PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Cirus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Mizrahi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cirus comes into the arena with Lonely Boy - The Black Keys blaring out of the sound system. Donnie Mizrahi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cirus
vs
Mizrahi

180 cm
29
168 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

176 cm
36
155 lbs
33 - 25 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tom Cirus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Donnie Mizrahi!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cirus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mizrahi as he jumps to the side.
Mizrahi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mizrahi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cirus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cirus takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Tom Cirus has been cut.
Mizrahi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cirus goes for a takedown attempt but Mizrahi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A solid body kick from Mizrahi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cirus is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Cirus shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cirus was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cirus working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cirus throwing shots but missing, from side control.
We've been hearing that Cirus has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Cirus is trying to ground and pound but Mizrahi uses the momentary lack of control by Cirus to regain half guard.
Cirus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cirus is nestled in close to Mizrahi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mizrahi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cirus throwing strikes but missing.
Cirus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cirus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cirus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cirus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cirus postures up in Mizrahi's guard and throws a big left but Mizrahi blocks it.
Cirus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cirus throwing strikes from guard but Mizrahi blocks nicely.
Cirus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cirus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mizrahi is trying to control the position but Cirus postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cirus fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Cirus. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mizrahi rushes Cirus and presses him up against the cage.
Mizrahi misses with a knee strike.
Mizrahi content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Mizrahi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cirus blocks it with crossed arms.
Mizrahi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cirus blocks it with crossed arms.
Mizrahi dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Cirus blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mizrahi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cirus.
Mizrahi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mizrahi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mizrahi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mizrahi stalling against the cage.
Mizrahi stalling against the cage.
Mizrahi stalling in the clinch.

Cirus has picked Mizrahi up - he's going for a ride! Cirus dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Mizrahi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mizrahi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cirus.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cirus wants to control but Mizrahi is keeping him busy.
Cirus is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cirus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Donnie Mizrahi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tom Cirus's cut.
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.

Cirus takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Mizrahi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mizrahi leaves Cirus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Mizrahi clinches with his opponent.
A knee to the head by Mizrahi.
Mizrahi misses with a punch on the inside.
Mizrahi slows down the pace here.
Mizrahi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cirus is trying to drag Mizrahi to the mat but Mizrahi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cirus wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Cirus. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mizrahi has a couple of punches blocked by Cirus.
Mizrahi with a knee to the head.
Mizrahi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mizrahi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mizrahi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mizrahi tries a knee to the head but Cirus blocks it.
Mizrahi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cirus blocks it with crossed arms.
Mizrahi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cirus tries for a takedown but Mizrahi manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mizrahi scores with a nice hook to the head.

Cirus has hold of one of Mizrahi's legs. Mizrahi is fighting the takedown attempt but Cirus gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Cirus landing some decent shots from guard.
Mizrahi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cirus looking to pass the guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cirus throws a big right hand that misses.
Cirus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mizrahi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cirus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cirus trying to control the position from guard on top but Mizrahi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cirus is in close to Mizrahi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cirus passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sloppy strikes there by Cirus.
Cirus cracks Mizrahi with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Mizrahi parries the strikes from Cirus easily there. Cirus is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mizrahi to escape.
Mizrahi can't do much from the bottom here.
Cirus sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mizrahi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cirus throws an elbow but Mizrahi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Cirus throws an elbow but Mizrahi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Cirus with the ground and pound but Mizrahi regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Cirus missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cirus thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cirus throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cirus is keen to just control but Mizrahi is a slippery customer.
Mizrahi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cirus.
Cirus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mizrahi's head.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Donnie Mizrahi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tom Cirus's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A lazy body kick from Mizrahi

and Cirus counters with a takedown into side control.
Mizrahi is not content to let Cirus control the position.
Cirus lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Cirus sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mizrahi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Cirus misses with the ground and pound.
Mizrahi parries the strikes from Cirus easily there. Cirus is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mizrahi to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cirus working the ground and pound but Mizrahi is defending the strikes.
Mizrahi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cirus off and has taken his back!
Cirus wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
My spies in The Warehouse inform me that Mizrahi has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tom Cirus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mizrahi controlling from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cirus is trying to get back to his feet but Mizrahi has full control of the position and if anything, Cirus has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Cirus trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mizrahi has good solid back control here.
Tom Cirus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cirus wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donnie Mizrahi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mizrahi 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Donnie Mizrahi!
A relieved looking Donnie Mizrahi thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.