PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Fabiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Regis Almeida (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.

Fabiano
vs
Almeida

180 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Rafael Fabiano!
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, Regis Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fabiano throws a head kick that misses.
Almeida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fabiano tries to clinch up.

Almeida moves into the clinch.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Almeida lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Almeida fails to pull guard.

Almeida gets control of Fabiano's arms and successfully pulls guard. Almeida will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Almeida seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Fabiano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fabiano is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Almeida tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fabiano trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Almeida is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fabiano is controlling him.
Almeida can't keep his opponent in guard - Fabiano advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Almeida wants to get back to his feet.
Almeida is trying to get back to full guard.
Fabiano performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Fabiano is pressing down on Almeida's thigh, looking to free his foot. Almeida is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Fabiano trying to control the action but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Fabiano is really struggling to control Almeida but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Fabiano trying to mount his opponent but Almeida defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fabiano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Almeida's waist but Almeida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fabiano off to one side.
Fabiano is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Almeida throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fabiano was covering up waiting for the punch and Almeida finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Almeida controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Almeida passes into half guard.

Almeida is looking for a kimura but Fabiano is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Almeida to get the leverage.
Fabiano wants to control but Almeida is keeping busy.

Almeida wants to work for an arm triangle but Fabiano is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Almeida missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fabiano kicks off Almeida and gets to his feet.

Almeida drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Almeida is looking to take a break and control but Fabiano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Almeida working the ground and pound from side control.

Almeida wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Fabiano, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almeida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fabiano keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Regis Almeida dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fabiano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Almeida swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rafael Fabiano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fabiano with a lazy takedown attempt

and Almeida counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Almeida manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Almeida is on top in guard.
Almeida controls from within his opponent's guard.
Almeida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fabiano. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Almeida stops Fabiano from standing up.
Almeida trying to control the position from guard on top but Fabiano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida looking to sit in guard and control but Fabiano gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fabiano wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.
Almeida is trying to control the position but Fabiano postures up.

Almeida wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fabiano throws a head kick that misses
and Almeida counters with a slapping leg kick.

Almeida has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fabiano misses with the head strike.
Almeida lands a nice knee to the body.
Fabiano stops a takedown attempt from Almeida.

Almeida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fabiano dodges the punch combination from Almeida.
Almeida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fabiano but Fabiano pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Fabiano shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Almeida is trying to defend but Fabiano finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Almeida is looking for a sweep. Fabiano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fabiano wants to take a breather but Almeida is having none of it.
Almeida regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fabiano has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Almeida is proving hard to escape from.
Fabiano cracks Almeida with a solid left hand.

Almeida had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fabiano defends it easily.
Fabiano wants to stand but Almeida has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Fabiano from controlling successfully.

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

and Almeida counters by moving into the clinch.

Almeida lands a takedown into guard.
Almeida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fabiano is keeping the position for now.
Fabiano throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Almeida thows a big elbow that misses.
Fabiano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Regis Almeida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Almeida scores with a one two! Fabiano had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fabiano tries for a takedown but Almeida circles away easily
and Almeida counters with a stiff right hand.
Fabiano fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fabiano chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Almeida can pounce on him.

Almeida gets a takedown into half guard.
Almeida wants to pass to mount but Fabiano is defending the position.
Almeida seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida trying to control from half guard but Fabiano is working away.

Almeida decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Fabiano shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Almeida pushes Fabiano off looking to stand but Fabiano dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fabiano perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Fabiano prevents Almeida from improving his position.
Fabiano passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Almeida!
Fabiano is trying to control here but Almeida has managed to regain half guard.
Fabiano looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fabiano trying to control from Almeida's half guard. Almeida has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Fabiano wants to stand but Almeida has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Fabiano wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.
Fabiano tries to free his leg and advance position but Almeida is retaining full guard.
Almeida throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Almeida looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Almeida is trying to hold Fabiano in close to prevent damage but Fabiano has managed to pass into half guard.
Fabiano trying to mount his opponent but Almeida defends it.

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

Almeida gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Almeida changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fabiano fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Fabiano gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Regis Almeida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Almeida has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Regis Almeida!