PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shifiinity Powel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Augusto Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Powel
vs
Augusto Araujo

173 cm
21
212 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
207 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shifiinity Powel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Augusto Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powel keeps the fight on the outside.

Araujo forces Powel back against the cage and clinches.
Powel can't get the takedown.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Araujo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Powel goes for a takedown in the clinch but Araujo prevents it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Araujo is pressed up against the cage. Powel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Araujo down to the mat. Araujo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shifiinity Powel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Araujo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Powel throws a hook but Araujo blocks it.
Araujo closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Araujo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Powel scores with a takedown into Araujo's guard.

Powel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Araujo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Powel defends it easily.
Powel with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powel throwing strikes but missing.

Araujo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Powel scoring with some ground and pound.
Powel landing some decent shots from guard.
Araujo wants to stand up but Powel is controlling him.
Araujo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Powel.

Powel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Powel stands and throws Araujo's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Powel goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Araujo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Powel's guard! Nice work there by Araujo!
Powel is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Powel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Araujo is aware though and is defending well.
Araujo wants to control from the top but Powel keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Araujo thows a big elbow that misses.
Powel keeping moving, preventing Araujo from controlling successfully.
Araujo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Araujo defends it easily.

Powel isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Araujo stacks Powel 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 Araujo!
Powel is breathing heavily.

Araujo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Powel throws out a loose jab but Araujo uses good head movement to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Powel.
Araujo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Araujo throws a hook but Powel avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Powel has Araujo pressed against the cage, preventing Araujo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Powel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Powel drops down looking for an ankle pick but Araujo pulls his leg out and moves away.
No joy there for Powel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Powel is defended easily by Araujo.
Powel slips a jab and a cross from Araujo.
Araujo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Araujo moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Araujo.
Araujo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Powel is trying to drag Araujo to the mat but Araujo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Powel goes for a takedown in the clinch but Araujo prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Augusto Araujo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Araujo throws a body punch but Powel moves out of range.
Araujo tries to bum rush Powel with a series of wild strikes but Powel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Powel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Araujo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Powel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powel wants to control from the top but Araujo keeps moving.
Powel thows a big elbow that misses.

Powel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Araujo is looking for a triangle but Powel pushes his legs off easily.

Araujo working for a triangle but Powel defends it easily.
Araujo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Araujo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Powel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Powel drops back looking for a leg! Araujo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Araujo manages to kick Powel off! Powel jumps back into Araujo's guard.
Powel advances position into side control!
Araujo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

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.

Powel has hold of Araujo's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Araujo manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Powel landing strikes, looking to finish!
The referee warns Araujo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Powel landing punches.
Araujo is looking to get to half guard.
Powel lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Powel connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Powel goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Araujo turns into him and now he's in Powel's guard.

Powel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Araujo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Powel is working an open guard so Araujo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Powel fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Powel is defended easily by Araujo.
Araujo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Araujo's waist but Araujo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Powel off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shifiinity Powel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Powel wants to clinch.
Powel blocks a jab.
Powel doesn't manage to clinch there - Araujo circles away.

Powel shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Powel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Araujo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shifiinity Powel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

Powel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shifiinity Powel dominated that second round.
That's time! Powel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Powel scores with a jab.
Powel throws a right and a left that Araujo avoids nicely.
Araujo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Powel closes the distance and clinches.
Araujo gets underhooks to prevent Powel's takedown attempt.
Araujo effectively controlling the action here.

Araujo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Powel is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Araujo to the mat. Araujo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Powel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Araujo's head.
Powel with a flurry of punches that miss.

Araujo pushes Powel off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Araujo stuffs the takedown attempt from Powel. Powel gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Araujo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Powel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slow jab from Powel misses its intended target.
Araujo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Powel.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shifiinity Powel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Powel keeps the fight on the outside.
Powel tries for a takedown but Araujo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Araujo misses with a two punch combination.
Araujo blocks a jab.
Powel avoids the body shot from Araujo.
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Powel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Powel clinches but Araujo breaks the clinch
and Araujo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Powel looks for a takedown but Araujo sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Jose Augusto Araujo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Araujo closes the distance and pushes Powel back into the cage.
Powel is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Araujo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Powel tries for a takedown. No joy.
A right hand to the body from Araujo.
Araujo content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Araujo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Powel closes the distance and clinches up with Araujo, looking for a takedown. Powel pushes Araujo against the cage but Araujo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Powel misses with a takedown attempt
and Araujo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Araujo wants to clinch up but Powel keeps it at a distance.
Powel misses with a takedown attempt
and Araujo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Araujo darts in trying to clinch

and Powel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Araujo's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Powel connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Powel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Araujo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Powel trying to control but Araujo is working from the bottom.

Powel drops back looking for a leg! Araujo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Araujo manages to kick Powel off! Powel jumps back into Araujo's guard.

Powel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Powel trying to control but Araujo is working from the bottom.

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.

Powel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Araujo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Powel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Araujo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Powel passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Powel wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Araujo, who protects the arm well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shifiinity Powel.
I think Powel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Shifiinity Powel!