PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nilo Matano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucio Faber (ranked 0 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.

Matano
vs
Faber

180 cm
22
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
22
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 Rio de Janeiro, Nilo Matano!
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, Lucio Faber!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Matano misses with a takedown

so Faber counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Matano has an active guard here but Faber has managed to pass into half guard.
Matano trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Faber manages to pass to mount!
Matano tries to lock up and control but Faber gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Faber lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Matano tries to lock up and control but Faber gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matano is desperately trying to improve his position but Faber has a good base and remains in mount.
Matano tries to hold on but Faber postures up.
Matano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber unloading with bombs!

Faber is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Matano has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Matano defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Faber.
Faber looks gassed!

That's two 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.
Faber lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Matano tries to control Faber's body but Faber pushes him off. Matano squirms to his side and now Faber has his back!
Matano turns into Faber and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faber is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Matano decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Matano forces Faber back against the cage and clinches.

Matano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Matano shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Matano was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Faber tries to hold on but Matano postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matano wants to control the pace but Faber is squirming around nicely.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Matano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Matano raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Matano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matano lands a head kick. Faber smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Matano fails with the takedown

and Faber counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Matano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Faber trying to control the position from guard on top but Matano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Faber is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Matano is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Matano has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matano postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matano gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Matano misses with a takedown

and Faber counters with a takedown into side control.

Faber looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matano is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Faber cracks Matano with a big elbow.

Faber tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matano manages to get back to half guard.
Faber is trying to control the action in half guard but Matano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lucio Faber has got the better of the ground game so far.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Faber connects with a nice short shot to Matano's temple.
Faber trying to control from Matano's half guard. Matano has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Matano controls Faber momentarily but Faber frees himself.
Matano really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Matano is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Faber drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Matano manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Faber has Matano in his guard.
Matano trying to control the position from guard on top but Faber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucio Faber 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Matano tries to clinch but Faber moves out of range.
Faber misses with a takedown attempt

and Matano moves into the clinch.

Faber manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Faber has a closed guard, preventing Matano from standing up.

Faber has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Matano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matano would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Matano 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.
Matano looking to sit in guard and control but Faber gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Matano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Matano isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Faber stacks Matano 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 Faber!
Matano takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faber wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Matano, who protects the arm well.
Matano is trying to control Faber's posture but Faber avoids it.

Faber tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Matano is looking to get back to his feet here but Faber is keeping cool and he's managed to take Matano's back.
Matano tries to roll but Faber sticks to his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucio Faber comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Faber 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucio Faber!