PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Baremen (ranked 4452 p4p, 4634 weight class) and Manolo Richeuk (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.

Baremen
vs
Richeuk

199 cm
18
182
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
184
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Baremen!
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, Manolo Richeuk!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richeuk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Baremen swivels and escapes.
Baremen throws a series of punches but Richeuk moves out of range.
Richeuk misses with a low kick as Baremen jumps back.
A little feinted left hand from Baremen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Baremen closes the distance and clinches up with Richeuk, looking for a takedown. Baremen pushes Richeuk against the cage but Richeuk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baremen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Richeuk.
A punch combination from Richeuk misses.
Baremen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Richeuk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baremen but Baremen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baremen tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baremen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Richeuk counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Richeuk lands a left hand that snaps the head of Baremen backwards.
Richeuk fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Carlos Baremen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manolo Richeuk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richeuk just leaning against Baremen, taking a breather.
Richeuk wants a takedown.
Baremen tries to pull guard but Richeuk forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Baremen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Baremen jumps guard but Richeuk turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Richeuk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baremen throws a head kick that misses.
Richeuk avoids the head kick by Baremen.
Richeuk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Baremen as he avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Baremen.
Richeuk lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Baremen at a distance.
Richeuk misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baremen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richeuk wants to counter the offense by Baremen and move into the clinch position.

Richeuk gets a double leg takedown into Baremen's guard.
Baremen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Baremen trying to keep a closed guard but Richeuk is proving a slippery customer.

Baremen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Richeuk is aware though and is defending well.
Baremen is breathing heavily.
Richeuk showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richeuk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Richeuk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Baremen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Richeuk defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Baremen.

Richeuk closes the distance and clinches.
Richeuk gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Baremen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baremen misses with some punches.

Baremen breaks from the clinch.

Richeuk looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Richeuk frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Richeuk throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Richeuk throws some wild stikes that Baremen manages to avoid easily.
Richeuk unloads with some shots from mount but Baremen bucks and avoids them well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Manolo Richeuk dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Baremen fails with a takedown attempt.
A nice side step and Richeuk releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Baremen misses with an uppercut.

Richeuk moves into range and clinches up with Baremen.

Richeuk manages to break the clinch.
Richeuk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baremen but Baremen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baremen is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Richeuk.
Baremen stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baremen misses with a takedown attempt

and Richeuk counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Richeuk.

Richeuk jumps into guard, dragging Baremen to the mat.

Baremen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Richeuk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baremen has managed to get both his arms back between Richeuk's legs - danger averted.
Baremen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Richeuk keeping full guard, as Baremen tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richeuk is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Richeuk will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Richeuk trying to control the position here.
Baremen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Richeuk has Baremen pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Richeuk takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Baremen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Baremen shoots in but Richeuk avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Baremen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Richeuk forces Baremen back against the cage and clinches.

Baremen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Richeuk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Baremen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Baremen tries a head kick but it misses.
Richeuk tries to score a power double leg takedown but Baremen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Richeuk somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richeuk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Baremen swivels and escapes.
Richeuk closes this distance looking for a takedown but Baremen circles away.
Richeuk is breathing heavily.
Baremen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Baremen backs off Richeuk throws a huge counter combo but Baremen manages to avoid it all.
Baremen fails with the takedown.
Richeuk dives in for a single leg takedown but Baremen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Baremen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Baremen tries to clinch up.
Richeuk is looking to clinch but Baremen is avoiding it.
Baremen defending well as Richeuk loads up on a big left hand.
Baremen shoots for a takedown but Richeuk saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richeuk drives through and clinches with Baremen against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Baremen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Richeuk avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Baremen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baremen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Richeuk swivels and escapes.

Richeuk has closed the distance and engaged Baremen in a clinch.
Richeuk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Richeuk manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Baremen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Richeuk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baremen has managed to get both his arms back between Richeuk's legs - danger averted.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Richeuk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Baremen defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Manolo Richeuk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Baremen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richeuk unleashes a big counter combination but Baremen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Baremen shoots in looking for a takedown but Richeuk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Baremen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Richeuk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baremen manages to avoid it.
Richeuk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Baremen counters with a left to the body.
Baremen wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Richeuk closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Richeuk manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baremen rushes Richeuk and presses him up against the cage.
Richeuk lands with a light punch inside.

Baremen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Richeuk.
Richeuk throws a head kick but Baremen moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baremen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richeuk stuffs the takedown attempt from Baremen. Baremen gets slowly back to his feet.
Richeuk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Baremen as he avoids it easily.
Baremen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Richeuk as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Baremen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richeuk shoots in for a takedown but Baremen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richeuk shoots for a takedown but Baremen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Baremen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Richeuk has Baremen up against the cage in a clinch.
Richeuk tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Baremen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Baremen fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Richeuk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A solid body kick from Baremen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baremen tries a head kick but it misses.
Richeuk appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Carlos Baremen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richeuk throws a sloppy head kick and Baremen moves out of range easily.

Richeuk gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Richeuk goes for a takedown attempt but Baremen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Richeuk circles away from the clinch attempt.
Baremen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Horrible takedown attempt by Richeuk or perhaps it was just good defense by Baremen, which made it look bad.
Baremen wants to clinch.

Richeuk clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richeuk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Baremen tries for a takedown but Richeuk circles away easily
and Richeuk counters with an outside leg kick.
Baremen misses with a takedown attempt
and Richeuk counters with a one-two to the body.

Richeuk clinches.

Richeuk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Richeuk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baremen as he jumps to the side.
Baremen is looking for a counter combo.
Carlos Baremen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manolo Richeuk is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baremen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Richeuk counters with a series of strikes. Baremen will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manolo Richeuk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Richeuk 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manolo Richeuk!
Our winner, Manolo Richeuk, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.