PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manolito Gafotas (ranked 6302 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Menezes (ranked 6332 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gafotas
vs
Menezes

185 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manolito Gafotas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack Menezes!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menezes tries to clinch but Gafotas is having none of it.
Menezes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gafotas paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Menezes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gafotas sprawls well initially but Menezes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gafotas gets back to full guard.
Menezes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gafotas's guard.
Menezes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gafotas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gafotas wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gafotas looking for a sweep. Not yet Gafotas, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes trying to control but Gafotas is working from the bottom.
Gafotas is pulling down on Menezes's head to control his posture.
Gafotas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Menezes drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gafotas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Menezes is controlling him.

Gafotas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Menezes is aware though and is defending well.
Menezes trying to control but Gafotas is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menezes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gafotas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Menezes.
Menezes looking to sit in guard and control but Gafotas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Menezes being controlled here, momentarily.
Gafotas seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Menezes for as long as he can get away with.
Menezes wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Gafotas is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gafotas controlling the pace.
Menezes is in trouble now - Gafotas has advanced to mount!
Gafotas controlling his opponent.
Gafotas landing strikes from the mount.
Gafotas with good strikes from the mount here!
Gafotas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gafotas has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Menezes is desperately trying to improve his position but Gafotas has a good base and remains in mount.
Gafotas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gafotas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gafotas controlling from mount.
Gafotas landing punches.
Gafotas controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manolito Gafotas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Menezes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Manolito Gafotas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Menezes wants to take a breather but Gafotas is having none of it.
Gafotas trying to control here.
Menezes wants to take a breather but Gafotas is having none of it.
Gafotas tries to roll over but Menezes keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gafotas is doing well to control the position and prevent Menezes from advancing to side control.
Menezes not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gafotas tries to roll over but Menezes keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gafotas throws a series of punches but Menezes avoids them all with ease.
Menezes lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Menezes jabs at Gafotas's body.
Menezes throws a right hand that Gafotas ducks under and follows up with a left that Gafotas also avoids with ease.

Gafotas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gafotas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gafotas 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 Menezes's shoulder. That is not cool.
Menezes is looking to regain half guard here but Gafotas keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Menezes's face as Gafotas controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Gafotas.
Menezes is looking for a sweep.
Menezes being controlled for a moment.
Menezes is looking to reverse the position.
Gafotas gets to mount! Menezes was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gafotas controlling from the full mount.
Gafotas continues to hold on tight.
Gafotas with shots to the head and body - Menezes looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gafotas connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Menezes tries to hold on but Gafotas pushes him away.
Gafotas content just to control the position here.
Gafotas's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Gafotas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Menezes can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Menezes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gafotas controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manolito Gafotas dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Menezes tries to clinch up.

Gafotas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Menezes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gafotas is in Menezes's guard.
Gafotas wants to pass the guard but Menezes is keeping the position.
Menezes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gafotas controls the pace.
Gafotas wants to stand but Menezes is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gafotas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menezes working a defensive guard here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gafotas controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Gafotas looking to score a takedown here. Menezes is defending well but Gafotas drives through and ends up in Menezes's guard.
Menezes wants to sweep but no luck.
Gafotas 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Gafotas.
Gafotas connects with a couple of short punches.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Menezes is on top in guard.

Menezes is fighting to break Gafotas's control of his arms but Gafotas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gafotas 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menezes wants to control from the top but Gafotas keeps moving.
Gafotas 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.
Gafotas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Menezes.
Gafotas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gafotas looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gafotas 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Menezes is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gafotas's half guard.
Menezes tries to stand and escape but Gafotas actually recovers to full guard.
Jack Menezes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manolito Gafotas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gafotas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manolito Gafotas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gafotas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manolito Gafotas!