PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leon King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Socrates Menoleus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

King
vs
Menoleus

186 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
22
175 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leon King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Socrates Menoleus!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menoleus stuffs the takedown attempt from King. King gets slowly back to his feet.
King dives in and grabs Menoleus's left leg, looking for a takedown. Menoleus pushes down on King's head and hops out.
King shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Menoleus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Menoleus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

King throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Menoleus was covering up waiting for the punch and King finishes the takedown easily into guard.
King is stalling in the full guard.
King tries to free his leg and advance position but Menoleus is retaining full guard.
King is stalling in the full guard.

Menoleus has his foot on King's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. King works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menoleus can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as King controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Menoleus looking for a guillotine here but King defends easily.

Menoleus is looking for a triangle but King pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Menoleus looks gassed!
King is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Menoleus is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Menoleus being controlled here, momentarily.
King wants to pass the guard but Menoleus is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King passes Menoleus's left leg - he's now in half guard.
King controlling the pace.

Menoleus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
King drops an elbow to the side of Menoleus's head.
King knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Menoleus on the ground.
King slows the pace down in half guard.
King'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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Leon King just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Menoleus stuffs the takedown attempt from King. King gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menoleus stuffs the takedown attempt from King. King gets slowly back to his feet.
Menoleus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
King has a takedown stuffed.
Menoleus scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
King tries for a takedown but Menoleus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
King shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Menoleus defends it nicely.
Menoleus throws a nice looking combination but King bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
King fails to land the takedown.
Menoleus stuffs the takedown.
King shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Menoleus defends it nicely.
Menoleus misses with a double jab.

King closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Menoleus did well to prevent King getting side control.
Menoleus slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Menoleus looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Socrates Menoleus will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A combination from Menoleus does no damage.
King shoots for a takedown but Menoleus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A lazy left from Menoleus finds it's target.
King fails with a takedown attempt.
King shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Menoleus defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Menoleus throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King is trying hard to land a takedown here. Menoleus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
King throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Menoleus's waist but Menoleus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing King off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menoleus lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
King takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
King shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Menoleus as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A punch combination from Menoleus misses.
Menoleus swinging wildly here.
King shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Menoleus but Menoleus pushes him off and we're back to square one.
King shoots in for a takedown but Menoleus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
King fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
King shoots for a takedown but Menoleus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Menoleus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
King tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Menoleus swivels and escapes.
Menoleus will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Menoleus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Menoleus scores with a jab to the head.
Menoleus leaves King with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
King shoots for a takedown but Menoleus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
King is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Menoleus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Menoleus gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Menoleus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. King gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Menoleus is looking for a triangle but King pushes his legs off easily.

Menoleus looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
King pushes down on Menoleus's leg and manages to get into half guard.
King prevents Menoleus from improving his position.
King seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
King stalling.
Menoleus is staying active underneath King, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menoleus wants to improve his position but King is controlling well.
King works his way into side control.
King moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Check out the look on King's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Menoleus. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Menoleus prevents King from moving into mount.
King moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Menoleus gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
King is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Socrates Menoleus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

No joy there for Menoleus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
King closes this distance looking for a takedown but Menoleus circles away.
Menoleus stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Menoleus wants it to stay on the feet.
King misses with a takedown attempt - Menoleus sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Menoleus stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Menoleus wants it to stay on the feet.
Menoleus stuffs the takedown attempt from King. King gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Menoleus tries to avoid it but King manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Menoleus to the ground. Menoleus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Menoleus leaves King with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from King.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King dives in and grabs Menoleus's left leg, looking for a takedown. Menoleus pushes down on King's head and hops out.
Menoleus works over King's head and body with a nice combination.
Menoleus lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A right-left combo lands from Menoleus.
Menoleus lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but King circles away quickly and effectively.
Menoleus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by King.
King shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Menoleus defends it nicely.
Menoleus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menoleus throws a nice looking combination but King bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
King shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Menoleus but Menoleus pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from King is defended easily by Menoleus.
Menoleus lands with a nice combination. King backs away looking to recover.
Menoleus throws a series of punches but King moves out of range.
Socrates Menoleus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
King misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King shoots for a takedown but Menoleus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Menoleus rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but King moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Menoleus slaps away a takedown attempt from King, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A right-left combo lands from Menoleus.
King closes the distance and clinches up with Menoleus, looking for a takedown. King pushes Menoleus against the cage but Menoleus circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Menoleus slaps away a takedown attempt from King, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Menoleus scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Menoleus swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Menoleus stuffs the takedown.
Menoleus misses with a series of wild punches.
Menoleus looks to land a combination but King avoids it well.
A punch combination from Menoleus misses.
King shoots in for a double leg but Menoleus sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Menoleus fails to land with a series of punches.
Socrates Menoleus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King fails with a takedown attempt.
King shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Menoleus defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Socrates Menoleus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Menoleus 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Socrates Menoleus!