PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafaello Oliveiro (ranked 25365 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Bartholemew (ranked 3700 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Oliveiro
vs
Bartholemew

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

180 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Rafaello Oliveiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Bartholemew!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Bartholemew or perhaps it was just good defense by Oliveiro, which made it look bad.
Oliveiro tries to clinch but Bartholemew is having none of it.
Bartholemew looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Oliveiro is fending him off so far but Bartholemew persists. Nope, Oliveiro circles away and we're back to standing.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Oliveiro.
Oliveiro throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick by Bartholemew misses
and Oliveiro counters with a nice kick to the body.
Oliveiro tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bartholemew defends well and Oliveiro ends up having to push Bartholemew into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Oliveiro wants to clinch but Bartholemew slips to the side
and Bartholemew counters with a one-two to the body.
Oliveiro moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Oliveiro gets tackled into the cage by Bartholemew. Bartholemew maintains the clinch.

Bartholemew pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Oliveiro closes the distance and clinches up with Bartholemew, looking for a takedown. Oliveiro pushes Bartholemew against the cage but Bartholemew circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Oliveiro shoots in and drives through. Bartholemew sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafaello Oliveiro. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bartholemew instigates a clinch.

Bartholemew manages to pull guard.
Oliveiro wants to control from the top but Bartholemew keeps moving.
Oliveiro controls from within his opponent's guard.
Oliveiro trying to control but Bartholemew is working from the bottom.
Bartholemew controls Oliveiro momentarily but Oliveiro frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew has his hands on Oliveiro's head, controlling the position.
Let's hope that Bartholemew has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Good leg kick by Bartholemew there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Oliveiro moves into range and clinches up with Bartholemew.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveiro fails to pull guard.
Oliveiro jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bartholemew walks away with a smile on his face. Oliveiro gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Bartholemew was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
You can see the frustration on Oliveiro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Oliveiro is trying to get back to his feet.
Oliveiro is trying to get back to half guard.
Oliveiro can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bartholemew thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Oliveiro is trying to control Bartholemew's posture but Bartholemew avoids it.

Bartholemew working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Oliveiro is trying to control Bartholemew's posture but Bartholemew avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Bartholemew dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Oliveiro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Oliveiro lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bartholemew's sensitive parts.
Bartholemew leaves Oliveiro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Oliveiro stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Oliveiro wants it to stay on the feet.
Oliveiro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bartholemew circles away.
Bartholemew feints the counter takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafaello Oliveiro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bartholemew or perhaps it was just good defense by Oliveiro, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bartholemew pushes Oliveiro up against the cage in a clinch.
Oliveiro avoiding damage.
Oliveiro is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartholemew tries to break free but Oliveiro pushes him back against the cage.
Bartholemew dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Bartholemew is trying to pull guard but Oliveiro has him pressed against the cage.

Oliveiro gets control of Bartholemew's arms and successfully pulls guard. Oliveiro will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bartholemew controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Oliveiro trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Oliveiro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bartholemew manages to get himself to full guard.

Oliveiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartholemew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Oliveiro seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bartholemew is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bartholemew avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveiro throws a big right hand that misses.
Bartholemew wants to sweep here but Oliveiro controlling him for the moment.
Bartholemew can't keep his opponent in guard - Oliveiro advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bartholemew trying to get back to full guard but Oliveiro takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Rafaello Oliveiro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Oliveiro looking to control but Bartholemew is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Oliveiro thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oliveiro goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Bartholemew is on top in guard.
Bartholemew is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bartholemew must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bartholemew tries to stand but Oliveiro is controlling from the bottom.
Bartholemew slips nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oliveiro trying to control here.
Oliveiro gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafaello Oliveiro 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. This is the final round!

Oliveiro shoots in looking for a takedown. Bartholemew tries to sprawl out of it but Oliveiro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bartholemew manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bartholemew lands an overhand right.
Bartholemew defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Oliveiro.
Bartholemew swats away the attempt to clinch by Oliveiro.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartholemew fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Oliveiro sprawls well. Oliveiro wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bartholemew gets slowly back to his feet.

Bartholemew dives in and scores a takedown into Oliveiro's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveiro keeping moving, preventing Bartholemew from controlling successfully.
Bartholemew showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bartholemew stops Oliveiro from standing up.
Bartholemew controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Oliveiro is looking for a triangle but Bartholemew pushes his legs off easily.

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.
Oliveiro managing to control the position.

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

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

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bartholemew scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown but Oliveiro shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bartholemew looks for a takedown but Oliveiro sprawls well.
As Bartholemew tries to get set, Oliveiro tries to push him back and clinch up but Bartholemew manages to avoid the attempt.
Rafaello Oliveiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Bartholemew.
Bartholemew stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bartholemew wants it to stay on the feet.
Oliveiro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Oliveiro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bartholemew swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Oliveiro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Oliveiro stuffs the takedown attempt from Bartholemew. Bartholemew gets slowly back to his feet.
Oliveiro goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oliveiro gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Oliveiro trying to keep a closed guard but Bartholemew is proving a slippery customer.
Oliveiro is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Oliveiro being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oliveiro is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Bartholemew comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bartholemew 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Bartholemew!