PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ze Minotauro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minotauro has chosen Buckethead - jump man as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Oliveira
vs
Minotauro

195 cm
28
280 lbs
13 - 14 - 0

185 cm
38
253 lbs
23 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ze Minotauro!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliveira tries to clinch
and Minotauro counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Minotauro, as that shot connected.

It looks like Thiago Oliveira has been cut.
Minotauro scores with a jab to the jaw.
Minotauro misses with a body punch

and Oliveira counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Minotauro!
This has been an exciting period of action!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
A control attempt from Minotauro but he's now mounted!
Oliveira lands a couple of good shots and Minotauro has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Oliveira looking for the RNC.
Oliveira gets his hands free as Minotauro looks to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minotauro is taking damage to the body and head.
Minotauro is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Minotauro looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Minotauro is taking damage to the body and head.
Oliveira has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Oliveira scores with punches from the back.
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!
Minotauro grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Minotauro covering up well under a series of strikes from Oliveira.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Minotauro is concentrating on defense, preventing Oliveira from advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minotauro is pressing down on Oliveira's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Oliveira wants to control from the top but Minotauro keeps moving.

Oliveira drops back looking for a leg! Minotauro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Minotauro manages to kick Oliveira off! Oliveira jumps back into Minotauro's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minotauro trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Minotauro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Minotauro looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Oliveira has picked Minotauro up and slammed him! Minotauro can't keep hold of the triangle and Oliveira manages to pass to side control!

Oliveira wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Minotauro, who protects the arm well.
Minotauro tries to buck Oliveira off but Oliveira is having none of it.
Oliveira working the head and body with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Minotauro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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Oliveira trying to control the position but Minotauro is working away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Oliveira is trying to ground and pound but Minotauro uses the momentary lack of control by Oliveira to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Oliveira dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Oliveira's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Minotauro cracks Oliveira with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Oliveira has a takedown stuffed.
Oliveira dodges the punch combination from Minotauro.

Oliveira drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Minotauro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thiago Oliveira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira stays in close to Minotauro's body and controls the position.
Minotauro controlling Oliveira's posture.
Minotauro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Oliveira with a nice head shot there.
Minotauro trying to keep a closed guard but Oliveira is proving a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Minotauro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Oliveira content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro managing to control the position.
Minotauro is trying to control the position but Oliveira postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ze Minotauro.
Oliveira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Minotauro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A lazy left from Minotauro finds it's target.
Ze Minotauro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Minotauro darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Oliveira fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Oliveira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Minotauro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've been told by Oliveira's head coaches at Beast farming that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oliveira clinches up with Minotauro and pushes him back against the cage.
Minotauro tries to land knees in the clinch but Oliveira avoids the damage to the body.

Minotauro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Minotauro connects with a solid leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Minotauro.
Oliveira is looking to clinch but Minotauro is avoiding it.
Oliveira staying out of range there.
Minotauro throws the kick towards the body but Oliveira avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro throws a lazy head kick
and Oliveira counters with a head kick. That will keep Minotauro thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Minotauro misses with a looping right.
Minotauro swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Oliveira rushes Minotauro and presses him up against the cage.
Oliveira tries to score a body lock takedown but Minotauro shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Oliveira. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Oliveira pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Minotauro scores with a jab to the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Oliveira fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Minotauro to the ground. Oliveira is now in Minotauro's guard.
Minotauro has his hands on Oliveira's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ze Minotauro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Thiago Oliveira's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Minotauro fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Oliveira is out of range.
Minotauro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Minotauro attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minotauro misses with a combination
and Oliveira counters with an inside leg kick.

Oliveira shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Minotauro is trying to defend but Oliveira finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Minotauro defending well though.
Minotauro is trying to get back to full guard.
Oliveira missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Oliveira missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Oliveira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Minotauro keeps working.
Minotauro is looking for a sweep. Oliveira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Oliveira not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Minotauro wants to control but Oliveira is keeping busy.
Minotauro is positioning himself well to prevent Oliveira advancing to mount.
Minotauro is refusing to be controlled, as Oliveira sits in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Minotauro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Oliveira trying to control the position from guard on top but Minotauro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro looks to move to half guard but instead Oliveira has passed into mount! Damn!
Minotauro tries to lock up and control but Oliveira gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Minotauro is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Oliveira cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Oliveira scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Oliveira has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Minotauro's face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Oliveira cracks Minotauro with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Oliveira avoids the attempt from Minotauro to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira dominating with strikes here.
Oliveira lands a couple of good shots and Minotauro has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Oliveira lands a shot to the head.

Oliveira tightening his grip on Minotauro, looking for the choke.
Minotauro covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Oliveira showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Oliveira has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Oliveira!
A victorious Thiago Oliveira thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.