PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Adriano Flamenguista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariobaldo Tavarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ariobaldo Tavarez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Adriano Flamenguista's chin.

Flamenguista
vs
Tavarez

190 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

181 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adriano Flamenguista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ariobaldo Tavarez!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tavarez has closed the distance and engaged Flamenguista in a clinch.
Tavarez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Flamenguista pulls his leg out and moves away.

Tavarez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Flamenguista, pushing him back against the cage.
Tavarez prevents Flamenguista from breaking the clinch.
Tavarez wants a takedown but no success here.
Tavarez is pressed up against the cage. Flamenguista has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tavarez down to the mat. Tavarez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Flamenguista looks for a takedown but Tavarez sprawls well.
Flamenguista tries to clinch

so Tavarez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tavarez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tavarez content to stall in guard here.
Flamenguista controls Tavarez momentarily but Tavarez frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavarez won't allow Flamenguista to get back to his feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Tavarez stands up over Flamenguista, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tavarez throws and elbow that misses. Flamenguista uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tavarez's guard. Nice move by Flamenguista!
Flamenguista trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Flamenguista trying to control the position from guard on top but Tavarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flamenguista won't allow Tavarez to sweep him here.
Flamenguista trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tavarez's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tavarez wants to stand up but Flamenguista is controlling him.
Flamenguista wanted to stand there but Tavarez had control of the position.
Flamenguista preventing the sweep.
Flamenguista trying to control but Tavarez is working from the bottom.
Tavarez wants to stand but Flamenguista is controlling the position.
Flamenguista slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flamenguista seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tavarez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tavarez is trying to stand back up but Flamenguista is controlling him
Flamenguista wants to take a breather but Tavarez is having none of it.
Tavarez controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Flamenguista landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Flamenguista not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four 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.

Flamenguista stands up and beckons Tavarez to join him on the feet.
Flamenguista fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adriano Flamenguista. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tavarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Flamenguista swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Flamenguista shoots in for a double leg but Tavarez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Flamenguista with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tavarez counters by clinching up.
Flamenguista is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Tavarez wants a takedown but no success here.
Flamenguista is trying to drag Tavarez to the mat but Tavarez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariobaldo Tavarez dominated that round.
That's time! Flamenguista's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Flamenguista looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tavarez is fending him off so far but Flamenguista persists. Nope, Tavarez circles away and we're back to standing.
Tavarez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Tavarez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tavarez.
Tavarez prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flamenguista drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tavarez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adriano Flamenguista. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tavarez goes for a takedown attempt but Flamenguista pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Flamenguista with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tavarez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tavarez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flamenguista is trying to push Tavarez away but Tavarez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Tavarez wants a takedown.
Flamenguista has Tavarez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tavarez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Flamenguista tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tavarez smiles and moves away.
Flamenguista shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tavarez moves into the clinch.
Flamenguista goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tavarez prevents it.
Flamenguista goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tavarez prevents it.
Tavarez wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez prevents the takedown attempt.
Tavarez is trying to drag Flamenguista to the mat but Flamenguista just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tavarez is pressed up against the cage. Flamenguista has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tavarez down to the mat. Tavarez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Flamenguista tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Tavarez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Flamenguista gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tavarez.
Tavarez wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Flamenguista prevents it.
Tavarez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Flamenguista pulls his leg out and moves away.

Tavarez moves into the clinch.
Flamenguista gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tavarez.

Flamenguista gets control of Tavarez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Flamenguista will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Tavarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flamenguista working a defensive guard here.
Flamenguista tries to strike from the bottom.
Flamenguista trying to strike off his back.
Tavarez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Flamenguista wants to stand up but Tavarez is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flamenguista is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariobaldo Tavarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tavarez is defended easily by Flamenguista.
Flamenguista closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tavarez circles away.
Flamenguista doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tavarez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tavarez is pressed up against the cage. Flamenguista has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tavarez down to the mat. Tavarez 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 Adriano Flamenguista. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flamenguista tries to clinch

and Tavarez counters with a shoot takedown. Flamenguista fights it but they end up in guard.
Tavarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Flamenguista is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Flamenguista is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flamenguista drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Flamenguista jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Flamenguista stopping the sweep attempt from Tavarez.
Flamenguista stops Tavarez from standing up.
Tavarez can't keep his opponent in guard - Flamenguista advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Flamenguista is trying to control the action in half guard but Tavarez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Flamenguista is working for a submission of some sort.
Flamenguista is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Flamenguista 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.
Tavarez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Flamenguista. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Flamenguista is keen to just control but Tavarez is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flamenguista is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tavarez is just riding it out for now. Flamenguista eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flamenguista tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tavarez controls his leg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tavarez can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Tavarez is refusing to be controlled, as Flamenguista sits in half guard.
Flamenguista passes to side control.
Flamenguista is looking to take a break and control but Tavarez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Adriano Flamenguista has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ariobaldo Tavarez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tavarez tries to bench press Flamenguista off him but Flamenguista keeps the position.

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 Adriano Flamenguista.
I think Tavarez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ariobaldo Tavarez!