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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taulua Fautanua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Almeida has chosen Kendrick Lamar - The Recipe as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!
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| 170 cm
25
150 lbs
4 - 0 - 0 |
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169 cm
25
144 lbs
3 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Taulua Fautanua!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ricardo Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Steve Erwin and Ben Watson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida stuns Fautanua with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fautanua dodges the punch combination from Almeida.
Almeida throws a series of punches but Fautanua moves out of range.
Almeida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fautanua drops down looking for a counter takedown but Almeida sprawls and moves away.
Fautanua with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Almeida to score with a decent uppercut.
Fautanua rushes Almeida and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Almeida lands with a left to the head.
Fautanua wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Almeida has him pressed against the cage.
Fautanua letting Almeida take a breather here.
Fautanua ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Fautanua no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Almeida wants to pass the guard but Fautanua is keeping the position.
Fautanua lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Almeida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fautanua's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fautanua's guard.
Fautanua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fautanua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fautanua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fautanua wants to sweep here but Almeida controlling him for the moment.
Almeida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Almeida wants to control from the top but Fautanua keeps moving.
Fautanua is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Almeida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fautanua. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Almeida trying to control the position from guard on top but Fautanua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Almeida is looking to stand up but Fautanua won't let him.
Fautanua controls Almeida momentarily but Almeida frees himself.
Almeida trying to control the position from guard on top but Fautanua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fautanua pulls Almeida in close to his closed guard and prevents Almeida from doing any damage or advancing position.
Almeida advances position into side control!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Fautanua tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Almeida defends well and Fautanua ends up having to push Almeida into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Fautanua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Almeida circles away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Fautanua looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Fautanua dives in and scores a takedown into Almeida's guard.
Fautanua is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Almeida looking to control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida is controlling Fautanua's posture.
Fautanua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Almeida is keeping the position for now.
Almeida has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fautanua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fautanua is in close to Almeida's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Almeida trying to keep a closed guard but Fautanua is proving a slippery customer.
Fautanua trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ricardo Almeida 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.
A left and a right from Almeida both land. Nice combination.
Almeida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Almeida is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Fautanua has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fautanua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Almeida defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fautanua.
Fautanua misses with a takedown attempt - Almeida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Almeida with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Taulua Fautanua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Almeida throws a one two combo.
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!
Fautanua moves into the clinch.
Almeida has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Almeida keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fautanua's efforts to push away.
Fautanua has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Almeida after a bit of a struggle.
We've been informed that Almeida has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taulua Fautanua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Almeida scores with a one two! Fautanua had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Almeida changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Almeida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Almeida. Those never looked like landing.
Fautanua misses with a body shot
and Almeida counters with a nice body shot.
Almeida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Almeida lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sloppy strikes from Almeida. Those never looked like landing.
Almeida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Almeida manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fautanua wants a takedown but no success here.
Almeida is trying to break the clinch but Fautanua has him pressed against the cage.
Almeida breaks the clinch.
Almeida connects with a body shot that sends Fautanua's belly button to the back.
Fautanua gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fautanua shoots in but no luck this time.
Almeida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fautanua takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Fautanua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Almeida shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Fautanua eats them both and turns towards Almeida to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Almeida throws a left and a right that both miss
and Fautanua counters with a series of strikes. Almeida will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fautanua has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fautanua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Almeida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fautanua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Almeida is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Fautanua rather than just go for the knockout.
Fautanua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Almeida fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fautanua dodges the punch combination from Almeida.
Almeida feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Fautanuas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ricardo Almeida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fautanua fails with a takedown attempt.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida clinches.
Fautanua goes for a takedown attempt but Almeida pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fautanua walks into a left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida thuds his right hand into Fautanua's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fautanua fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Almeida to the ground. Fautanua is now in Almeida's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fautanua controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fautanua throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ricardo Almeida 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.
Almeida scores with a hook to the body. Fautanua takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Almeida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Almeida scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Fautanua is looking to clinch but Almeida is avoiding it.
A combination from Almeida does no damage.
Almeida scores with a one two! Fautanua had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fautanua misses with a takedown attempt - Almeida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Almeida stuffs the takedown.
Fautanua shoots in for a takedown but Almeida shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taulua Fautanua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Almeida!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Some wild striking there from Almeida.
Almeida displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Fautanua.
Almeida leaves Fautanua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fautanua checks a leg kick.
Fautanua swings for the body but Almeida moves out of range.
Fautanua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Almeida displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Almeida lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Almeida throws a right and a left that Fautanua avoids nicely.
Fautanua takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Almeida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Almeida.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Almeida misses.
Almeida throws a series of punches but Fautanua avoids them all with ease.
Almeida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Almeida slaps away a takedown attempt from Fautanua, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fautanua throws a left and a right that both miss
and Almeida counters with a left and a right that stings Fautanua.
