PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Renato Laranja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Awesome Dave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Laranja
vs
Dave

185 cm
26
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

177 cm
25
166 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renato Laranja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Awesome Dave!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laranja fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dave tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laranja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dave leaves Laranja with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dave tries to close the distance and clinch but Laranja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dave looks to throw the jab but Laranja is out of range.

Laranja has Dave up against the cage in a clinch.
Laranja drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Laranja fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Laranja. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Laranja has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Dave clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Laranja has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Dave wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dave fending off the submission attempt from Laranja.

Laranja working for the choke.
Dave is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Laranja off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Dave has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Laranja throwing sloppy strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laranja tries to keep control of the position but Dave is staying busy.
Dave controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Laranja is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Dave knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Dave for a finish.
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!

Dave showing good submission defense here.
Dave really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Laranja. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Dave preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Laranja.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laranja avoiding Dave 's attempts to control his hands.
Laranja trying to control momentarily.

Dave is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Laranja gets his way!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Laranja's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laranja working for the choke.

Laranja working for the choke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Laranja is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dave trying to control the position but Laranja manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Laranja dives in and grabs Dave's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dave pushes down on Laranja's head and hops out.
Laranja fails to land the takedown.
Dave stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dave wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Laranja. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dave tries to keep at a distance but Laranja has taken the fight into the clinch.
Laranja tries to pull guard but Dave forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Laranja jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dave walks away with a smile on his face. Laranja gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dave scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Laranja doesn't seem bothered though.
Dave scores with a shot to the body.
Dave tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Laranja looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dave is fending him off so far but Laranja persists. Nope, Dave circles away and we're back to standing.
Laranja blocks a jab.
Dave throws a right and a left that Laranja avoids nicely.
Dave just misses with a punch to the body.
Renato Laranja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dave fails with a takedown attempt.
Laranja dives in and grabs Dave's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dave pushes down on Laranja's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dave misses with a hook

and Laranja holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Laranja tries for a takedown. No joy.
Laranja stalling in the clinch but Dave improves position.
Laranja tries to pull guard but Dave forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dave is trying to force a seperation but Laranja has the dominant position.

Laranja gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Dave wants to stand but Laranja is controlling the position.
Dave pulls Laranja in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Awesome Dave was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Laranja shoots for a takedown but Dave saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dave blocks a head kick by Laranja.
Laranja fails with the takedown.
Laranja shoots in for a double leg but Dave sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dave misses with a straight right.
Laranja slips a jab and a cross from Dave.
Laranja uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dave.
Dave misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dave tries to close the distance and clinch but Laranja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Laranja shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dave as he avoids it easily.
Laranja tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dave sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laranja somewhat.
Laranja has a takedown stuffed.
Dave throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Laranja avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dave connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Dave misses with a looping left.
Dave missing with a left hand there. Laranja was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Laranja shoots in but no luck this time.
Dave fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dave looks to land a left hand but Laranja moved out of range nicely.
Laranja takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Dave looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Dave is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laranja shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dave defends it nicely.
Laranja tries for a takedown but Dave circles away easily
enabling Dave to counter with a crisp jab.
Dave with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dave is looking to clinch.
Dave shoots in for a double leg but Laranja sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Awesome Dave seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laranja takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Laranja drives through and clinches with Dave against the cage.
Laranja prevents Dave from breaking the clinch.
Laranja is trying to pull guard but Dave has him pressed against the cage.
Laranja has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Dave after a bit of a struggle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dave is trying to force a seperation but Laranja has the dominant position.
Laranja is trying to pull guard but Dave has him pressed against the cage.
Dave is trying to pull guard but Laranja turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Laranja tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Awesome Dave showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Laranja bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dave looks to land a left hand but Laranja moved out of range nicely.
Laranja throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dave's waist but Dave gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Laranja off to one side.
Laranja blocks a jab.
Dave shoots in looking for a takedown but Laranja manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dave's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Laranja defending well as Dave loads up on a big left hand.
Dave throws a push kick but Laranja slaps the foot to one side.
Dave wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Laranja shoots in but Dave avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Laranja shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dave's guard.
Laranja trying to control the position from guard on top but Dave is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Laranja drops back looking for a leg! Dave is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dave manages to kick Laranja off! Laranja jumps back into Dave's guard.
Laranja stops Dave from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laranja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Dave kicks Laranja off and gets to his feet.
Dave throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Laranja's waist but Laranja gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dave off to one side.
Laranja dives in and grabs Dave's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dave pushes down on Laranja's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Laranja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dave scores with a hook to the body. Laranja takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Dave keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Laranja with that takedown attempt.
Laranja shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dave defends it nicely.
Dave misses with a hook.
Laranja takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Laranja is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dave sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Renato Laranja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dave tries to clinch but Laranja is having none of it.
Laranja checks a low kick from Dave.
Dave jabs Laranja to the body, keeping him at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dave tries to close the distance and clinch but Laranja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dave lands a nice shot that snaps Laranja's head back.
Dave slaps away a takedown attempt from Laranja, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Laranja moves forwards but Dave connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laranja fails to land the takedown.
Dave stuns Laranja with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Dave misses the jab.
Dave throws a hook but Laranja blocks it.
Dave throws an off balance right hand
and Laranja counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Laranja uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dave.
Laranja shoots in and drives through. Dave sprawls well.
Laranja swats away the attempt to clinch by Dave.
Dave jabs Laranja to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Laranja takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Laranja throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dave's waist but Dave gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Laranja off to one side.
Dave ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Dave lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Laranja at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dave tries to clinch but Laranja moves out of range.
Dave connects with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dave scores with a nice head shot.
Laranja shoots in but no luck this time.
Laranja uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dave.
Dave looks to score with a jab to the body but Laranja is just out of range.
Laranja circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dave wants to clinch.
Dave fails in his attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laranja takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dave is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dave looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Awesome Dave comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dave 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Awesome Dave!
A very excited looking Awesome Dave rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.