PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Will Freitas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Freitas
vs
Tavares

168 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

167 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Will Freitas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Tavares!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavares rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Freitas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Freitas stalks Tavares and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tavares's face. Tavares staggers backwards, shaken.
Freitas shoots in looking for a takedown. Tavares tries to sprawl out of it but Freitas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tavares manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Freitas.

Freitas rushes Tavares and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Freitas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Will Freitas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tavares dips to his left and cracks Freitas with an uppercut!
Tavares avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Freitas scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Freitas closes the distance and clinches.
Freitas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Freitas gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tavares regains guard.
Freitas thows a big elbow that misses.
Tavares working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Freitas.
Freitas throws and elbow that misses. Tavares uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Freitas's guard. Nice move by Tavares!
Tavares wants to get up but he can't break Freitas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Freitas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Freitas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Tavares stands up from Freitas's guard - Tavares perhaps looking for a knockout.

Freitas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tavares, pushing him back against the cage.
Tavares working hard to break the clinch.
Tavares gets underhooks to prevent Freitas's takedown attempt.
Freitas prevents Tavares from breaking the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Freitas scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares looking for a takedown.

Freitas lands a takedown into guard.
Tavares avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Freitas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Freitas throws and elbow that misses. Tavares uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Freitas's guard. Nice move by Tavares!
Freitas is breathing heavily.
Tavares trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Freitas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tavares has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Freitas is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares tries to free his leg and advance position but Freitas is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Freitas tries to close the distance and clinch but Tavares swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Freitas fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Will Freitas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freitas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
No joy there for Tavares, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Freitas scores with a takedown into Tavares's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tavares is on top in guard.
Tavares passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tavares stands up and beckons Freitas to his feet.
Tavares throws a combination that misses

and Freitas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Freitas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tavares.
Freitas trying to stall but Tavares improves his position.
Tavares drops down looking for an ankle pick but Freitas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tavares tries to close the distance and clinch up but Freitas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Freitas takes one to the chin there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavares fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tavares lands with a nice combination. Freitas backs away looking to recover.

Freitas throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tavares was covering up waiting for the punch and Freitas finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tavares working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Freitas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Freitas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tavares is defended easily by Freitas.
Freitas misses with a wild combination.
Tavares on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Tavares tries to keep at a distance but Freitas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tavares looking for a takedown.

Freitas gets control of Tavares's arms and successfully pulls guard. Freitas will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Tavares gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Freitas tries to close the distance and clinch but Tavares swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A combination from Tavares does no damage.
Will Freitas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Freitas clinches up with Tavares and pushes him back against the cage.

Freitas manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tavares misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Freitas closes the distance and clinches.
Tavares drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Will Freitas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Tavares.
Freitas lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Freitas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Freitas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tavares backwards.
Tavares changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Freitas fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice jab there from Freitas.

Freitas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tavares napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tavares defending against the ground and pound.
Tavares regains half guard, as Freitas was trying to land strikes.
Freitas drops an elbow to the side of Tavares's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freitas throwing shots but Tavares is blocking nicely.
Freitas prevents Tavares from improving his position.
Tavares is trying to maintain the position but Freitas is very close to passing his half guard.
Freitas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tavares wants to control but Freitas is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tavares misses with a double jab

and Freitas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tavares wants to control but Freitas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tavares gets full guard.
Freitas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Freitas throwing strikes from guard but Tavares blocks nicely.
Freitas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Freitas trying to control but Tavares is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Freitas!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tavares jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Freitas is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Freitas and Tavares has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Tavares stands up and beckons Freitas to his feet.
Freitas on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Freitas tries to close the distance and clinch but Tavares swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Freitas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tavares.
A swing and a miss from Tavares.
Freitas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Freitas gets a takedown into half guard.
Freitas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tavares does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Freitas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Freitas stops Tavares from getting back to his feet.
Tavares is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares trying to control from the bottom.
Freitas wants to take a breather but Tavares is having none of it.
Tavares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tavares blocking the ground and pound attempt from Freitas.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tavares blocks an uppercut.
Tavares drops down looking for an ankle pick but Freitas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tavares misses with a series of wild punches.

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.
Freitas tries to clinch but Tavares moves away

and Tavares decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Freitas's guard.
Tavares wants to stand and escape but instead Freitas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Freitas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tavares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Freitas is one step ahead there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tavares can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tavares is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Freitas is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitas stands and throws Tavares's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Freitas tries to move into full mount but can't pass Tavares's legs.
Freitas misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Tavares dodges the ground and pound from Freitas.
Freitas working away.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Freitas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tavares sprawls well. Tavares wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Freitas gets slowly back to his feet.
Freitas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Will Freitas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Tavares is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Freitas's half guard.
Freitas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tavares is working away from the top position though.
Tavares trying to pass the guard but Freitas defending well.
Tavares is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rodrigo Tavares.
Well Freitas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Freitas!