PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cubensis Azul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Reinhardt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cubensis Azul has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Azul
vs
Reinhardt

174 cm
30
156 lbs
25 - 11 - 2

184 cm
30
165 lbs
31 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cubensis Azul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Reinhardt!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reinhardt on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Reinhardt throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Azul stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Reinhardt attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Azul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reinhardt scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Azul checks a leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Reinhardt. No joy for Azul on that attempt.
Azul keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Reinhardt keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Azul blocks a jab.
Reinhardt catches Azul with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Reinhardt connects with an inside leg kick.
Azul missing with a left hand there. Reinhardt was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Azul checks a leg kick.
Reinhardt throws a quick inside leg kick.
Azul misses with a body kick.
Reinhardt misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reinhardt fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Azul has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Azul decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Reinhardt trying to control here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Reinhardt manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Reinhardt wants to sweep here but Azul controlling him for the moment.
Reinhardt seems keen to control Azul's posture.
Azul won't allow Reinhardt to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azul throwing strikes but missing.
Azul trying to control but Reinhardt is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azul lands a couple of elbows.
Azul with a nice head shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azul working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Azul landing some decent shots from guard.
Azul stopping the sweep attempt from Reinhardt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reinhardt pulls Azul in close to his closed guard and prevents Azul from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azul connects with a couple of short punches.
Azul trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Azul throwing strikes from guard but Reinhardt blocks nicely.
Reinhardt controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Azul in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Reinhardt is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Reinhardt working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Azul.
Azul trying to control but Reinhardt is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reinhardt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Reinhardt wants to sweep here but Azul controlling him for the moment.
Azul throwing strikes but missing.
Reinhardt keeping moving, preventing Azul from controlling successfully.
Azul postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azul pushes down on Reinhardt's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Azul is nestled in close to Reinhardt, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cubensis Azul dominated that round.
That's time! Azul's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Azul throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Reinhardt counters with a nice low kick that buckles Azul's knee momentarily.
Reinhardt looks to land a combination but Azul avoids it well.
Azul looks to land a left hand but Reinhardt moved out of range nicely.
Azul scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Reinhardt throws a head kick that misses.
Azul showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Reinhardt.
Reinhardt ducks under a wild hook from Azul.
A slapping leg kick lands for Azul.
Reinhardt takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Reinhardt fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Azul misses with a hook.
A chopping leg kick lands by Reinhardt.
Reinhardt connects with an inside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Reinhardt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azul scoring well with a low kick there.
Azul moves out of range of the leg kick from Reinhardt.

Reinhardt shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Reinhardt was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cubensis Azul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Azul tries to hold on but Reinhardt pushes him away.
Reinhardt raining down hammerfists from mount.
Reinhardt unloading with bombs!
BOOM! Reinhardt connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Reinhardt connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reinhardt can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Azul is looking to escape.
Azul tries to reverse the position but Reinhardt maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reinhardt throwing strikes but Azul uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Reinhardt throwing shots but Azul is blocking nicely.
Azul trying to control here.
Reinhardt is trying to control the action in half guard but Azul is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Reinhardt thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Azul's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Reinhardt lands a nice short elbow.
Azul is looking to control Reinhardt's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Azul avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reinhardt trying to mount his opponent but Azul defends it.
Reinhardt wants to control but Azul is keeping him busy.
Reinhardt works his foot free and advances to mount.
Reinhardt sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
BOOM! Reinhardt connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Reinhardt can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Azul is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azul regains half guard.
Reinhardt missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reinhardt prevents Azul from improving his position.
Reinhardt has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Reinhardt trying to control the action but Azul is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Reinhardt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Azul looks to land a body kick but Reinhardt moved away.
Azul takes one on the button.
Azul throws the kick towards the body but Reinhardt avoids it.
Azul throws a low kick, looking for Reinhardt's leg but Reinhardt calmly moves out of range.
Reinhardt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Azul.
Reinhardt lands a front kick.
Reinhardt scores with a jab to the head.
Azul motions for Reinhardt to come forward. Azul throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Azul throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Reinhardt shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Azul sprawls well. Azul wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Reinhardt gets slowly back to his feet.
Victor Reinhardt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Reinhardt throws a jab but it's blocked by Azul.
Azul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azul looks for the body kick but Reinhardt saw that one coming.
Reinhardt finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Reinhardt buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Reinhardt is looking to land body kicks.
Reinhardt smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Reinhardt checks a leg kick.
Azul is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Reinhardt's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Reinhardt throws a front kick that sends Azul stumbling back into the cage.
Reinhardt takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Azul misses with a few strikes there.
Azul tried to score with a low kick but Reinhardt checks it.
Azul throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azul is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Azul throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Reinhardt misses with a body kick.
Reinhardt misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reinhardt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Reinhardt on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Azul throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Azul lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Azul avoids a kick to the body.
Reinhardt shoots in and drives through. Azul sprawls well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Decent striking displayed by Reinhardt there.
Reinhardt motions for Azul to come forward. Reinhardt throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Reinhardt is looking to score with low kicks.
Azul keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Reinhardt attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nice defenses there by Reinhardt.
Reinhardt keeps Azul at a distance using the push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azul takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Azul checks a leg kick.
Azul connects with a body shot that sends Reinhardt's belly button to the back.
Reinhardt scores with a punch to the head.
Azul looks to land a body kick but Reinhardt moved away.
Reinhardt misses with a lunging right hand
and Azul makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Reinhardt has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Azul scores with a jab. Reinhardt acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Reinhardt throws out a leg kick but Azul moves out of range and Reinhardt only half commits.
Azul throws a leg kick which misses Reinhardt's front leg but catches the back leg as Reinhardt tries to avoid it.
Azul throws out a leg kick but Reinhardt moves out of range and Azul only half commits.
Reinhardt throws the kick towards the body but Azul avoids it.
Reinhardt tried to score with a low kick but Azul checks it.
Azul walks into a straight right hand from Reinhardt.
Reinhardt throws out a leg kick but Azul moves out of range and Reinhardt only half commits.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azul throws a hook to the side of Reinhardt's head but Reinhardt sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Reinhardt shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cubensis Azul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Reinhardt.
Reinhardt slaps away a takedown attempt from Azul, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reinhardt misses with a jab to the body
and Azul counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reinhardt shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Azul defends it nicely.
Azul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice defenses there by Reinhardt.
Reinhardt throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reinhardt throws a lazy body kick
and Azul makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Reinhardt really felt that one!
Azul misses with a body kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Reinhardt darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Victor Reinhardt.
Well Reinhardt has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Reinhardt!
Victor Reinhardt thanked the fans post fight for their support.