PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Granite Mantooth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Vai Cavalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vai Cavalo has chosen Tropa de Elite as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mantooth
vs
Vai Cavalo

220 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
256 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Granite Mantooth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fabricio Vai Cavalo!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Alyssa Summers and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vai Cavalo instigates a clinch.

Mantooth manages to break the clinch.
Vai Cavalo is looking to clinch but Mantooth is avoiding it.
Vai Cavalo tries to clinch up but Mantooth circles away and keeps his distance.
Mantooth misses with a two punch combination.

Mantooth scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Vai Cavalo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mantooth controls the position.
Vai Cavalo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mantooth's best efforts.
Vai Cavalo regains full guard. Nicely done.

Mantooth decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Vai Cavalo, up you get!
Vai Cavalo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mantooth but Mantooth pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mantooth is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vai Cavalo dodges the punch combination from Mantooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantooth tries for a takedown but Vai Cavalo circles away easily

and Vai Cavalo counters with a shoot takedown. Mantooth fights it but they end up in guard.
Mantooth being controlled here, momentarily.
Vai Cavalo trying to control but Mantooth is working from the bottom.
Vai Cavalo looks gassed!
Mantooth tries to strike from the bottom.
Vai Cavalo wants to control from the top but Mantooth keeps moving.
Mantooth pulls Vai Cavalo in close to prevent any damage.
Mantooth can't keep his opponent in guard - Vai Cavalo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mantooth is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vai Cavalo wants to pass to mount but Mantooth is defending the position.
Vai Cavalo trying to control from half guard but Mantooth is working away.
Mantooth pushes Vai Cavalo off looking to stand but Vai Cavalo dives back in and keeps control.
Mantooth wants to improve his position but Vai Cavalo is controlling well.
Mantooth is refusing to be controlled, as Vai Cavalo sits in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vai Cavalo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mantooth really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Mantooth shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vai Cavalo's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vai Cavalo holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vai Cavalo trying to keep a closed guard but Mantooth is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantooth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vai Cavalo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vai Cavalo has momentary wrist control but Mantooth slips an elbow through the middle.
Vai Cavalo keeping moving, preventing Mantooth from controlling successfully.
Mantooth scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vai Cavalo being controlled here, momentarily.
Mantooth trying to control but Vai Cavalo is working from the bottom.
Mantooth wants to stand but Vai Cavalo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mantooth has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Vai Cavalo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four 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.
Mantooth wants to control from the top but Vai Cavalo keeps moving.
Vai Cavalo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vai Cavalo wants to control the pace but Mantooth is squirming around nicely.
Mantooth has given up his back here. Will Vai Cavalo look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Vai Cavalo is hanging on to Mantooth's back as he tries to escape.
Vai Cavalo is working the ground and pound. Can Mantooth escape?
Vai Cavalo controls the action.

Vai Cavalo is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Mantooth defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Vai Cavalo dominated that round.
That's time! Mantooth's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mantooth looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mantooth looking to pass the guard.
Mantooth lands a couple of elbows.
Vai Cavalo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Vai Cavalo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Mantooth is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Vai Cavalo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Mantooth's back instead.
A lull in the action here.
Vai Cavalo is not going to allow Mantooth to sit and survive in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vai Cavalo is breathing heavily.
Mantooth is trying to get back to his feet but Vai Cavalo has full control of the position and if anything, Mantooth has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Vai Cavalo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Mantooth manages to reverse the position and now he's in Vai Cavalo's guard. Nice work there by Mantooth.
Vai Cavalo keeping moving, preventing Mantooth from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mantooth throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vai Cavalo.
Mantooth tries for a takedown but Vai Cavalo circles away easily

and Vai Cavalo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mantooth!
Mantooth gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantooth is trying to get back to full guard.
Vai Cavalo is pressing down on Mantooth's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mantooth is holding on for now.

Mantooth looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Vai Cavalo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mantooth gets back to full guard.

Mantooth has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vai Cavalo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mantooth manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vai Cavalo is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantooth trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vai Cavalo wants to hold on but Mantooth pushes him away.
Mantooth with shots to the head and body - Vai Cavalo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Vai Cavalo is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Vai Cavalo taking shots to the head.
Vai Cavalo tries to lock up and control but Mantooth gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mantooth is landing with some decent strikes but Vai Cavalo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Vai Cavalo is rocked!
Vai Cavalo tries to hold on but Mantooth pushes him away.
Vai Cavalo is still in real trouble! Can Mantooth finish him?
Mantooth will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vai Cavalo is bucking up trying to escape but Mantooth cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

It looks like Fabricio Vai Cavalo has been cut.
Vai Cavalo is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantooth trying to control but Vai Cavalo is having none of it.
Vai Cavalo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mantooth with shots to the head and body - Vai Cavalo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mantooth putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vai Cavalo is desperately trying to improve his position but Mantooth has a good base and remains in mount.
Vai Cavalo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Vai Cavalo gets back to full guard.
Mantooth would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vai Cavalo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vai Cavalo seems to have recovered his senses.
Vai Cavalo tries to control but Mantooth wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Granite Mantooth dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fabricio Vai Cavalo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mantooth has his takedown stuffed

and Vai Cavalo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vai Cavalo.
Mantooth wants to stand up but Vai Cavalo is controlling him.

Mantooth is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vai Cavalo is stalling in the full guard.

Vai Cavalo stands up from Mantooth's guard - Vai Cavalo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mantooth tries to clinch but Vai Cavalo moves away

so Vai Cavalo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Mantooth will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Vai Cavalo 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.
Vai Cavalo stands and throws Mantooth's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vai Cavalo is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Mantooth tries to bench press Vai Cavalo off him but Vai Cavalo keeps the position.
Vai Cavalo taking a breather here.

Vai Cavalo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mantooth tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vai Cavalo 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 Mantooth's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mantooth is looking for a sweep.
Mantooth stops Vai Cavalo from passing to mount.

Vai Cavalo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Vai Cavalo controlling the position from side mount.
Vai Cavalo is looking to take a break and control but Mantooth is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fabricio Vai Cavalo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mantooth is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vai Cavalo decides to stand back up. Vai Cavalo steps back and let's Mantooth get back to his feet.
Vai Cavalo wants to clinch but Mantooth slips to the side
and Mantooth counters with a body kick.
Mantooth fails with the takedown

and Vai Cavalo counters with a single leg into guard. Mantooth didn't expect that.

Mantooth is looking for a triangle but Vai Cavalo pushes his legs off easily.
Vai Cavalo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mantooth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mantooth seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Vai Cavalo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vai Cavalo trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantooth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vai Cavalo won't allow Mantooth to sweep him here.
Vai Cavalo wants to control from the top but Mantooth keeps moving.
Vai Cavalo lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Mantooth throws a leg kick

and Vai Cavalo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vai Cavalo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mantooth can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vai Cavalo controls the pace.
Vai Cavalo preventing the sweep.

Vai Cavalo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mantooth clinches but Vai Cavalo breaks the clinch

and Vai Cavalo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mantooth throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Vai Cavalo advances to half guard.
Mantooth is staying active underneath Vai Cavalo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vai Cavalo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vai Cavalo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mantooth does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Vai Cavalo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Vai Cavalo trying to control from half guard but Mantooth is working away.

Vai Cavalo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabricio Vai Cavalo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vai Cavalo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabricio Vai Cavalo!