PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Patricio Freire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Laranja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freire comes to the cage accompanied by Havoc. Renato Laranja has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Freire
vs
Laranja

165 cm
27
170 lbs
7 - 6 - 2

185 cm
26
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 7 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Patricio Freire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renato Laranja!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Mauricio Rocha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laranja changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Freire tries to avoid it but Laranja manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Freire to the ground. Freire escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Freire scores with a takedown into Laranja's guard.
Freire tries to free his leg and advance position but Laranja is retaining full guard.
Laranja is looking to stand up but Freire isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freire slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Laranja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Freire can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Laranja looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Laranja is trying to keep Freire in close.

Laranja is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Freire is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freire is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Laranja working for a triangle but Freire defends it easily.
Freire sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Freire looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freire is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Freire scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Laranja being controlled here, momentarily.
Laranja is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Laranja fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Laranja shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Freire sprawls well. Freire wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Laranja gets slowly back to his feet.
Patricio Freire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renato Laranja.
Laranja shoots for a takedown but Freire saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Freire drives through with a takedown into Laranja's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Freire might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Laranja has momentary wrist control but Freire slips an elbow through the middle.
Freire pushing down on Laranja's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Laranja throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Freire passes to full mount!
Laranja really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Freire controlling from mount.
Freire prevents Laranja from getting the reversal.
Freire controlling the pace for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Freire is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Freire!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Patricio Freire!
After the fight, Patricio Freire was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.