PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and ZE Da Baixada (ranked 0 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.

Balboa
vs
Da Baixada

180 cm
22
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

WIN! Nutritional Co. - RJ

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Rafael Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, ZE Da Baixada!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Balboa duly obliges.
Balboa lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Da Baixada gets the takedown into side control.
Da Baixada trying to control the position but Balboa is working away.
Da Baixada throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Da Baixada taking a breather here.
Balboa tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Baixada controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa is not content to let Da Baixada control the position.
Da Baixada wants to control for a moment but Balboa uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Da Baixada pushes Balboa off looking to stand but Balboa dives back in and keeps control.
Da Baixada is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Balboa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Balboa's back!

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.
Balboa is trying to get back to his feet but Da Baixada has full control of the position and if anything, Balboa has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Da Baixada trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Da Baixada is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Da Baixada trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Da Baixada is persistently looking for the submission but Balboa is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa manages to reverse the position and now he's in Da Baixada's guard. Nice work there by Balboa.

Da Baixada is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Da Baixada looks gassed!
Da Baixada keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
Balboa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Balboa wants to get up but he can't break Da Baixada's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Da Baixada working a defensive guard but Balboa manages to pass into side control anyway.
Da Baixada being controlled for a moment.
Balboa trying to control the action but Da Baixada is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ZE Da Baixada dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Balboa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Da Baixada throws an overhand right that lands on Balboa's shoulder, as Balboa tries to avoid the shot.
Da Baixada shoots in looking for a takedown. Balboa tries to sprawl out of it but Da Baixada keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Balboa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Balboa keeps the fight on the outside.
Balboa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Balboa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Da Baixada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Balboa keeps the fight on the outside.

Da Baixada closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Da Baixada throwing shots but Balboa is blocking nicely.
Da Baixada is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa wants to get back to full guard.
Balboa is trying to stand.
Da Baixada wants to pass to mount but Balboa is defending the position.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet.
Balboa landing small, sideways elbows.
Da Baixada sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Balboa defending well though.

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.
Da Baixada is stalling here. Balboa is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Da Baixada seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Balboa has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balboa scores with a three punch combo!
Da Baixada walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Da Baixada fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Balboa connects with a crisp jab.
Balboa closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rafael Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A shot to de liver by Balboa. Beautiful body shot.
Balboa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Balboa scores with a four punch combination!
Balboa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Da Baixada swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Balboa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Balboa lands with a nice combination. Da Baixada backs away looking to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa throws a series of strikes that have Da Baixada backpedaling.
Balboa is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice shot lands for Balboa.
Balboa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Balboa works over Da Baixada's head and body with a nice combination.
Da Baixada takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Balboa with a jab.
Balboa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rafael Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balboa tries to close the distance and clinch but Da Baixada swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Balboa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Balboa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Da Baixada on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Balboa works over Da Baixada's head and body with a nice combination.
Jab from Balboa.
Balboa really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jab by Balboa.
Balboa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Baixada takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Balboa, as that shot connected.
Balboa scores with a hook.
Balboa closes the distance and clinches up with Da Baixada, looking for a takedown. Balboa pushes Da Baixada against the cage but Da Baixada circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balboa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Balboa lands a nice hook to Da Baixada's body. Da Baixada takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Balboa.
Balboa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Balboa's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Balboa duly obliges.
Da Baixada takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Da Baixada tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Da Baixada takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Balboa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Balboa scores with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Balboa dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Balboa throws a combination. Da Baixada tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Da Baixada avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Balboa does it's job there.
Nice sprawl there from Da Baixada as Balboa shoots in.
Da Baixada takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Balboa connects with a crisp jab.
Da Baixada tries to clinch up.
Da Baixada tries to score with a low kick but Balboa moves his leg out of the way.
Nice shot by Balboa.
Balboa moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Da Baixada misses the body punch
enabling Balboa to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Baixada will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Balboa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Da Baixada shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Da Baixada needs to keep his hands up - Balboa had a free shot at his head there.
Da Baixada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa has his takedown stuffed

and Da Baixada counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Da Baixada missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Da Baixada is keen to just control but Balboa is a slippery customer.
Balboa is trying to stand.
Da Baixada is taking a breather. Balboa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Da Baixada thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries to kick Da Baixada off but Da Baixada keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Da Baixada missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Da Baixada tries to stand and escape but Balboa actually recovers to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Balboa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Da Baixada circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balboa lands a right hook to the body.
Da Baixada changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balboa tries to avoid it but Da Baixada manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balboa to the ground. Balboa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Balboa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Da Baixada has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Balboa lands a right hook to the body.
Balboa lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Balboa or perhaps it was just good defense by Da Baixada which made him look bad.
Da Baixada takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Balboa connects with a body shot.
Da Baixada takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Balboa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Da Baixada doesn't seem bothered though.
Da Baixada has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Da Baixada tries to close the distance and clinch but Balboa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Balboa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Da Baixada's head backwards.
Balboa scores with a jab to the jaw.
Da Baixada throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balboa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Da Baixada is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Balboa lands a head shot.
Rafael Balboa is winning the standup battle so far.
Da Baixada walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Balboa tries to close the distance and clinch but Da Baixada swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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.
Balboa scores with a jab. Da Baixada acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Balboa with a nice cross.
Balboa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Da Baixada is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Balboa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Balboa pushes Da Baixada up against the cage in a clinch.
Da Baixada keeps control of Balboa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Da Baixada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Da Baixada takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Balboa is looking to clinch.
Balboa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Balboa is working the combinations to good effect here.
Balboa scores with a one two! Da Baixada had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Balboa stuffs the takedown.
Balboa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafael Balboa.
I think Balboa 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Balboa!