PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Arona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Cavalcante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Cavalcante has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ricardo Arona's chin.

Arona
vs
Cavalcante

225 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Arona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Cavalcante!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cavalcante gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Arona counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cavalcante looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Cavalcante keeping full guard, as Arona tries to pass.

Arona 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.
Arona will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Arona thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cavalcante looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Arona thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Arona drops back looking for a leg! Cavalcante is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cavalcante manages to kick Arona off! Arona jumps back into Cavalcante's guard.
Arona passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arona is trying to get an arm triangle but Cavalcante is defending well.

Arona looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Arona working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

Arona thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arona working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

Arona goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cavalcante rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Arona's guard! Nice work there by Cavalcante!
Cavalcante won't allow Arona to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arona knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cavalcante on the ground.
Cavalcante tries to free his leg and advance position but Arona is retaining full guard.
Cavalcante won't allow Arona to get back to his feet.
Arona on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Arona tries to get out of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Arona with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cavalcante decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Arona's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arona keeping moving, preventing Cavalcante from controlling successfully.
Cavalcante stops Arona from standing up.
Cavalcante is standing up over Arona. Arona looks to escape but Cavalcante dives into side control.
Cavalcante fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Cavalcante wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arona keeps working.
Cavalcante prevents Arona from escaping the position.
Arona bucks up and tries to throw Cavalcante off but instead Cavalcante has got his back!
Arona has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
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 Ricardo Arona will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Arona avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Arona feints and as Cavalcante raises his hands in defense, Arona changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Arona drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cavalcante manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Arona has Cavalcante in his guard.
Arona wants to get back to his feet but Cavalcante is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Arona has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cavalcante off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cavalcante keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arona shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cavalcante pinned against the cage. Cavalcante gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A left and a right from Cavalcante both land. Nice combination.

Arona closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Arona is working for a submission of some sort.
Arona passes to full mount!

Arona goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Cavalcante is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arona uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Arona misses with a takedown
and Cavalcante makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Arona. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arona doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cavalcante counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arona looks like he's trying to stand up.

Arona has one foot on Cavalcante's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Cavalcante tries to clinch up but Arona circles away and keeps his distance.
Cavalcante shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Arona counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cavalcante keeping full guard, as Arona tries to pass.

Arona has gone for a leg lock! Cavalcante slips out almost immediately though and dives into Arona's guard.
Cavalcante prevents Arona from getting back to his feet.
Arona is wriggling around but Cavalcante manages to pass to half guard.
Cavalcante is trying to control. Arona wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Arona wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Ground and pound from Cavalcante.
Arona looks like he's trying to stand up.
Arona tries to kick Cavalcante off in order to stand up. Cavalcante Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Arona is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cavalcante is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arona bucks up and tries to throw Cavalcante off but instead Cavalcante has got his back!
Arona wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arona trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
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 Ricardo Arona will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cavalcante wants to clinch up but Arona keeps it at a distance.
Arona shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cavalcante but Cavalcante pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Arona looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Arona shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cavalcante manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Arona drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arona jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

Arona sneaks out the side door and pushes Cavalcante away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cavalcante fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Arona, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arona tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Arona. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arona working aggressively here.
Arona trying to control the position but instead, Cavalcante has worked for underhooks and has pushed Arona into the cage.
Arona misses with a punch to the body.
Arona can't break the clinch.
Cavalcante throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Cavalcante drags the fight down to the ground.
Arona has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Arona drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arona jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Arona passes into half guard.
Cavalcante is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arona 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.

Arona is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cavalcante regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cavalcante wants to stand but Arona is controlling the position.

Arona drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arona jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arona won't allow Cavalcante to sweep him here.

Cavalcante working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Arona doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Arona manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Arona avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Arona 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.
Arona postures up.

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.
Arona pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cavalcante is keeping the position for now.

Arona 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.

Arona has gone for a leg lock! Cavalcante slips out almost immediately though and dives into Arona's guard.
Cavalcante wants to control from the top but Arona keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arona is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rafael Cavalcante has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricardo Arona is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Arona has his feet on Cavalcante's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

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 Ricardo Arona.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Arona, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:30

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