PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcin Caplab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Pfeifer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Caplab
vs
Pfeifer

174 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Marcin Caplab!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rico Pfeifer!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pfeifer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Caplab misses with a low kick as Pfeifer jumps back.

Caplab gets caught flat footed, as Pfeifer shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caplab seems keen to control Pfeifer's posture.
Caplab is looking to stand up but Pfeifer isn't so interested in that idea.
Caplab knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pfeifer on the ground.

Caplab wriggles free and stands up.
Caplab shoots in but no luck this time.

Pfeifer gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Caplab controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pfeifer keeping moving, preventing Caplab from controlling successfully.

Pfeifer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Caplab wants to get up but he can't break Pfeifer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pfeifer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pfeifer looks gassed!
Caplab is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Caplab stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pfeifer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pfeifer is controlling Caplab's posture.
Caplab trying to control the position from guard on top but Pfeifer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pfeifer is trying to control the position but Caplab postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pfeifer with a lazy takedown attempt
and Caplab counters with a one-two to the body.

Caplab fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pfeifer, pushing him back against the cage.

Caplab tightens his grip and picks Pfeifer up, before dumping him to the ground. Pfeifer manages to land in guard.
Caplab trying to control but Pfeifer is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caplab wanted to stand there but Pfeifer had control of the position.
Pfeifer looking to control.
Caplab wants to stand but Pfeifer is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pfeifer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Caplab is one step ahead there.
Caplab content to stall in guard here.
Caplab has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Caplab seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Pfeifer for as long as he can get away with.
Caplab looking to sit in guard and control but Pfeifer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Caplab wants to stand and escape but Pfeifer is having none of it.

Pfeifer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pfeifer sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcin Caplab dominated that round.
That's time! Caplab's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pfeifer slips a jab and a cross from Caplab.
Pfeifer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Caplab counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pfeifer won't be happy with that.
Pfeifer wants to control but Caplab postures up.
Caplab is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Pfeifer's shoulder. That is not cool.

Caplab stands up and beckons Pfeifer to his feet.
Pfeifer with a lazy takedown attempt

and Caplab counters with a single leg into guard. Pfeifer didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Caplab trying to control but Pfeifer is working from the bottom.
Pfeifer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pfeifer striking off his back but it's not causing Caplab any problems.
Caplab trying to control but Pfeifer is working from the bottom.

Pfeifer is looking for a triangle but Caplab pushes his legs off easily.
Caplab slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pfeifer trying to control the position.

Caplab avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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.
Pfeifer keeping moving, preventing Caplab from controlling successfully.
Caplab won't allow Pfeifer to sweep him here.
Caplab content to stall in guard here.
Caplab would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pfeifer throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A head kick by Caplab misses

and Pfeifer counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Caplab trying to control but Pfeifer postures up.
Pfeifer trying to pass the guard but Caplab defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caplab makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Caplab.
Pfeifer looking to sit in guard and control but Caplab gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pfeifer is trying to hold Caplab in close to prevent damage but Caplab has managed to pass into half guard.
Pfeifer trying to control but Caplab postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Caplab stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcin Caplab dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Caplab throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pfeifer counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Caplab has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Pfeifer off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Caplab clinches up against the cage.
Pfeifer wants to break free but Caplab has control.

Caplab gets control of Pfeifer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Caplab will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Caplab is pulling down on Pfeifer's head to control his posture.
Marcin Caplab overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Caplab trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pfeifer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pfeifer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pfeifer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Caplab holds on and takes a little breather.
Caplab tries to strike from the bottom.
Pfeifer trying to control the position from guard on top but Caplab is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Pfeifer postures up.
Caplab looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pfeifer is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pfeifer wants to clinch but Caplab slips to the side

and Caplab decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pfeifer's guard.
Pfeifer trying to control the position here.
Marcin Caplab is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Caplab wants to stand but Pfeifer is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pfeifer controls Caplab momentarily but Caplab frees himself.

Pfeifer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Caplab trying to control the position from guard on top but Pfeifer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pfeifer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Caplab shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Caplab controlling from the full mount.

Caplab goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pfeifer is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcin Caplab showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Caplab has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcin Caplab!