PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between EJ Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariel Levin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Junior
vs
Levin

175 cm
23
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

165 cm
23
145 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, EJ Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ariel Levin!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Levin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Levin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Junior misses with a double jab.
Levin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Levin connects with a high kick.
Levin swats away the attempt to clinch by Junior.
Junior misses with a straight left.

Levin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Levin advances to half guard.

Junior is defending against the submission attempts here by Levin.
Junior is looking for a sweep. Levin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Junior actively working from the bottom here.
Levin is looking to advance position but Junior won't allow it.
Junior blocking the ground and pound attempt from Levin.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Junior is looking for a sweep. Levin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Levin wants to free his trapped foot but Junior is holding on for dear life with his legs.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Junior scores with the left hand. Levin knows he should have avoided that one.
Junior tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Levin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Levin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Junior.
Levin lands a head kick!
Levin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Junior lands a two punch combo.
Levin dodges the punch combination from Junior.
Junior bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior takes a swing at Levin's ribcage but misses.
Junior fails to land with a series of punches.
Levin tries a head kick but it misses.
Junior lands with an uppercut that bounces Levin off the cage and back into rage.
Junior wants to clinch up but Levin keeps it at a distance.
Levin misses with a head kick.
EJ Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Junior lands a jab-cross combination.
Junior blocks a head kick by Levin.
Levin lands with a kick to the temple. Junior shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Junior connects with the punch.
Levin keeps the fight on the outside.
Junior throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Levin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Levin lands a head kick. Junior smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A solid leg kick lands there for Levin.
Levin throws a sloppy head kick and Junior moves out of range easily.
Levin looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Junior throws a right and a left that both miss.
Levin tries a head kick but it misses.
Levin throws a sloppy head kick and Junior moves out of range easily.
Nice sprawl there from Junior as Levin shoots in.
Levin is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A left and a right from Junior both land. Nice combination.
Junior slips a jab from Levin.
Levin misses with a head kick.

Junior fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Levin, pushing him back against the cage.
Levin swings wildly with an uppercut but Junior uses good head movement to avoid it.
Levin gets underhooks to prevent Junior's takedown attempt.
Junior blocking some punches.
Levin tries for a takedown but Junior manages to get underhooks.
Junior wants to break free but Levin has control.
The is referee keeping an eye on Levin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Junior jumps into guard, dragging Levin to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Junior is on top in guard.
Levin keeping full guard, as Junior tries to pass.
Levin throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Junior trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Levin thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Levin wants to sweep here but Junior controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Junior wants to pass the guard but Levin is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Levin shoots in and bounces Junior off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Levin forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Levin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Junior tries to clinch up.
A leg kick checked by Junior.
Levin shoots for a double leg takedown but Junior sprawls well. He's pushed Levin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Junior throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Levin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
EJ Junior is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Levin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Levin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Junior.
Junior moves in looking to clinch but Levin pushes him off.
Levin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Junior.
Junior throws a series of punches but Levin avoids them all with ease.
A slow jab from Levin misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levin tries a head kick but it misses.
Junior blocks a head kick by Levin.
Levin is breathing heavily.
Junior misses with an uppercut.

Junior has closed the distance and engaged Levin in a clinch.

Junior has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Levin regains guard immediately.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior won't allow Levin to sweep him here.
Junior has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Junior is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Levin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Levin has escaped and now he's on top!
Levin passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Levin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Levin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Junior is looking for a sweep.

Levin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Junior is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Levin has hold of Junior's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Junior seems comfortable defending it but Levin has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Junior is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Junior is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Levin couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ariel Levin!