PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Murilo Santos Riberio (ranked 6683 p4p, 584 weight class) and Jin Yi (ranked 6054 p4p, 546 weight class). Yi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eye of the Tiger kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Santos Riberio
vs
Yi

188 cm
18
217 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

KO GEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Santos Riberio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jin Yi!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santos Riberio drives through and clinches with Yi against the cage.
Santos Riberio looking to throw knees to the head but Yi is blocking nicely.
Santos Riberio misses with a hook to the ribs.
Santos Riberio blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Santos Riberio has Yi pushed against the cage.
Santos Riberio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yi blocks it with crossed arms.
Santos Riberio misses with a knee to the head.

Yi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Yi scores with a takedown into Santos Riberio's guard.

Yi stands up from Santos Riberio's guard - Yi perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yi dives in for a single leg takedown but Santos Riberio sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Santos Riberio clinches up with Yi and pushes him back against the cage.
Santos Riberio has Yi pressed against the cage, preventing Yi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Yi lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Santos Riberio wants to stand back up but Yi manages to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yi controls the position.

Yi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Santos Riberio is trying to control Yi's posture but Yi avoids it.
Yi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos Riberio keeps working.
Santos Riberio wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yi wants to control but Santos Riberio is keeping him busy.

Yi has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Yi tries a head kick but it misses.

Yi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Yi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The strikes coming from Yi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Santos Riberio sneaks back into half guard.
Yi is trying to control. Santos Riberio wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Santos Riberio sees it coming and defends easily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yi stands up from half guard.
Yi dives in for a single leg takedown but Santos Riberio sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It looked like Santos Riberio was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Yi.

Santos Riberio gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Yi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Murilo Santos Riberio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jin Yi.
Yi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yi tries to land knees in the clinch but Santos Riberio avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yi dives in for a single leg takedown but Santos Riberio sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Yi shoots in looking for a takedown. Santos Riberio tries to sprawl out of it but Yi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Santos Riberio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
It looked like Santos Riberio wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Santos Riberio gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Santos Riberio using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Our sources have told us that Santos Riberio has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Santos Riberio blocks an elbow strike from Yi.
Santos Riberio dodges an elbow strike from Yi.
Yi is trying to pull guard but Santos Riberio has him pressed against the cage.
Santos Riberio with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Murilo Santos Riberio will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Santos Riberio has Yi up against the cage in a clinch.
Santos Riberio tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yi avoids it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Santos Riberio throws an elbow but misses.
Yi tries to pull guard but Santos Riberio won't allow it.
Santos Riberio misses with an elbow strike.
Yi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Santos Riberio looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Yi has had enough of the clinch but Santos Riberio keeps him there for the moment.

Santos Riberio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santos Riberio as he avoids it easily.
Murilo Santos Riberio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jin Yi.

Yi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Santos Riberio is looking for a sweep. Yi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos Riberio trying to hold on to Yi's head to control him but Yi postures up.
Yi stops Santos Riberio from getting back to his feet.
Santos Riberio controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Yi stands up out of the half guard.

Yi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Yi trying to control from half guard but Santos Riberio is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yi passes into side control, despite Santos Riberio's attempt to control the position.
Yi prevents Santos Riberio from escaping the position.
Santos Riberio is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Yi off and has taken his back!
Yi tries to break free.
Santos Riberio really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Yi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos Riberio has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Santos Riberio has the hooks in. Yi is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Santos Riberio controls the action.
Santos Riberio is not going to allow Yi to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Santos Riberio controls the action.
Yi can't escape the position.
Santos Riberio tries to keep control of the position but Yi is staying busy.
Yi turns into Santos Riberio and is now in his guard.
Yi sitting in guard here, content to control.

Yi gets to his feet. Santos Riberio looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Santos Riberio clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murilo Santos Riberio dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Santos Riberio clinches.
Yi is looking for a takedown.
Santos Riberio is struggling to control the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yi tries to stall but Santos Riberio uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Yi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Santos Riberio manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Santos Riberio is trying to defend but Yi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Santos Riberio is looking to control Yi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Santos Riberio avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yi stops Santos Riberio from getting back to his feet.
Santos Riberio is trying to control but can't.
Yi stops Santos Riberio from getting back to his feet.
Santos Riberio wants to control but Yi is keeping busy.

Santos Riberio is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yi pulls his head out easily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Santos Riberio is defending against the submission attempts here by Yi.

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.
Yi is trying to control the action in half guard but Santos Riberio is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Santos Riberio wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Santos Riberio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Murilo Santos Riberio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Yi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santos Riberio, pushing him back against the cage.
Yi is trying to pull guard but Santos Riberio turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murilo Santos Riberio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yi shoots in but Santos Riberio avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Murilo Santos Riberio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jin Yi.
Santos Riberio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santos Riberio as he avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Santos Riberio as Yi shoots in.
Yi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Santos Riberio gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Santos Riberio trying to control the position here.
Santos Riberio tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos Riberio looking to control.
Santos Riberio pulls Yi in to control the position.
Yi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Santos Riberio's guard.
Yi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Santos Riberio pulls Yi in close to prevent any damage.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jin Yi.
I think Santos Riberio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Murilo Santos Riberio!