PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Rafinan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Gomes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomes has chosen Lado B Lado A as his entrance music. Joe Rafinan had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Rafinan
vs
Gomes

170 cm
23
145 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

180 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Rafinan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Gomes!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rafinan digs a good body shot into Gomes's ribs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gomes.
A head kick misses from Gomes.
Gomes fails with a takedown attempt.
Rafinan lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gomes takes a step back to recover.
Rafinan misses with a body shot.
Gomes blocks a jab.
Rafinan misses with the combination.
Gomes fails with a takedown attempt.
Joe Rafinan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Gomes.
Gomes tries to clinch up.
Ricardo Gomes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafinan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gomes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gomes looks gassed!
Gomes dives in and grabs Rafinan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rafinan pushes down on Gomes's head and hops out.
Gomes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rafinan.
Gomes tries to clinch up
and Rafinan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gomes thinking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gomes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Rafinan as Gomes shoots in.
A punch combination from Rafinan misses.
Rafinan keeps the fight on the outside.
Rafinan misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rafinan misses with a wild body shot.
Rafinan is looking to wear down Gomes with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rafinan scores with a one two! Gomes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Ricardo Gomes has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rafinan throws a right hand that Gomes ducks under and follows up with a left that Gomes also avoids with ease.
Rafinan misses the shot to the body.
Rafinan throws a right hand that Gomes ducks under and follows up with a left that Gomes also avoids with ease.
Rafinan misses with a series of wild punches.
Gomes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gomes shoots in looking for a takedown. Rafinan tries to sprawl out of it but Gomes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rafinan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rafinan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gomes somewhat.
Rafinan misses with a series of wild punches.
Rafinan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gomes moves out of range as Rafinan strikes.

Rafinan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gomes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gomes with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gomes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rafinan, up you get!
Rafinan avoids a kick to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gomes.
Gomes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Joe Rafinan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gomes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rafinan circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rafinan misses with an uppercut
and Gomes counters with a series of strikes. Rafinan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rafinan swats away the attempt to clinch by Gomes.
Gomes tries to land a front kick but Rafinan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Rafinan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Gomes's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rafinan digs a good hook to Gomes's body.
Rafinan misses with a series of wild punches.
Gomes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rafinan looks to land a combination but Gomes avoids it well.
Rafinan moves out of range of the body kick from Gomes.

Gomes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rafinan wants to break free but Gomes has control.
Gomes is trying to break the clinch but Rafinan is controlling him.
Rafinan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rafinan taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomes tries to break the clinch but Rafinan is controlling the position.
Gomes has Rafinan pressed against the cage.
Gomes is working for takedown but Rafinan is calmly controlling the position for now.

Rafinan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gomes tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rafinan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gomes is breathing heavily.
Gomes wants to clinch but Rafinan slips to the side
and Rafinan counters with a body kick that stops Gomes in his tracks momentarily.
Rafinan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gomes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafinan checks a low kick from Gomes.
Rafinan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rafinan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gomes.
Gomes tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rafinan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rafinan looks to land a combination but Gomes avoids it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rafinan throws a series of punches but Gomes avoids them all with ease.

Gomes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gomes has had enough of the clinch but Rafinan keeps him there for the moment.
Gomes pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gomes fails to pull guard.
Joe Rafinan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Gomes.
Gomes working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rafinan manages to break the clinch.
Gomes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gomes looks to land a combination but Rafinan avoids it well.
Rafinan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rafinan wants it to stay on the feet.
Rafinan thows a body shot but no joy.
Rafinan throws a head kick that misses.
Gomes doesn't manage to clinch there - Rafinan circles away.
Rafinan avoids the body shot from Gomes.
Rafinan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gomes in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafinan throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gomes's head.
Gomes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some wild striking there from Rafinan.
Gomes wants to clinch.

Gomes scores a takedown into full mount!
Gomes throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
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 Joe Rafinan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Gomes's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gomes is defended easily by Rafinan.
Rafinan lands a jab to the head.

Gomes moves into the clinch.
Gomes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice body punch from Rafinan.
Gomes misses with a knee to the head.
Gomes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gomes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rafinan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rafinan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gomes tries to work over Rafinan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rafinan prevents it.
A bit of stalling here from Rafinan.
Rafinan working Gomes over with knees to the body.
Gomes scores with a shoulder strike.
Gomes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rafinan walks away with a smile on his face. Gomes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Joe Rafinan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Gomes.
Rafinan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rafinan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rafinan misses with a head kick.
Gomes fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rafinan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Gomes crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rafinan - the referee stops the clock and Gomes gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rafinan. Gomes manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rafinan throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Gomes is rocked!
Gomes drops his hands momentarily and Rafinan needs no second invitation. He sets himself and throws a perfect high kick, that clips Gomes just on the top of the head. Gomes drops like a sack of potatoes to the canvas, out cold! Oooooooh yeah! Stick a fork in Gomes - he's done!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Joe Rafinan!
Joe Rafinan got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'