PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Remedios Verzosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Remedios Verzosa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Verzosa
vs
Almeida

185 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
24
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!
Battalion Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Remedios Verzosa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verzosa thows a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Almeida. Verzosa does a little dance to reset his feet.

Verzosa is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Almeida's half guard.
Verzosa throwing shots but Almeida is blocking nicely.
Almeida tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Almeida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Almeida is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Verzosa pulls his head out easily.

Verzosa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Almeida is just riding it out for now. Verzosa eventually gives up the hold.
Verzosa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Almeida actively working from the bottom here.
Almeida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Almeida shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Almeida was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Almeida avoids the attempt from Verzosa to control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Verzosa bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Verzosa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Almeida looking for a sweep. Not yet Almeida, not yet.
Verzosa pushes down on Almeida's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Verzosa is working for a kimura but Almeida is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida moves into full guard.
Almeida wants to sweep but no luck.
Verzosa postures up.
Verzosa trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.

Almeida has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Verzosa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Almeida doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Verzosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Almeida looking for a sweep. Not yet Almeida, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Verzosa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Almeida with a lazy takedown attempt

and Verzosa counters with a takedown into side control.
Almeida is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Almeida has hold of Verzosa's hands but Verzosa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Verzosa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Almeida is staying active underneath Verzosa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Almeida slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Almeida is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Almeida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Verzosa trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Verzosa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Almeida's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida trying to keep a closed guard but Verzosa is proving a slippery customer.
Almeida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Verzosa's guard.
Almeida trying to control but Verzosa is working from the bottom.

Verzosa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Almeida has gone for a leg lock! Verzosa slips out almost immediately though and dives into Almeida's guard.
Almeida wants to sweep but no luck.
Verzosa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Almeida had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Verzosa defends it easily.
Verzosa postures up in Almeida's guard and throws a big left but Almeida blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remedios Verzosa dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Verzosa looks to throw the jab but Almeida is out of range.
Verzosa misses with a straight right.
Verzosa sizes up Almeida with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice sprawl there from Almeida as Verzosa shoots in.
Verzosa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Almeida fails with the takedown
letting Verzosa counter with a right hand.
Remedios Verzosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Almeida takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Verzosa jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Almeida scores a takedown into full mount!
Verzosa is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Verzosa sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Verzosa looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa trying to control from the bottom.
Almeida is looking to take a break and control but Verzosa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Almeida looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Almeida thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Verzosa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Almeida passes Verzosa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

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.
Verzosa is staying active underneath Almeida, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Verzosa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Almeida's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Almeida's back!

Almeida showing good submission defense here.

Almeida showing good submission defense here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Almeida rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Verzosa moves nicely into side control.
Almeida manages to get back to half guard.
Almeida is looking to control Verzosa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Almeida avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Almeida is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Verzosa pulls his head out easily.

Almeida looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Verzosa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Verzosa is keen to just control but Almeida is a slippery customer.
Verzosa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Almeida is defending against the submission attempts here by Verzosa.
Almeida tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Verzosa lands a right hook to the body.
Verzosa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Almeida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Almeida doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Verzosa counters with a nice uppercut.
Verzosa looks to land a right hand but Almeida moved out of range.
Verzosa thuds his right hand into Almeida's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Almeida defending well as Verzosa loads up on a big left hand.
Verzosa lands a lovely overhand right.
Verzosa connects with a crisp jab.
Verzosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almeida was well out of range. Poor timing from Verzosa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remedios Verzosa dominated that second round.
That's time! Verzosa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Verzosa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Verzosa lands an overhand right.
Verzosa lands with an overhand left.
Verzosa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Almeida misses with an uppercut.
Verzosa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Almeida.
Almeida misses with an uppercut.
Verzosa scores with a punch to the head.
Almeida takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Verzosa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Verzosa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Almeida tries for a takedown but Verzosa circles away easily
and Verzosa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice cross by Verzosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa cracks Almeida with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Verzosa throws a hook but Almeida blocks it.
Verzosa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almeida was well out of range. Poor timing from Verzosa.
Almeida shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Verzosa counters with a right hand to the body.
Almeida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Almeida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Verzosa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Almeida.
Almeida finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Verzosa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Verzosa swings away with a body shot that misses

and Almeida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Verzosa won't be happy with that.
Verzosa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Almeida's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Almeida is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Verzosa is just riding it out for now. Almeida eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa is trying to maintain the position but Almeida is very close to passing his half guard.

Almeida is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Verzosa wants to get back to full guard.
Almeida is thwarting Verzosa's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Verzosa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ricardo Almeida has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida trying to control but Verzosa is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Almeida throws a shot from downtown. Verzosa moves away and avoids it.
Verzosa catches Almeida with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Verzosa punishes Almeida's body with a nice straight punch.
Almeida on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Verzosa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Almeida looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Verzosa throws a predictable looking body shot
and Almeida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Verzosa misses.
Donk. Verzosa catches Almeida right on the button with a cross.
Almeida moves out of range as Verzosa strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida throws a hook to the side of Verzosa's head but Verzosa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Almeida uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Verzosa.
Verzosa misses with a body punch
enabling Almeida to counter with a crisp jab.
A big right from Verzosa misses.
Verzosa fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Almeida on the side of the head.
Almeida doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Verzosa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Verzosa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Almeida. Almeida circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Verzosa lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Almeida with a lazy takedown attempt
and Verzosa counters with a left to the body.
Remedios Verzosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Almeida.
Almeida with a lazy takedown attempt
and Verzosa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Almeida thinking.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Verzosa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Remedios Verzosa did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Verzosa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Almeida at a distance.
Verzosa throws a body punch but Almeida moves out of range.
Almeida tries for a takedown but Verzosa circles away easily
and Verzosa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Almeida fails with the takedown
and Verzosa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Verzosa with a nice cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Almeida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Verzosa trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Almeida is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Verzosa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Almeida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Almeida striking off his back but it's not causing Verzosa any problems.
Almeida tries to strike from the bottom.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Verzosa from controlling successfully.

Verzosa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Verzosa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Almeida controls Verzosa momentarily but Verzosa frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Almeida tries for a takedown but Verzosa circles away easily
and Verzosa counters with a nice body shot.
Remedios Verzosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Almeida.
Verzosa scores with a jab. Almeida acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Almeida gets caught flat footed, as Verzosa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Verzosa trying to move into half guard but instead Almeida has managed to sweep!

Verzosa pushes a forearm under Almeida's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Almeida is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Remedios Verzosa!
Remedios Verzosa retains his middleweight title!