PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joao Henrique (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Acosta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Henrique
vs
Acosta

225 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Henrique!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Acosta!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Acosta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Acosta looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Acosta tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Henrique defends well and Acosta ends up having to push Henrique into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Henrique pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Acosta stuffs the takedown attempt from Henrique. Henrique gets slowly back to his feet.
Henrique shoots in but no luck this time.

Henrique has taken the fight to the clinch.

Henrique breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henrique slaps away a takedown attempt from Acosta, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Acosta. No joy for Henrique on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Henrique. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henrique connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Acosta momentarily.
Henrique throws a nice looking combination but Acosta bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Henrique misses with a jab, cross combination.
Henrique looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Henrique shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acosta clinches up against the cage.
Acosta wants to break free but Henrique has control.
Acosta prevents a takedown attempt there.
Henrique jumps guard but Acosta turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Henrique is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Henrique's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice takedown defense from Acosta. No joy for Henrique on that attempt.
Acosta tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Henrique swivels and escapes.
Henrique fails with the takedown.
Acosta misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henrique tries for a takedown but Acosta sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Henrique misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Acosta.
Henrique is looking to clinch.
Acosta circles away from the clinch attempt.
Acosta should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Henrique is trying hard to land a takedown here. Acosta sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Acosta forces Henrique back against the cage and clinches.

Acosta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Henrique fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Henrique pushes Acosta up against the cage in a clinch.
Henrique pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Acosta tries to pull guard but Henrique holds him up against the cage and eventually Acosta drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henrique pulls guard successfully.

Henrique throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Acosta's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Acosta decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Henrique really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Henrique fails to land the takedown.
Acosta takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acosta shoots in looking for a takedown but Henrique manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Acosta's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Henrique misses with a takedown attempt - Acosta sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No joy there for Acosta, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Henrique tries to score a power double leg takedown but Acosta sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henrique somewhat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Acosta. Henrique does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henrique fails with a takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henrique shoots in looking for a takedown but Acosta manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Henrique's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Henrique avoids a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joao Henrique will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Henrique drives through and clinches with Acosta against the cage.
Henrique looking to stall.

Henrique pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Acosta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Joao Acosta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henrique darts in looking for a takedown but Acosta gets double underhooks and turns Henrique into the cage.
Acosta prevents a body shot from Henrique.
Henrique blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Henrique is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Acosta gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Henrique drags the fight down to the ground.

Henrique had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Acosta defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Acosta stands up from Henrique's guard - Acosta perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henrique tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Acosta defends well and Henrique ends up having to push Acosta into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Henrique. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Henrique.
Acosta looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Acosta is trying to pull guard but Henrique turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Henrique wants a takedown but no success here.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Acosta breaks from the clinch.
Henrique scores with a nice body kick.
Acosta throws a head kick but Henrique moves out of range.
Acosta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Acosta is trying hard to land a takedown here. Henrique sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Henrique throws a head kick that half lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henrique fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Acosta circles away from the clinch attempt.
Henrique tries to close the distance and clinch up but Acosta swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Henrique looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Henrique misses with a low kick.
A head kick by Acosta misses

and Henrique counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Acosta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Acosta misses with a double jab.
Henrique throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Acosta lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Henrique circles away quickly and effectively.
Henrique connects with a nice looking jab.
Acosta stuffs the takedown attempt from Henrique. Henrique gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henrique displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Acosta.
Acosta takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Henrique scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Henrique tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Acosta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Henrique avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Henrique tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Acosta lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Acosta has closed the distance and engaged Henrique in a clinch.
Henrique tries for a takedown but Acosta manages to get underhooks.
Henrique prevents Acosta from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henrique manages to break the clinch.
Henrique avoids the head kick by Acosta.
Acosta shoots for a double leg takedown but Henrique sprawls well. He's pushed Acosta's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A big right from Acosta misses.
Henrique tries to clinch but Acosta moves away
and Acosta counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Acosta has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Acosta avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Henrique misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Acosta thows a body shot but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Acosta is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck for Henrique with that takedown attempt.
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 Joao Henrique will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Henrique misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henrique tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Henrique looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Acosta is fending him off so far but Henrique persists. Nope, Acosta circles away and we're back to standing.
Acosta takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Henrique fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Henrique rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Acosta moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Acosta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Acosta throws a hook but Henrique blocks it.
Henrique throws a poor cross that misses
and Acosta counters with a big head kick but Henrique shrugs it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henrique blocks a head kick by Acosta.
Horrible takedown by Henrique or perhaps it was just good defense by Acosta which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Henrique. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Acosta. No joy for Henrique on that attempt.
Henrique fails to land the takedown.
Henrique tries to clinch but Acosta moves away

and Acosta holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Acosta tries to pull guard but Henrique won't allow it.
Henrique lands an elbow inside.
Henrique tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Acosta just stands there and leans against the cage.
Henrique can't get the takedown.
Henrique is trying to pull guard but Acosta has him pressed against the cage.
Acosta jumps guard but Henrique turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Acosta is trying to break free.
Acosta has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henrique misses with a body punch.
Acosta is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Henrique gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Acosta struggles to land a body shot inside as Henrique controls his hands.
Henrique tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Acosta wants to take the fight to the mat but Henrique manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Henrique jumps guard and drags Acosta to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Henrique wriggles free and stands up.
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!
Henrique shoots for a takedown but Acosta saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Henrique.
Acosta looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Acosta as Henrique shoots in.
Acosta lands with a slapping head kick.
Henrique fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Henrique scores with a nice body kick.
Henrique shoots in for a double leg but Acosta sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Henrique tries for a takedown but Acosta sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Acosta punishes Henrique's body with a nice straight punch.
Acosta looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Joao Henrique is winning the standup battle so far.
Acosta misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henrique shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Acosta pinned against the cage. Acosta gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Acosta closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Henrique quickly recovers to half guard.
Henrique trying to control here.

Acosta decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
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!
Henrique throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Henrique will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Acosta wants to clinch up but Henrique keeps it at a distance.
A nice combination there by Acosta.
Joao Acosta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joao Henrique is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Henrique rushes Acosta and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joao Acosta.
I think Henrique 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Henrique!