Menezes is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Menezes is desperately trying to improve his position but Kong has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong fails to advance to Menezes's back.
Menezes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Menezes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kong looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Menezes really wants to buck Kong off and get back to his feet.
Menezes is looking to improve his position but Kong isn't that keen on the idea.
Menezes is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Kong really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes can't escape the position.
Kong pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Menezes wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Menezes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kong will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kong sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes tries to kick Kong off in order to stand up. Kong Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Menezes dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kong dives in for a single leg takedown but Menezes sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Menezes misses with some punches.
Kong has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Menezes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kong goes for a takedown attempt but Menezes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for King Kong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kong circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kong doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Menezes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kong is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Menezes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kong manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Menezes has Kong in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong stops Menezes from standing up.
Kong is standing up over Menezes. Menezes looks to escape but Kong dives into side control.
Menezes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Menezes is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Wanderlei Menezes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes wants to control but Kong postures up.
Kong prevents Menezes from escaping the position.
Menezes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kong off and has taken his back!
Menezes trying to control.
I really don't envy Kong right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Kong hold on?
Kong tries to escape the position.

Menezes is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kong is defending well though. Menezes let's go of the attempt for now.

Menezes is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kong knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kong for a finish.
Kong is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menezes doesn't have the hooks in and Kong manages to turn into his guard.
Menezes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Menezes is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kong dives into side control.
Menezes is pushing Kong's head away, looking to escape. Kong manages to hold on to the position though.
Menezes is looking to reverse the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menezes is trying to get back to his feet.
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 round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kong with a poor takedown

and Menezes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Menezes has a couple of punches blocked by Kong.
Menezes throws an elbow that misses.
Menezes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kong.
Kong is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Menezes to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for King Kong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Menezes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Menezes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kong backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menezes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Menezes tries to close the distance and clinch but Kong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kong fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Menezes, pushing him back against the cage.
Menezes is pressed up against the cage. Kong has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Menezes down to the mat. Menezes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Kong clinches up with Menezes and pushes him back against the cage.

Kong pulls guard effortlessly.
Menezes postures up in Kong's guard and throws a big left but Kong blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Menezes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Menezes tries to free his leg and advance position but Kong is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Kong keeps moving.

Kong isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Menezes stacks Kong on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Menezes!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Menezes working the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kong managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Menezes.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kong regains half guard.
Menezes stalling.
Menezes moves into full mount! Kong won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Menezes jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kong is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kong and Menezes has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Menezes trying to control the action but Kong is working from the bottom.
Wanderlei Menezes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

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