PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robert Matos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Dias (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.

Matos
vs
Dias

175 cm
20
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Robert Matos!
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, Joao Dias!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dias tries to avoid it but Matos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dias to the ground. Dias escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matos has a takedown stuffed.
Dias rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Dias drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Dias trying to control but Matos is working from the bottom.

Matos throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Dias escapes and throws Matos's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Matos is looking to reverse the position.
Dias wants to control but Matos is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matos is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Matos is trying to control Dias's posture but Dias avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos is looking to regain half guard here but Dias keeps moving and retains side control.
Dias working away.

Dias decides to stand back up. Dias steps back and let's Matos get back to his feet.
Matos shoots and misses

so Dias counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Matos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matos lands a good elbow from the bottom.

Matos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dias is aware though and is defending well.
Dias pushes down on Matos's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dias controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Dias jumps into side control!
Matos is trying to get back to half guard.
Dias lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Matos down.
Dias happy to just control the position for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matos is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Matos is breathing heavily.
Dias is looking to take a break and control but Matos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dias is taking a breather. Matos says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Matos is looking to control Dias's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matos avoid being mounted?

Matos looking for subs from the bottom but Dias mounts him!
Dias can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matos is looking to escape.
Matos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Matos is squirming around, avoiding Dias's attempts to control the action.
Dias prevents Matos from getting the reversal.
Dias looking to ground and pound but Matos is blocking nicely.
Matos tries to hold on but Dias pushes him away.
Matos is looking to get to half guard.
Dias lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Dias throwing strikes but Matos bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.

Matos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dias defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Dias dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dias.
Matos shoots in for a double leg but Dias sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Matos drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Matos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Dias is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Dias has escaped and now he's on top!
Matos wants to sweep here but Dias controlling him for the moment.
Dias trying to control the position from guard on top but Matos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dias is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Matos wants to sweep but no luck.

Matos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matos is wriggling around but Dias manages to pass to half guard.
Matos is in trouble now - Dias has advanced to mount!

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.
Dias wants to control the pace but Matos is squirming around nicely.

Dias looking to secure an arm triangle but Matos defends it well.
Matos blocking the ground and pound.
Matos wants to try and get back to his feet.
Matos gets back to half guard.

Matos is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dias pulls his head out easily.
Dias has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos avoids a series of strikes thrown by Dias.
Matos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dias thowing shots but they're missing.
Matos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Matos wants to control but Dias is having none of it.

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.
Dias sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Joao Dias has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matos is looking to improve his position but Dias isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dias throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Dias misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Dias showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dias closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dias throws a knee to the head but misses.
Matos fails to pull guard.

Dias manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Matos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dias swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dias trying to control the position here.
Matos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matos trying to control the position from guard on top but Dias is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dias is on top in guard.

Matos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dias can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dias slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dias with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matos wants to control the position but Dias says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

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.
Matos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Matos.
Dias wants to control from the top but Matos keeps moving.
Dias passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Matos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matos is working hard here to advance position.
Matos is trying to control Dias's posture but Dias avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos gets back to half guard.
Dias prevents Matos from standing back up.
Dias missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Matos is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dias pulls his head out easily.
Matos wants to get back to full guard but Dias has mounted him!
Dias throws some wild stikes that Matos manages to avoid easily.
Matos avoids a series of strikes thrown by Dias.
Matos tries to lock up and control but Dias gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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.
Dias tries to control but Matos wriggling away.
Dias thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Matos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Robert Matos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dias takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dias thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dias trying to control but Matos is having none of it.
Dias throws some wild stikes that Matos manages to avoid easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Dias comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dias 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Dias!