PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and sol phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Almeida has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Almeida
vs
phoenix

180 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

181 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, sol phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
phoenix misses with a takedown attempt - Almeida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
phoenix is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Almeida pulls him back up using the underhooks.
phoenix holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Almeida tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. phoenix smiles and moves away.
phoenix shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thiago Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of sol phoenix.
phoenix fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Almeida tries to clinch up.

phoenix drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Almeida controls the position for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida wants to control but phoenix postures up.
Almeida is looking for a sweep.
Almeida manages to work his way to half guard, despite phoenix's best efforts.
Almeida wants to control but phoenix is keeping busy and won't allow it.
phoenix really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Almeida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Almeida gets back to full guard.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing phoenix from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Almeida trying to control the position here.
phoenix must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
phoenix trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Almeida pulls phoenix in to control the position.
Almeida not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Almeida keeping full guard, as phoenix tries to pass.
Almeida is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida is controlling phoenix's posture.
phoenix trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Almeida fails to land the takedown.
Almeida is breathing heavily.
Almeida misses with a takedown

and phoenix counters with a shoot takedown. Almeida fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in phoenix's guard.
phoenix is trying to control the position from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now phoenix is on top in guard.
phoenix throwing strikes but missing.
Almeida keeping full guard, as phoenix tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

sol phoenix dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

phoenix with a poor takedown

and Almeida counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Almeida.
phoenix fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Almeida could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Almeida is looking to control phoenix's arms but phoenix gets an underhook and turns him. Now Almeida has his back to the cage.
Almeida tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. phoenix smiles and moves away.
phoenix misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thiago Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of sol phoenix.
Almeida shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and phoenix counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Almeida working aggressively here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
phoenix is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Almeida gets underhooks to prevent phoenix's takedown attempt.
Almeida wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
phoenix has Almeida pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Almeida manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Almeida tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. phoenix smiles and moves away.

Almeida bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Almeida.

Almeida decides to stand up, so the ref orders phoenix to his feet.
Almeida just misses with a punch to the body.
Almeida fails to land the takedown.

phoenix closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Almeida to the mat! Almeida manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Almeida is pulling down on phoenix's head to control his posture.

Almeida is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Almeida is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Almeida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. phoenix doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. phoenix manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
phoenix trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Almeida is trying to keep phoenix in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Almeida throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Almeida trying to keep a closed guard but phoenix is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
phoenix shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Almeida as he jumps to the side.
Almeida throws a big shot that misses.
phoenix shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Almeida as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Almeida dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

phoenix circles away from the clinch attempt
and phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
phoenix shoots in but Almeida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
phoenix shoots in looking for a takedown. Almeida tries to sprawl out of it but phoenix keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Almeida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Almeida blocks a head kick by phoenix.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Almeida doesn't succeed with the takedown

and phoenix decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Almeida's guard.
Almeida lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for phoenix!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Almeida is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Almeida tries to clinch up.
phoenix tries for a takedown but Almeida circles away easily

and Almeida counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Almeida.
Thiago Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of sol phoenix.
Almeida throwing strikes but missing.
phoenix wants to stand and escape but Almeida is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida stays in close to phoenix's body and controls the position.
Almeida is in close to phoenix's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Almeida slips nicely into half guard.
Almeida thows a huge punch but phoenix dodges it nicely.
Thiago Almeida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Almeida is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Almeida trying to control the action but phoenix is working from the bottom.

Almeida stands up out of the half guard.
Almeida has his takedown stuffed
and phoenix counters with a nice low kick that buckles Almeida's knee momentarily.
Thiago Almeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Almeida misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
phoenix misses with a takedown attempt - Almeida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

phoenix pushes Almeida up against the cage in a clinch.
Almeida tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. phoenix just stands there and leans against the cage.
phoenix has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Almeida is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Almeida effectively controlling the action here.

Almeida breaks the clinch.

phoenix forces Almeida back against the cage and clinches.
phoenix prevents a takedown attempt there.
Almeida tries for a takedown but phoenix manages to get underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Almeida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Almeida 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Almeida!