PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daren Herman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maurico Menez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Daren Herman has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Daren Herman seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Herman
vs
Menez

182 cm
20
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daren Herman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maurico Menez!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Herman shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Herman is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Menez trying to control but Herman postures up.
Herman tries to stand but can't do so whilst Menez controls his leg.
Menez is pressing down on Herman's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Menez seems keen to control Herman's posture.
Herman wants to get up but he can't break Menez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Herman trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Menez pulls Herman in close to his closed guard and prevents Herman from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menez has his foot on Herman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Herman works his way back into a safe position though.
Menez keeping moving, preventing Herman from controlling successfully.
Herman tries to stand but Menez is controlling from the bottom.
Menez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Some wild striking there from Herman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Herman feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Menez seems keen to control Herman's posture.
Herman stopping the sweep attempt from Menez.
Herman tries to stand but Menez is controlling from the bottom.
Menez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Herman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menez has Herman pulled in close to control his posture.
Menez keeping moving, preventing Herman from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Menez shoots in and drives through. Herman sprawls well.
Menez fails with a takedown attempt.
Menez looks winded!

Herman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Menez's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Menez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Herman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Herman trying to control but Menez is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Menez has a closed guard, preventing Herman from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Daren Herman.

Menez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daren Herman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Herman throws a right hand that Menez ducks under and follows up with a left that Menez also avoids with ease.

Menez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Menez wants to take a breather but Herman is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Menez tries to pass to full mount but Herman defends it.
Herman tries to kick Menez off but Menez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Menez is trying for a kimura here. Herman looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Menez wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Maurico Menez!
During a confident post fight interview, Maurico Menez thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.