PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leon Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Finalizador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garcia's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, AnSchanz. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Garcia
vs
Finalizador

188 cm
24
195 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
196 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
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 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leon Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Finalizador!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Finalizador takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Finalizador shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Garcia sprawls well. Garcia wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Finalizador gets slowly back to his feet.
Finalizador on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Garcia. Garcia obviously looking to wear him down.

Finalizador gets tackled into the cage by Garcia. Garcia maintains the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Garcia.

Finalizador pulls guard.
Garcia won't allow Finalizador to get back to his feet.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Finalizador is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garcia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Garcia tries to free his leg and advance position but Finalizador is retaining full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finalizador seems keen to control Garcia's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garcia 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.

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

Finalizador escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Garcia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia tries to free his leg and advance position but Finalizador is retaining full guard.
Finalizador keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.
Garcia is really struggling to control Finalizador but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Finalizador is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Garcia to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Garcia shrugs it off.
Garcia is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Finalizador goes for an armbar but Garcia turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Garcia.
Garcia wants to pass the guard but Finalizador is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Finalizador has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Garcia is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Finalizador.
Garcia wants to control but Finalizador is keeping him busy.
Finalizador can't do much from the bottom here.
Finalizador is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Finalizador's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Finalizador is not content to let Garcia control the position.
Finalizador is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Garcia has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Garcia has knee on belly momentarily but Finalizador bucks him off and regains half guard.
Garcia content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garcia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Finalizador keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Garcia dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Garcia keeps the fight on the outside.
Finalizador misses with a takedown attempt
and Garcia counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Finalizador gets a takedown into half guard.
Finalizador wants to pass the guard but Garcia is defending well.
Finalizador passes to side control.
Finalizador trying to control the position but Garcia is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia is trying to buck Finalizador off.
Garcia taking punishment in the form of punches.

Garcia throws Finalizador to one side and escapes!
Garcia tries to clinch but Finalizador moves out of range.
Garcia turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Garcia tries a head kick but it misses.
Garcia looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A head kick by Finalizador misses
and Garcia counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gabriel Finalizador is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garcia lands a head kick. Finalizador smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Garcia

and Finalizador counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Garcia!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Finalizador goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Garcia is on top in guard.
Finalizador is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Finalizador wants to control but Garcia is keeping him busy.
Garcia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Finalizador trying to control from Garcia's half guard. Garcia has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Finalizador is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Finalizador missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Garcia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Finalizador throws and elbow that misses. Garcia uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Finalizador's guard. Nice move by Garcia!
Garcia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Finalizador swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Finalizador is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Finalizador lands a nice short elbow.
Finalizador missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Finalizador trying to control the action but Garcia is working from the bottom.

Finalizador is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garcia regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Finalizador.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Finalizador showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Finalizador throws a series of punches but Garcia moves out of range.
Garcia looks to clinch
and Finalizador counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Garcia thinking.

Finalizador looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Finalizador uses his free foot to push down on Garcia's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Garcia.
Gabriel Finalizador has got the better of the ground game so far.
Finalizador is looking to work his way around to Garcia's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Finalizador in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Garcia is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Finalizador with the ground and pound from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finalizador in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Finalizador thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Finalizador pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Finalizador gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Finalizador shoots in but Garcia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Garcia shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Garcia lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Garcia tries a head kick but it misses.
Leon Garcia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finalizador looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Finalizador fails with a takedown attempt.
Leon Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Finalizador.
Garcia wants to slow Finalizador down by chopping away at his legs.
Garcia lands a leg kick that knocks Finalizador off balance momentarily.
Garcia throws a low kick but it's checked well by Finalizador.
Finalizador takes a kick to the side of the head.
Garcia swats away the attempt to clinch by Finalizador.

Finalizador closes the distance and clinches.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia prevents the takedown attempt.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but Finalizador blocks it.

Finalizador breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Garcia doesn't manage to clinch there - Finalizador circles away.
Finalizador throws a head kick that misses.
Leon Garcia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A chopping leg kick lands by Garcia.
Garcia throws a sloppy head kick and Finalizador moves out of range easily.
Garcia connects with an inside leg kick.
Finalizador circles away from the clinch attempt.
Garcia attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Finalizador shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to clinch.
Finalizador looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Garcia is fending him off so far but Finalizador persists. Nope, Garcia circles away and we're back to standing.
Garcia tries a head kick but it misses.
Finalizador fails with the takedown

and Garcia moves into the clinch.
Finalizador changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Garcia fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Finalizador takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Finalizador pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Finalizador comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Finalizador 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Finalizador!