PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jon Aragao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jao Saoul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jao Saoul will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Aragao
vs
Saoul

178 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
24
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jon Aragao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jao Saoul!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aragao takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Aragao fails to land the takedown.

Saoul moves into the clinch.

Aragao jumps into guard, dragging Saoul to the mat.
Saoul wants to get up but he can't break Aragao's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Aragao working a defensive guard here.

Aragao has his foot on Saoul's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saoul works his way back into a safe position though.
Saoul is looking to stand up but Aragao won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aragao trying to keep a closed guard but Saoul is proving a slippery customer.

Aragao working for a triangle but Saoul defends it easily.

Saoul decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aragao shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saoul sprawls well. Saoul wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Aragao gets slowly back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Saoul. Those never looked like landing.
Saoul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
No luck for Aragao with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Aragao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saoul displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aragao.

Saoul rushes Aragao and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saoul taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Saoul lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Aragao letting Saoul take a breather here.
Nice body punch from Saoul.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Saoul.
Saoul digs a right hand into Aragao's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Aragao's gas tank.
Saoul lands with a short shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Saoul.
Saoul leaning his opponent against the cage.
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!
Saoul cracks Aragao with a nice body shot.
Saoul scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Saoul.
Stalling in the clinch from Saoul.
Saoul pressing his opponent against the cage.
Saoul digs a right hand underneath Aragao's ribcage. Aragao let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Saoul has Aragao pushed against the cage.
Saoul blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saoul trying to stall but Aragao improves his position.
Saoul cracks Aragao with a nice body shot.
Saoul lands a nice uppercut.
Aragao misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice left hand lands by Saoul.
A right hook to the body lands for Saoul.
Aragao is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Saoul.
The referee is keeping an eye on Saoul - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Aragao tries to break the clinch but Saoul is controlling the position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Saoul.
Aragao tries to pull guard but Saoul holds him up against the cage and eventually Aragao drops back down to his feet.
Aragao's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Saoul prevents the takedown attempt.
Aragao content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Saoul pushes Aragao back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Saoul is leaning against Aragao and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Saoul.
Aragao has had enough of the clinch but Saoul keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Saoul has taken the fight to the clinch.
Saoul scores with a nice hook to the head.
Saoul stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Saoul scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Saoul scores with a shot to the side of Aragao's head.
Saoul manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Saoul digs a right hand into Aragao's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Aragao's gas tank.
Saoul pressing his opponent against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Saoul.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hand to the body from Saoul.
Saoul lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Saoul is pushing Aragao up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saoul leaning against his opponent.

Aragao has clasped his hands together around Saoul's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Saoul bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Saoul moves into range and clinches up with Aragao.
Saoul manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Aragao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aragao takes a shot right to the bread basket.
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!
Aragao shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saoul but Saoul pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saoul tries to counter with a clinch but Aragao shakes him off and moves away.
Saoul looks to clinch

so Aragao counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Aragao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saoul is keeping the position for now.

Saoul has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Aragao off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Jao Saoul is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aragao doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Saoul cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Jon Aragao has been cut.
Saoul scores with a shot to the body.
Aragao misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saoul lands with a nice body punch.
Aragao moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Aragao takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Saoul darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Aragao is sent reeling backwards by a solid uppercut. He barely regains his balance and Saoul moves in for the kill throwing a continuous barrage of punches that force the ref to step in.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jao Saoul!