PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Pacheco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Altin Ademaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon Pacheco has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Pacheco
vs
Ademaj

220 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
19
265 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Simon Pacheco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Altin Ademaj!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ademaj decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pacheco is looking to control Ademaj's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pacheco avoid being mounted?

Pacheco looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pacheco is trying to stand up here but Ademaj is controlling him well.
Pacheco wants to improve his position but Ademaj is controlling well.
Ademaj wants to take a breather but Pacheco is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pacheco looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ademaj is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pacheco wants to control but Ademaj passes into side.
Pacheco struggling a bit here.
Pacheco bucks up and tries to throw Ademaj off but instead Ademaj has got his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ademaj is trying to stick to Pacheco's back but Pacheco is turning into Ademaj. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ademaj's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Pacheco.
Pacheco throws a strike but Ademaj rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ademaj postures up.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ademaj working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Pacheco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ademaj cracks Pacheco with a solid left hand.

Pacheco is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Pacheco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ademaj gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Pacheco is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco keeping moving, preventing Ademaj from controlling successfully.
Ademaj's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Pacheco is looking for a triangle but Ademaj pushes his legs off easily.

Pacheco working for a triangle but Ademaj defends it easily.
Pacheco is breathing heavily.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pacheco had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ademaj defends it easily.

Pacheco is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ademaj is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco keeping moving, preventing Ademaj from controlling successfully.
Pacheco can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ademaj controls the pace.
Ademaj trying to control the position from guard on top but Pacheco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pacheco is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ademaj is aware though and is defending well.
Pacheco keeping moving, preventing Ademaj from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Ademaj darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ademaj is trying to control. Pacheco wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ademaj tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pacheco knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco wants to get back to his feet.

Pacheco looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ademaj is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ademaj is trying to control the action in half guard but Pacheco is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pacheco slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Pacheco is looking for a triangle but Ademaj pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ademaj wants to control from the top but Pacheco keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Altin Ademaj dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ademaj scores with a takedown into Pacheco's guard.

Ademaj avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Pacheco looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ademaj engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pacheco doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Ademaj avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pacheco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pacheco can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ademaj controls the pace.

Pacheco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ademaj throwing strikes from guard but Pacheco blocks nicely.
Ademaj trying to control the position from guard on top but Pacheco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

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

Ademaj shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Pacheco looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pacheco is looking for a sweep. Ademaj is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Ademaj stands up from half guard.

Ademaj feints and as Pacheco raises his hands in defense, Ademaj changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ademaj avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ademaj is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Pacheco had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ademaj defends it easily.
Pacheco can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ademaj controls the pace.
Pacheco keeping moving, preventing Ademaj from controlling successfully.
Pacheco trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Pacheco is looking for a triangle but Ademaj pushes his legs off easily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Simon Pacheco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ademaj bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ademaj taking a breather here.
A control attempt from Pacheco but he's now mounted!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ademaj avoids the attempt from Pacheco to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Altin Ademaj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pacheco misses with a double jab
and Ademaj counters with a left and a right that stings Pacheco.
Pacheco tries a head kick but it misses.

Pacheco gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ademaj to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Pacheco has momentary wrist control but Ademaj slips an elbow through the middle.
Ademaj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ademaj trying to control the position from guard on top but Pacheco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pacheco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ademaj trying to control the position from guard on top but Pacheco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pacheco is looking for a triangle but Ademaj pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pacheco has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ademaj can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Pacheco is looking for a triangle but Ademaj pushes his legs off easily.
Ademaj content to stall in guard here.
Pacheco keeping moving, preventing Ademaj from controlling successfully.
Ademaj controls from within his opponent's guard.
Altin Ademaj has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ademaj stands up from Pacheco's guard - Ademaj perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pacheco throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ademaj throws a counter combo.

Ademaj shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ademaj was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pacheco tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Pacheco defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Pacheco trying to get back to his feet but Ademaj is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ademaj wants to control but Pacheco is keeping busy.
Ademaj has Pacheco flattened out and is raining down punches.
A lull in the action here.
Pacheco just trying to survive but Ademaj is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Pacheco trying to get back to his feet but Ademaj is in full control for now.
Ademaj trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Pacheco doesn't escape.
Will Ademaj go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Pacheco is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Pacheco wants to control his opponent's hands but Ademaj gets his hands free.
Pacheco wants to escape the position.
Pacheco is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simon Pacheco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Altin Ademaj is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Pacheco is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Ademaj off. It looks like it's working - Ademaj slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Pacheco displaying calm under pressure there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Altin Ademaj comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ademaj has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Altin Ademaj!