PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salem Trials (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Brava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Damien Brava enters the cage!

Trials
vs
Brava

185 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Salem Trials!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damien Brava!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Trials does no damage.
Trials throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Brava tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Trials fails to land the takedown.
Trials misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brava checks a leg kick.
Trials misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trials throws an overhand right that lands on Brava's shoulder, as Brava tries to avoid the shot.
Trials misses the jab.
Brava is looking to clinch but Trials is avoiding it.
Brava swings for the body but Trials moves out of range.
Trials connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Brava momentarily.
Trials throws a sloppy body shot

and Brava counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Trials!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brava lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Trials hang on?
Trials swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Trials is trying desperately to improve position.
Brava throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Brava controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trials squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Brava looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Brava seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Trials is holding on tight.
Brava is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Trials is in all sorts of trouble here.
Trials wants to hold on but Brava pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Brava controlling the pace for now.

Brava wants to finish this one by submission but Trials is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Brava.
Trials tries to hold on but Brava postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Brava gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Brava dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Brava bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Trials throws a shot from downtown. Brava moves away and avoids it.
Trials throws a leg kick

and Brava holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A short body shot lands from Brava as the two fighters clinch.
Brava just leaning against Trials, taking a breather.

Brava decides to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Trials gets to his feet - Brava follows without any prompting.
Brava slips under a jab from Trials.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Brava.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trials is looking to regain half guard here but Brava keeps moving and retains side control.
Brava controlling the position.
Trials is not content to let Brava control the position.
Brava taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Trials tries to escape but Brava is in control.
Brava taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Trials's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Trials is letting Brava control him for a moment.
Brava postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Brava in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, Damien Brava just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Brava tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Trials paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Trials throws a leg kick

so Brava counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Trials looking to control.
Brava stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Trials swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Trials keeping moving, preventing Brava from controlling successfully.
Brava pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Trials is keeping the position for now.
Trials is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Brava 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Trials throws a hook to the side of Brava's head but Brava sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Brava with a poor takedown

and Trials counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Brava is trying to maintain the position but Trials is very close to passing his half guard.
Brava wants to improve his position but Trials is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Brava can do anything to dispel that myth.
Brava is positioning himself well to prevent Trials advancing to mount.
Brava's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Brava is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Trials misses with a kick to the body

and Brava counters by moving into the clinch.

Brava pulls guard.
Brava looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Damien Brava has got the better of the ground game so far.
Brava 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.
Trials trying to control the position from guard on top but Brava is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Trials would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brava is looking to stand up but Trials isn't so interested in that idea.
Brava has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Trials is looking to stand up but Brava won't let him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brava looking for a sweep. Not yet Brava, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Brava wants to clinch up but Trials keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Trials keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Trials throws out a loose jab but Brava uses good head movement to avoid it.
Brava tries to work over Trials's front leg with a kick but Trials checks it.

Brava moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trials tries to pull guard but Brava won't allow it.
Salem Trials has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brava landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Brava lands a nice knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Damien Brava.
I've got Brava winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damien Brava!