PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Amaral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Reefer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Amaral
vs
Reefer

189 cm
34
194 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

183 cm
34
168 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Amaral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Reefer!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Amaral tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Amaral swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Amaral lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Reefer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice defenses there by Amaral.
Amaral wants to clinch.
Amaral throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Amaral tries to clinch but Reefer moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amaral slips a jab from Reefer.
Reefer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Amaral manages to avoid it.
Amaral fails in his attempt to clinch.
Amaral tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Amaral misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Reefer digs a good body shot into Amaral's ribs.
Amaral definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reefer throws a chopping leg kick but Amaral manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Amaral pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Amaral darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Amaral is looking to clinch.
Amaral throws a looping overhand right but Reefer ducks down to avoid it.
Reefer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A jab lands there for Amaral.
Rafael Amaral is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reefer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Amaral sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Reefer somewhat.
Reefer keeps the fight on the outside.
Amaral misses with a double jab

and Reefer counters with a shoot takedown. Amaral fights it but they end up in guard.

Amaral is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Reefer presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Reefer lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reefer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Amaral breaks the clinch.
Reefer misses with a looping right.
Reefer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Amaral manages to avoid it.
Reefer keeps the fight on the outside.
Reefer throws a combination. Amaral tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Rafael Amaral has been cut.
Rafael Amaral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Reefer misses its intended target.

Amaral clinches up against the cage.
Amaral misses with a hook from the clinch.
Amaral throws a punch but it's blocked by Reefer.
Amaral throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Reefer blocks it with crossed arms.
Reefer being controlled against the cage.
Amaral throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Reefer blocks it with crossed arms.
Amaral misses with the head strike.
A short body shot lands from Amaral as the two fighters clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amaral lands an uppercut.
Reefer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Amaral misses with a hook from the clinch.
Amaral misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Reefer.
Amaral with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Reefer pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Amaral wants to get up but he can't break Reefer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Reefer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Amaral doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Amaral manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Amaral preventing the sweep.

Amaral decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Reefer, up you get!
Amaral moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reefer lands with a right hand.
Amaral looks to land a combination but Reefer avoids it well.
Reefer looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nice shot lands for Reefer.
Amaral tries to clinch but Reefer moves out of range.
As Amaral backs off Reefer throws a huge counter combo but Amaral manages to avoid it all.
Amaral tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Reefer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Amaral is looking to clinch.
Reefer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Amaral fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reefer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Amaral was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Reefer keeps the fight on the outside.
Amaral moves in looking to clinch but Reefer pushes him off.
Reefer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Amaral misses with a kick to the body.
Amaral tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Amaral tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Reefer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Amaral won't be happy with that.

Reefer is trying to get an arm triangle but Amaral is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rafael Amaral will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rafael Amaral'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.

Reefer jabs Amaral to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Amaral looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Reefer looking to score a takedown here. Amaral is defending well but Reefer drives through and ends up in Amaral's guard.
Reefer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Amaral swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Reefer looking to sit in guard and control but Amaral gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reefer trying to keep a closed guard but Amaral is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reefer managing to control the position.

Amaral stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Reefer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Amaral tries to clinch but Reefer is having none of it.
Reefer ducks under a wild hook from Amaral.
Amaral looks for the body kick but Reefer saw that one coming.
Reefer with the counter takedown but Amaral avoids it easily.
Amaral fails with an attempt to clinch.
Reefer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Amaral tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reefer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jim Reefer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Reefer slips a jab from Amaral.
Amaral fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amaral swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And Reefer tries to counter it with a takedown but Amaral pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Amaral doesn't manage to clinch there - Reefer circles away.
Reefer keeps the fight on the outside.
Amaral tries to clinch up but Reefer circles away and keeps his distance.
Reefer tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Amaral is looking to clinch but Reefer is avoiding it.
Reefer feints the counter takedown.
A swing and a miss from Amaral.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Amaral working aggressively here.
Amaral misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Reefer.
Amaral working aggressively here.
Reefer blocking some punches.
Reefer softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Amaral tries a body shot but Reefer blocks it.

Amaral pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Amaral misses with an uppercut.
Reefer lands with a hook. Amaral tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amaral tries to close the distance and clinch but Reefer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Amaral moves in looking to clinch but Reefer pushes him off.
Reefer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Amaral misses with a body shot.
Amaral moves to clinch but Reefer breaks away

and Reefer counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Amaral!
Amaral wants to get back to his feet but Reefer drags him back down.
Reefer tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Amaral tries to buck Reefer off but Reefer is having none of it.
Reefer wants to control but Amaral is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reefer might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Amaral haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Reefer prevents Amaral from escaping the position.
Amaral wants to control but Reefer postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Amaral is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Reefer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Amaral can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jim Reefer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rafael Amaral's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Reefer misses with a takedown attempt - Amaral sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Reefer lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Amaral tries to clinch

and Reefer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jim Reefer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Amaral pulls Reefer in close to his closed guard and prevents Reefer from doing any damage or advancing position.
Reefer tries to free his leg and advance position but Amaral is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reefer trying to control the position from guard on top but Amaral is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reefer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reefer won't allow Amaral to sweep him here.

Amaral scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Reefer moves out of range of the body kick from Amaral.
Reefer lands with a nice body kick.
Reefer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Reefer looks to throw the jab but Amaral is out of range.
Reefer looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Reefer ducks under a wild hook from Amaral.

Amaral has closed the distance and engaged Reefer in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Reefer scores with a nice short uppercut.
Amaral blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Reefer struggles to land a body shot inside as Amaral controls his hands.
Reefer blocking some punches.
Reefer scores with a shot to the side of Amaral's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Amaral misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reefer lands a right hand.
Reefer takes a shot to the head.
Amaral is looking to break free of the clinch but Reefer has double underhooks.
Reefer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Amaral tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Reefer avoids it.
Amaral misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rafael Amaral has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Reefer blocks an uppercut.

Amaral breaks the clinch.
Amaral moves in looking to clinch but Reefer pushes him off.
And Reefer tries to counter it with a takedown but Amaral pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Reefer circles away from the clinch attempt
and Reefer counters with a nice body shot.
Reefer keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Amaral darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Amaral fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reefer tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Reefer gets tackled into the cage by Amaral. Amaral maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amaral fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Amaral prevents a takedown attempt there.
Amaral throws a head punch that misses.

Reefer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Amaral fails to land with a series of punches.
Reefer cracks Amaral with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Amaral tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Amaral throws a front kick that sends Reefer stumbling back into the cage.
Amaral tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Reefer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Amaral tries to clinch there but Reefer circles away.
Amaral tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Reefer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Reefer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Amaral.
Reefer uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amaral tries a head kick but it misses.
Reefer lets loose with a powerful body kick. Amaral will feel that in the morning.
Amaral doesn't manage to clinch there - Reefer circles away.
Reefer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Amaral tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Reefer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Amaral throws a shot from downtown. Reefer moves away and avoids it.
Reefer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Amaral fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
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!
Amaral tries to clinch up but Reefer circles away and keeps his distance.
Amaral tries to clinch but Reefer is having none of it.
Amaral throws a sloppy head kick

and Reefer counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Amaral has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Reefer has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Amaral with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Amaral gets underhooks to prevent Reefer's takedown attempt.
Rafael Amaral has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Reefer.
A hook to the body from Reefer.
Reefer tries for a takedown but Amaral manages to get underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafael Amaral.
I think Amaral 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rafael Amaral!
A victorious Rafael Amaral thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.