PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Beginancio Moderino (ranked 4449 p4p, 0 weight class) and OJ Fuego (ranked 4301 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Moderino
vs
Fuego

200 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Beginancio Moderino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, OJ Fuego!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fuego closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fuego fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Fuego pulls guard successfully.
Fuego not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moderino tries to free his leg and advance position but Fuego is retaining full guard.
Moderino will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Moderino trying to control but Fuego is working from the bottom.
Moderino 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moderino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fuego swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moderino controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fuego is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Moderino is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fuego lands a nice hook to Moderino's body. Moderino takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A head kick from Moderino lands but Fuego takes it in his stride.

It looks like OJ Fuego has been cut.
Fuego fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Moderino is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fuego sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fuego changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Fuego. No joy for Moderino on that attempt.

Fuego gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Moderino gets control of Fuego's arms and successfully pulls guard. Moderino will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuego is pushing down on Moderino's leg trying to pass to half guard. Moderino is fighting to maintain full guard but Fuego has managed to sneak the leg through.
Moderino is trying to control but can't.

Fuego is looking for a kimura but Moderino is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fuego to get the leverage.
Fuego prevents Moderino from standing back up.

Fuego stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Moderino closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fuego misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fuego drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fuego taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moderino misses with a knee strike.
Moderino misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fuego.
Moderino trying to stall but Fuego improves his position.

Fuego drags the fight down to the ground.
Fuego tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fuego is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Fuego is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fuego avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuego wants to sweep but no luck.

Moderino gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Moderino shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fuego as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Beginancio Moderino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fuego tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Moderino seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Fuego misses with a few strikes there.
Fuego is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Fuego shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Moderino is trying to defend but Fuego finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moderino is looking for a sweep. Fuego is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

OJ Fuego dominated that round.
The cut man is working on OJ Fuego's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fuego bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Check out the look on Fuego's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Fuego working the ground and pound from side control.
Moderino struggling a bit here.
Fuego trying to control the position but Moderino is working away.
Fuego has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Moderino tries to escape but Fuego is in control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moderino is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Moderino manages to work his way to half guard, despite Fuego's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moderino on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Moderino has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Fuego is on him like a limpet, forcing Moderino back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fuego is trying to pull guard but Moderino turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Moderino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Fuego closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Moderino to the mat! Moderino manages to get full guard.

Moderino manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Fuego has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Moderino avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Moderino has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fuego after a bit of a struggle.
Fuego has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Moderino is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Beginancio Moderino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of OJ Fuego.
Fuego tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moderino is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Fuego to keep the fight standing.
Moderino fails to pull guard.
Fuego tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Moderino smiles and moves away.
Moderino fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fuego blocks a head kick by Moderino.
Fuego tries to close the distance and clinch up but Moderino swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Moderino is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fuego sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Moderino shoots for a double leg takedown but Fuego sprawls well. He's pushed Moderino's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Fuego looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
OJ Fuego has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fuego not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuego working the head and body with strikes.
Moderino is looking to control Fuego's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Moderino avoid being mounted?
Moderino throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Fuego wants to control but Moderino is keeping him busy.
Moderino really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fuego tries to pass the half guard into mount. Moderino knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Fuego is looking for a kimura here.
Moderino slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fuego 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Beginancio Moderino will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on OJ Fuego's cut.
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!

Fuego displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Moderino.
Fuego keeps the fight on the outside.
Fuego changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Moderino tries to avoid it but Fuego manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Moderino to the ground. Moderino escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Moderino tries to clinch but Fuego moves out of range.
Moderino shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fuego but Fuego pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Moderino closes the distance and clinches up with Fuego, looking for a takedown. Moderino pushes Fuego against the cage but Fuego circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Beginancio Moderino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fuego circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuego is looking to clinch but Moderino is avoiding it.
Fuego lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Moderino circles away quickly and effectively.

Fuego looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fuego controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moderino can't keep his opponent in guard - Fuego advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Moderino wants to improve his position but Fuego is controlling well.
Fuego looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Moderino is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fuego drops an elbow to the side of Moderino's head.
Fuego looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Moderino with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fuego trying to control the action but Moderino is working from the bottom.

Fuego decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Fuego shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Moderino manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fuego controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuego wants to pass the guard but Moderino is keeping the position.
Moderino bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fuego's guard.

Fuego is pulling down on Moderino's head. It's preventing any offense from Moderino, at least for the moment.
Fuego throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Fuego manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Moderino manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moderino trying to control the position.

Fuego stands up from Moderino's guard - Fuego perhaps looking for a knockout.
Fuego pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fuego with a poor takedown

and Moderino holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Moderino keeps control of Fuego as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Moderino pulls Fuego into guard.
Fuego wants to pass the guard but Moderino is keeping the position.

Fuego stands up and waves to Moderino to follow him.

And that's the end of the fight!
OJ Fuego comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fuego has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... OJ Fuego!