PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Def Fraire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raphael Fernandez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Fernandez
vs
Fraire

211 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
22
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphael Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Def Fraire!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fraire.
Fraire tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fernandez swivels and escapes.

Fernandez looking to score a takedown here. Fraire is defending well but Fernandez drives through and ends up in Fraire's guard.

Fraire looking for a guillotine here but Fernandez defends easily.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Fraire keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernandez prevents Fraire from getting back to his feet.
Fernandez preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fraire has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fernandez has managed to get both his arms back between Fraire's legs - danger averted.
Fraire not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Fraire is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fernandez is aware though and is defending well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Fernandez scores with a takedown into Fraire's guard.
Fernandez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Fraire looking for subs off his back but Fernandez has passed one foot through into half guard.
Fraire is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fraire wants to sweep but Fernandez has passed to side control!
Fraire is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Fernandez off and has taken his back!
Fernandez trying to control but not successfully.
Fraire doesn't have the hooks in and Fernandez manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Fernandez drops back looking for a leg! Fraire is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fraire manages to kick Fernandez off! Fernandez jumps back into Fraire's guard.
Fernandez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Fraire holds on and takes a little breather.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Fraire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Fraire doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Fernandez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Fernandez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Fraire uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fernandez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Fraire clinches up with Fernandez and pushes him back against the cage.
Fraire misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Fernandez dominated that round.
That's time! Fernandez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fraire closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fernandez circles away.
Fraire throws a sloppy head kick

and Fernandez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Fernandez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fraire is looking for a sweep. Fernandez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fraire is not content to let Fernandez control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fraire throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Fernandez is thwarting Fraire's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez is trying to control the action in half guard but Fraire is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Fernandez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fernandez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fraire defends well and Fernandez ends up having to push Fraire into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Fraire closes the distance and clinches.
Fraire is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Fernandez to keep the fight standing.
Fraire is stalling here.
Fernandez tries to break free but Fraire pushes him back against the cage.
Fraire working Fernandez over with knees to the body.
Fraire keeps control of Fernandez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Fraire manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fraire.
Fraire shoots for a takedown but Fernandez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Raphael Fernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Def Fraire.

Fraire closes the distance and clinches.

Fraire's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Fraire gets a clinch.
Fernandez trying to land knees to the body.

Fraire pulls guard successfully.
Fraire is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Fraire isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Fernandez stacks Fraire on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Fernandez!
Fraire is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Fernandez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Fraire to see if he's OK.
Fraire is trying to strike from the bottom but Fernandez has passed into full mount.
Fraire swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

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.
Fraire throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Fernandez has control of Fraire's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Fraire regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Fraire wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fernandez is not going to allow Fraire to sit and survive in this position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Fernandez's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Fernandez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fraire throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fernandez's waist but Fernandez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fraire off to one side.
Fernandez is looking to counter the offense by Fraire and move into the clinch.
Fraire scores with a spinning back kick!
Fraire keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fernandez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fraire explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Fernandez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fraire tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fernandez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fraire somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fraire's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fraire duly obliges.

It looks like Raphael Fernandez has been cut.
Fraire stuffs the takedown attempt from Fernandez. Fernandez gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez throws a head kick but Fraire moves out of range.
Fernandez clobbers Fraire with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Fraire gets a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Fraire.
Fraire wants to take the fight to the mat but Fernandez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Raphael Fernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Def Fraire.
Fernandez avoiding damage.
Fraire gets through Fernandez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fernandez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fraire has him pressed against the cage.
Fernandez is stalling here.
Fraire is working for takedown but Fernandez is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez leaning his opponent against the cage.

Fraire manages to break the clinch.
Fraire stuffs the takedown.

Fraire gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Fraire - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Fraire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fernandez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fraire throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fernandez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Fraire can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fraire throws a shot to the body.
Def Fraire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice inside leg kick there by Fraire. That's going to slow Fernandez down.
Fernandez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Fernandez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fraire tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Fraire closes the distance and clinches.
Fernandez is trying to break the clinch but Fraire is controlling him.
Knees in the clinch landing for Fraire.

Fraire breaks the clinch.
Fraire blocks a head kick by Fernandez.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fraire is defended easily by Fernandez.
Fernandez throws a counter high kick but Fraire was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fraire but Fraire pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fraire tries to counter by closing the distance.
A lazy left from Fraire finds it's target.

Fraire has managed to clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Fraire.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Fraire manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Fernandez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fernandez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Def Fraire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raphael Fernandez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fernandez prevents Fraire from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Def Fraire comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fernandez 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphael Fernandez!