PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Knopfler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Vai Cavalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vai Cavalo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Tropa de Elite. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Knopfler
vs
Vai Cavalo

190 cm
19
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
256 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Knopfler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fabricio Vai Cavalo!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vai Cavalo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Knopfler is fending him off so far but Vai Cavalo persists. Nope, Knopfler circles away and we're back to standing.
Knopfler throws a right hand that Vai Cavalo ducks under and follows up with a left that Vai Cavalo also avoids with ease.
Vai Cavalo shoots in for a double leg but Knopfler sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice takedown defense from Knopfler. No joy for Vai Cavalo on that attempt.
Mark Knopfler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Vai Cavalo.
Knopfler misses with a takedown

and Vai Cavalo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Knopfler!
Knopfler is desperately trying to improve his position but Vai Cavalo has a good base and remains in mount.

Vai Cavalo get's back to his feet.
Knopfler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Knopfler closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vai Cavalo to the mat! Vai Cavalo manages to get full guard.
Vai Cavalo controlling Knopfler's posture.
Knopfler trying to control but Vai Cavalo is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knopfler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vai Cavalo working a defensive guard here.
Knopfler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vai Cavalo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vai Cavalo managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knopfler is breathing heavily.
Knopfler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vai Cavalo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Vai Cavalo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Knopfler!
Vai Cavalo wants to control the pace but Knopfler is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vai Cavalo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Knopfler has worked his arm free - good work by Knopfler!
Vai Cavalo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knopfler keeps working.
Vai Cavalo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Knopfler tries to buck Vai Cavalo off but Vai Cavalo is having none of it.
Knopfler is not content to let Vai Cavalo control the position.
Knopfler wants to control but Vai Cavalo postures up.
Knopfler is trying to get back to half guard.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vai Cavalo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Knopfler looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Vai Cavalo!
Vai Cavalo is working to get back to half guard.

Knopfler with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Vai Cavalo regains half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vai Cavalo controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vai Cavalo wants to get back to full guard.
Vai Cavalo is looking to control Knopfler's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vai Cavalo avoid being mounted?
Vai Cavalo keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Vai Cavalo wants to control but Knopfler is keeping busy.
Vai Cavalo manages to get to full guard.
Vai Cavalo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Knopfler controlling from the top position.
Vai Cavalo wants to sweep here but Knopfler controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Vai Cavalo 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.

Knopfler moves into the clinch.
Knopfler looking to stall.
Vai Cavalo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Knopfler breaks the clinch.
A head kick by Knopfler misses

and Vai Cavalo counters by clinching up.

Knopfler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knopfler just misses with a punch to the body.
Vai Cavalo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vai Cavalo clinches with his opponent.
Come on Knopfler - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Vai Cavalo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Knopfler regains guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vai Cavalo stands and throws Knopfler's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Vai Cavalo tries to move into full mount but can't pass Knopfler's legs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knopfler tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vai Cavalo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vai Cavalo trying to control the action but Knopfler is working from the bottom.
Vai Cavalo working away.
Knopfler throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Knopfler can't do much from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Knopfler throws a left and a right that both miss

and Vai Cavalo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Knopfler won't be happy with that.
Vai Cavalo trying to control the action but Knopfler is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Vai Cavalo is looking to take a break and control but Knopfler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vai Cavalo taking a breather here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Fabricio Vai Cavalo just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vai Cavalo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vai Cavalo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Knopfler knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Vai Cavalo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Knopfler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Knopfler trying to control from the bottom.
Vai Cavalo controlling the pace.
Vai Cavalo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Knopfler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Vai Cavalo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Vai Cavalo is pressing down on Knopfler's thigh, looking to free his foot. Knopfler is holding on for now.
Knopfler is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vai Cavalo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Knopfler is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Knopfler blocking the ground and pound.
Vai Cavalo lands with some strikes.
Vai Cavalo controlling from the full mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Vai Cavalo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Knopfler can't escape the position.
Vai Cavalo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vai Cavalo landing punches.
Vai Cavalo looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Vai Cavalo 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!

Knopfler doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Vai Cavalo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fabricio Vai Cavalo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vai Cavalo pushing down on Knopfler's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Vai Cavalo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Knopfler pushes Vai Cavalo off and gets back to his feet.
Vai Cavalo has his takedown stuffed

and Knopfler counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knopfler looking to pass the guard.
Vai Cavalo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vai Cavalo wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knopfler trying to control but Vai Cavalo is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vai Cavalo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Vai Cavalo trying to keep a closed guard but Knopfler is proving a slippery customer.
Vai Cavalo wants to sweep here but Knopfler controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vai Cavalo shoots in looking for a takedown. Knopfler tries to sprawl out of it but Vai Cavalo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knopfler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Knopfler throws a push kick but Vai Cavalo slaps the foot to one side.
A head kick misses from Knopfler.
Knopfler tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vai Cavalo wants to clinch
and Knopfler counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Vai Cavalo is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Vai Cavalo scores a takedown into full mount!
Vai Cavalo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Vai Cavalo trying to control but Knopfler is having none of it.
Vai Cavalo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Vai Cavalo wants to control the pace but Knopfler is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knopfler keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vai Cavalo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Knopfler is looking to escape.
Knopfler manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Vai Cavalo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Knopfler!
Vai Cavalo landing strikes from the mount and Knopfler is in trouble!
Vai Cavalo wants to control the action but instead Knopfler gets a body lock and reverses into Vai Cavalo's guard! Nice work!
Knopfler sitting in guard here, content to control.
Vai Cavalo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knopfler is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knopfler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Vai Cavalo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vai Cavalo wants to sweep but no luck.
Vai Cavalo working a defensive guard here.
Vai Cavalo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Knopfler manages to get himself to full guard.
Knopfler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mark Knopfler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knopfler can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vai Cavalo controls the pace.

Knopfler is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabricio Vai Cavalo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vai Cavalo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

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