PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Arona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Henrique (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henrique is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Billionaire. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Arona
vs
Henrique

186 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Lucas Arona!
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, Pedro Henrique!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arona has Henrique up against the cage in a clinch.
Arona blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Henrique gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Arona.
Henrique prevents a takedown attempt there.

Arona has hold of one of Henrique's legs. Henrique is fighting the takedown attempt but Arona gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Henrique kicks Arona off and gets to his feet.
Arona is looking to clinch.
Henrique shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Arona defends it nicely.
Arona tries to clinch up but Henrique circles away and keeps his distance.
Henrique fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Henrique looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Arona wants to control but Henrique is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henrique seems to be working for a kimura but Arona defends the submission attempt.
Arona is not content to let Henrique control the position.
Arona is looking to control Henrique's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Arona avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Arona is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Henrique is just content to waste time from the top position. Arona takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

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

Arona rushes Henrique and presses him up against the cage.
Arona landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Henrique drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lucas Arona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Henrique.
Henrique looks gassed!
Arona goes for a takedown in the clinch but Henrique prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arona unloads a knee to the mid-section. Henrique lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Arona gets control of Henrique's arms and successfully pulls guard. Arona will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Arona wants to sweep but no luck.
Henrique wants to stand but Arona is controlling his posture from full guard.
Henrique wants to control from the top but Arona keeps moving.
Arona is trying to hold Henrique in close to prevent damage but Henrique has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Arona is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Henrique pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Henrique performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Arona is concentrating on defense, preventing Henrique from advancing position.
Henrique drops an elbow to the side of Arona's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lucas Arona will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Arona tries to clinch but Henrique is having none of it.

Henrique closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Arona did well to prevent Henrique getting side control.
Henrique tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Arona.
Arona has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Henrique is working away from the top position though.
Henrique trying to control from half guard but Arona is working away.
Arona is trying is best to control the position here.
Henrique thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Arona's head.
Henrique is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arona wants to improve his position but Henrique is controlling well.
Arona won't allow Henrique to pass to mount.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Henrique swats away the attempt to clinch by Arona.
Henrique changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Arona tries to avoid it but Henrique manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Arona to the ground. Arona escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Arona shoots in for a double leg but Henrique sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Henrique circles away from the clinch attempt.

Arona shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Arona showed some decent athleticism there.
Arona looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arona is trying to control the action in half guard but Henrique is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Arona is looking for a kimura but Henrique is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Arona to get the leverage.
Henrique is controlling Arona's trapped leg to prevent Arona from advancing to side control.
Arona lands strikes from half guard.
Arona is nestled in close to Henrique, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Arona missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Henrique keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Arona is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henrique slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arona throws and elbow that misses. Henrique uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Arona's guard. Nice move by Henrique!
Arona utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Henrique connects with a couple of short punches.
Henrique wants to pass the guard but Arona is keeping the position.
Arona keeping moving, preventing Henrique from controlling successfully.
Henrique must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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.
Henrique tries to free his leg and advance position but Arona is retaining full guard.

Arona is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Arona can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henrique controls the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henrique wants to stand but Arona is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lucas Arona will probably get the nod.
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. And we move into the final round!

Henrique tries to keep at a distance but Arona has taken the fight into the clinch.
Henrique fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Arona manages to break the clinch.
Arona tries to clinch but Henrique is having none of it.

Arona moves into the clinch.
Arona tries to pull guard but Henrique won't allow it.
Arona is trying to drag Henrique to the mat but Henrique just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Knees in the clinch landing for Arona.
Arona lands a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henrique drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Arona gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Arona is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Henrique is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henrique tries to pull guard but Arona won't allow it.
Lucas Arona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Henrique.
Arona wants a takedown.
Henrique is trying to break the clinch but Arona has him pressed against the cage.
Arona is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Henrique gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Arona changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Henrique fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Henrique shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Arona is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henrique is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Henrique is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Henrique lands a nice shot to the head.
Henrique looking to control and managing it successfully.
Henrique thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arona is squirming around, avoiding Henrique's attempts to control the action.
Arona tries to control Henrique's body but Henrique pushes him off. Arona squirms to his side and now Henrique has his back!
Henrique is riding his opponent, not letting Arona buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Henrique trying to control.
Arona really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Henrique's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.
Henrique lands a shot to the head.
Pedro Henrique has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lucas Arona is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Arona preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Henrique.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Henrique comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Arona 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lucas Arona!