PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zeca Ralho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reesalo Cherubim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ralho's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Destruction. The key to victory for Zeca Ralho has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ralho
vs
Cherubim

185 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

178 cm
24
154 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Zeca Ralho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Reesalo Cherubim!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Hugh Johnson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cherubim cracks Ralho with a good jab.
Ralho seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Reesalo Cherubim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ralho shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cherubim counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cherubim.
Ralho tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cherubim smiles and moves away.
Ralho is looking to clinch.
Ralho tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cherubim defends well and Ralho ends up having to push Cherubim into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeca Ralho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ralho throws a sloppy head kick and Cherubim moves out of range easily.
Ralho shoots in for a takedown but Cherubim shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cherubim scores with a jab to the head.

Cherubim changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ralho looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cherubim trying to control the action but Ralho is working from the bottom.

Cherubim tries for a kimura but Ralho is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ralho is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherubim trying to control the action but Ralho is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ralho prevents Cherubim from moving into mount.
Cherubim trying to control the action but Ralho is working from the bottom.
Cherubim lands an elbow.
Ralho is not content to let Cherubim control the position.
Cherubim controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cherubim throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cherubim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ralho keeps working.

Cherubim thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cherubim working the body and head with strikes.
Cherubim taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ralho stops Cherubim from passing to mount.
Cherubim is looking to take a break and control but Ralho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cherubim lands a nice forearm strike.
Cherubim has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ralho can't do much from the bottom here.
Ralho is working to avoid the ground and pound but Cherubim connects with a decent elbow.
Cherubim taking a break here but Ralho is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ralho trying to control here.
Cherubim trying to control from half guard but Ralho is working away.
Cherubim sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ralho defending well though.
Cherubim controlling the action here.
Ralho is refusing to be controlled, as Cherubim sits in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cherubim missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reesalo Cherubim dominated that round.
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.

A head kick misses from Ralho.
Ralho goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ralho fails to land with a series of punches.
Cherubim throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ralho counters with a series of strikes. Cherubim will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ralho, right into the meat.
Ralho chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cherubim can pounce on him.
Nice body kick there by Ralho.
Cherubim is looking to clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ralho.

Cherubim clinches with his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ralho letting Cherubim take a breather here.

Cherubim breaks from the clinch.
Ralho fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ralho gets caught napping as Cherubim dives in and scores a takedown. Ralho manages to retain guard.
Cherubim is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ralho wants to get back to his feet but Cherubim is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ralho really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cherubim wants to control from the top but Ralho keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cherubim pushing down on Ralho's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cherubim is trying to control the action in half guard but Ralho is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cherubim throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ralho gets back to full guard.
Cherubim landing some decent shots from guard.

Cherubim drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ralho manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cherubim has Ralho in his guard.

Cherubim has his foot on Ralho's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ralho works his way back into a safe position though.
Cherubim avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Reesalo Cherubim has got the better of the ground game so far.

Cherubim looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cherubim bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ralho's guard.

Ralho is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherubim wants to control from the top but Ralho keeps moving.
Cherubim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ralho has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cherubim off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Cherubim misses with a head kick.
Ralho tries to counter by clinching up but Cherubim breaks away and moves out of range.

Cherubim rushes Ralho and presses him up against the cage.
Ralho has Cherubim pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cherubim manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cherubim landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
We've been informed that Cherubim has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Cherubim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cherubim swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ralho counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Cherubim misses with a wild combination.
Cherubim pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ralho throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cherubim.

Cherubim scores with a takedown into Ralho's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cherubim wants to control from the top but Ralho keeps moving.
Cherubim tries to free his leg and advance position but Ralho is retaining full guard.
Cherubim controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Reesalo Cherubim will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Cherubim shoots in for a takedown but Ralho shows good takedown defense.
Cherubim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cherubim tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ralho counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cherubim is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Cherubim swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ralho darts in looking for a takedown but Cherubim gets double underhooks and turns Ralho into the cage.
Ralho moves in looking to clinch but Cherubim pushes him off.
Cherubim misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cherubim uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ralho.
Ralho shoots in for a double leg but Cherubim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zeca Ralho is winning the standup battle so far.

Cherubim closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cherubim goes for a takedown attempt but Ralho pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ralho circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick from Ralho lands but Cherubim takes it in his stride.
Cherubim misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cherubim feints and as Ralho raises his hands in defense, Cherubim changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ralho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ralho is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cherubim trying to control the position from guard on top but Ralho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cherubim looking to sit in guard and control but Ralho gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cherubim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ralho is one step ahead there.
Ralho has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cherubim escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ralho gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ralho won't allow Cherubim to get back to his feet.

Cherubim working for a triangle but Ralho defends it easily.
Ralho controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ralho trying to control but Cherubim is working from the bottom.
Cherubim looking for a sweep. Not yet Cherubim, not yet.

Cherubim looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherubim looking for a sweep. Not yet Cherubim, not yet.
Ralho lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Cherubim manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Ralho pulls guard successfully.
Cherubim throwing strikes from guard but Ralho blocks nicely.
Cherubim is looking to work some ground and pound but Ralho has wrist control.
Cherubim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ralho keeping moving, preventing Cherubim from controlling successfully.
Ralho looking for a sweep. Not yet Ralho, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cherubim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cherubim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ralho keeping moving, preventing Cherubim from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Cherubim moves into the clinch.
Ralho wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Cherubim has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ralho uses from the top position.
Cherubim wants to stand and escape but Ralho is having none of it.

Ralho stands up from Cherubim's guard - Ralho perhaps looking for a knockout.
Reesalo Cherubim is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cherubim takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reesalo Cherubim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cherubim 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reesalo Cherubim!
In defeat, Zeca Ralho stepped up to the mic, saying 'Fui afanado pelo árbitro'.