Fautanua fails to land the takedown.
Almeida connects with the punch.
Sloppy strikes from Almeida. Those never looked like landing.
Fautanua tries to clinch up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fautanua.
Almeida lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Almeida lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fautanua at a distance.
Almeida goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Fautanua has a takedown stuffed.
Danga de danga de dang - Almeida scores with a four punch combination!
Almeida fails to land with a series of punches.
Fautanua is looking to clinch but Almeida is avoiding it.
Almeida keeps the fight on the outside.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fautanua looks to clinch
and Fautanua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Almeida lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Almeida.
Almeida is working the combinations to good effect here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fautanua fails with the takedown
and Almeida counters with a series of strikes. Fautanua will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fautanua is rocked!
Fautanua goes for a double leg but Almeida avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Almeida continues to drive forward.
Fautanua has his takedown stuffed
and Almeida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Almeida fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Fautanua is out of range.
Ricardo Almeida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fautanua on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Fautanua tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Almeida throws a right and a left that both miss.
Almeida attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ricardo Almeida really 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.
Almeida lands with a cross.
Fautanua fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Almeida lands a jab to the nose.
Almeida misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fautanua seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Fautanua bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fautanua working the strikes but Almeida uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almeida keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Almeida is staying active underneath Fautanua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Fautanua is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fautanua is looking to take a break and control but Almeida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Almeida looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Almeida trying to hold on to Fautanua's head to control him but Fautanua postures up.
Taulua Fautanua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fautanua slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fautanua shoots in looking for a takedown but Almeida manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fautanua's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A combination from Almeida does no damage.
Excellent takedown into side control there by Fautanua.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Almeida tries to escape but Fautanua is in control.
Fautanua misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Almeida tries to escape but Fautanua is in control.
Fautanua is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Almeida has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fautanua is looking to take a break and control but Almeida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fautanua thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Almeida throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Almeida avoids the body shot from Fautanua.
A nice side step and Almeida releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A decent looking cross lands there for Almeida.
Fautanua misses with a straight right.
Fautanua misses with a head kick.
Fautanua takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Almeida misses with a two punch combination.
As Almeida tries to get set, Fautanua tries to push him back and clinch up but Almeida manages to avoid the attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fautanua gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fautanua is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ricardo Almeida dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!
The fight stays on the outside here - Fautanua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Some wild striking there from Almeida.
Almeida pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Fautanua back to the cage. Almeida follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Almeida throws a right hand that Fautanua ducks under and follows up with a left that Fautanua also avoids with ease.
Fautanua seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Fautanua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Almeida sprawls well. Almeida wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fautanua gets slowly back to his feet.
Almeida throws out a counter right but Fautanua avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Almeida lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Almeida scores with a body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fautanua.
Danga de danga de dang - Almeida scores with a four punch combination!
Fautanua looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A right-left combo lands from Almeida.
A right-left combo lands from Almeida.
Almeida is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Fautanua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Almeida swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taulua Fautanua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fautanua shoots in looking for a takedown but Almeida manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fautanua's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Almeida scores with a jab.
Fautanua takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fautanua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Almeida tries to avoid it but Fautanua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Almeida to the ground. Almeida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch but Fautanua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida misses with a low kick as Fautanua jumps back.
Fautanua is looking to clinch.
Almeida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Almeida unleashes a big counter combination but Fautanua bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Almeida lands a slapping body shot.
Fautanua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Almeida avoids it really well and circles away.
Almeida scores with a three punch combo!
Almeida throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sloppy strikes from Almeida. Those never looked like landing.
Almeida misses with a two punch combination.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fautanua takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Fautanua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Almeida avoids it really well and circles away.
Almeida misses with a leg kick.
Almeida stuffs the takedown.
Almeida defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fautanua.
Almeida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Almeida lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Almeida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fautanua wants to clinch.
Almeida throws a counter combo.
Ricardo Almeida is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fautanua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Almeida's waist but Almeida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fautanua off to one side.
Almeida smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fautanua is defended easily by Almeida.
Almeida scores with a three punch combo!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Almeida throws a right and a left that Fautanua avoids nicely.
Fautanua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Almeida is fending him off so far but Fautanua persists. Nope, Almeida circles away and we're back to standing.
Fautanua with a poor takedown
and Almeida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Taulua Fautanua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Almeida tries to land a leg kick but Fautanua saw it coming and moves away.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Almeida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Almeida winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 43:50
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 43:50
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 43:50
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Almeida!
Ricardo Almeida is the new featherweight champion!
Ricardo Almeida spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
In defeat, Taulua Fautanua stepped up to the mic, saying 'Losing is always a learning experience. I'll be better. I'll improve for sure!'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
61% |
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