PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Dai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Falcone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dai's entrance music is Dignity. A fine choice. Falcone is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by BLACK HAWK DOWN. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dai
vs
Falcone

165 cm
23
205 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

183 cm
28
218 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Dai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Falcone!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falcone waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dai.
Dai fails with the takedown
and Falcone counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Falcone ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dai moves away.
Dai looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Falcone digs a good body shot into Dai's ribs.

Falcone gets caught flat footed, as Dai shoots in with a quick 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.
Falcone trying to control the position here.
Falcone controls Dai momentarily but Dai frees himself.
Falcone wants to sweep here but Dai controlling him for the moment.

Dai is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Falcone can't keep his opponent in guard - Dai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dai is trying to control the action in half guard but Falcone is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dai is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Falcone is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Dai 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.

Dai is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Falcone has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Falcone manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dai slips nicely into half guard.
Dai seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Falcone does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Falcone manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Dai is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Falcone is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Falcone has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai is trying to control the position but Falcone postures up.
Falcone 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.
Dai working a defensive guard here.
Dai is adopting a defensive guard.
Dai working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Mark Dai has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Falcone scores with a nice strike.
Dai with a poor takedown
and Falcone counters with a left to the body.

Falcone closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Falcone - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Falcone lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Dai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Falcone walks away with a smile on his face. Dai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Dai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Falcone looks to land a right hand but Dai moved out of range.
Falcone misses with a body shot.
Dai wants to clinch but Falcone slips to the side
and Falcone counters with a left to the body.
Dai with a poor takedown
and Falcone counters with a nice uppercut.

Dai scores with a takedown into Falcone's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dai drops back, looking for a kneebar! Falcone looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Falcone looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Falcone!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dai is trying to improve his position.
Dai gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dai is refusing to be controlled, as Falcone sits in half guard.
Dai is looking for a sweep. Falcone is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Falcone wants to pass the guard but Dai is defending well.
Falcone is looking to pass Dai's guard but actually Dai recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Falcone dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dai closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Falcone to the mat! Falcone manages to get full guard.

Dai is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dai wants to control from the top but Falcone keeps moving.
Falcone trying to keep a closed guard but Dai is proving a slippery customer.
Dai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dai preventing the sweep.

Dai is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Falcone is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcone keeping moving, preventing Dai from controlling successfully.

Dai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dai wants to control from the top but Falcone keeps moving.

Dai is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Falcone working a defensive guard here.
Dai passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Dai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Dai tries for a kimura but Falcone is defending well.

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.

Dai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Falcone has escaped the position, nice work there.

Dai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Falcone, who protects the arm well.

Dai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Falcone is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dai off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falcone gets his hands free as Dai looks to control.
Falcone is trying to stick to Dai's back but Dai is turning into Falcone. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Falcone's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Dai.
Falcone wants to improve his position but instead Dai has moved into half guard.

Dai 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.
Dai is keen to just control but Falcone is a slippery customer.
Falcone is looking for a sweep. Dai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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

Dai seems to be looking for submissions.

Dai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Falcone doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dai.

Dai seems to be looking for submissions.

Dai is looking for a kimura here.
Falcone trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dai is working for a kimura but Falcone is defending it quite comfortably.
Dai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Falcone keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Dai dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dai shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dai shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Falcone counters with a right hand to the body.
Jab by Falcone.
Falcone has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Falcone pushes Dai up against the cage in a clinch.
Dai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Falcone walks away with a smile on his face. Dai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Dai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Falcone rushes Dai and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Falcone dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Dai jumps guard but Falcone stands there with Dai around his waist. Dai gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Dai tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A head punch on the inside from Falcone fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dai tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Falcone just stands there and leans against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Dai tries to pull guard but Falcone holds him up against the cage and eventually Dai drops back down to his feet.
Dai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Falcone smiles and moves away.
Dai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Falcone's waist but Falcone gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dai off to one side.
Falcone tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dai was well out of range. Poor timing from Falcone.

Dai forces Falcone back against the cage and clinches.
Dai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Falcone walks away with a smile on his face. Dai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Falcone fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dai sprawls well initially but Falcone persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Dai is looking to control Falcone's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dai avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai is pressing down on Falcone's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dai wants to sweep but no luck.
Falcone trying to control but Dai is working from the bottom.
Falcone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dai is keeping the position for now.
Falcone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Falcone loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dai controlling Falcone's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Falcone not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Falcone pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Falcone looks to score with a jab to the body but Dai is just out of range.

Falcone gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dai to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Dai sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Falcone's guard.

Dai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dai is looking for a kimura but Falcone is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dai to get the leverage.
Falcone is looking to improve his position.
Falcone is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Falcone has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dai is working away from the top position though.
Dai is keen to just control but Falcone is a slippery customer.

Dai seems to be looking for submissions.

Dai is looking for a kimura here.
Dai moves nicely into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruno Falcone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Falcone 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Falcone!