PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Da Silva (ranked 25354 p4p, 25367 weight class) and Gus Tarbols (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Da Silva had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Da Silva
vs
Tarbols

225 cm
18
300
0 - 3 - 0

225 cm
18
300
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gus Tarbols!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Silva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tarbols.
Tarbols slips under a jab from Da Silva.
Da Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Tarbols, looking for a takedown. Da Silva pushes Tarbols against the cage but Tarbols circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tarbols misses with a head kick.
Da Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tarbols.
Tarbols fails to land the takedown.
Rafael Da Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gus Tarbols.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarbols fails with the takedown.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tarbols as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarbols has closed the distance and engaged Da Silva in a clinch.
Tarbols stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Da Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Come on Tarbols - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tarbols is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Da Silva to keep the fight standing.
Da Silva is trying to pull guard but Tarbols turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Da Silva breaks from the clinch.
Da Silva misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva lands a lovely overhand right.

Tarbols closes the distance and clinches.

Tarbols decides to pull guard.

Da Silva gets to his feet - Tarbols follows without any prompting.
Da Silva shoots in and drives through. Tarbols sprawls well.
Tarbols feints the counter takedown.
Da Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tarbols is fending him off so far but Da Silva persists. Nope, Tarbols circles away and we're back to standing.
Da Silva is breathing heavily.
Da Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Tarbols as Da Silva shoots in.
Da Silva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tarbols defends well and Da Silva ends up having to push Tarbols into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Da Silva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tarbols lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tarbols drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarbols pulls Da Silva in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Silva postures up.
Tarbols is controlling Da Silva's posture.
Tarbols keeping moving, preventing Da Silva from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tarbols is controlling Da Silva's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Da Silva rushes Tarbols and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Da Silva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tarbols smiles and moves away.
Da Silva darts in looking for a takedown but Tarbols gets double underhooks and turns Da Silva into the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gus Tarbols dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tarbols moves into range and clinches up with Da Silva.
Tarbols is struggling to control the position.

Da Silva manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tarbols is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva wants to get back to his feet but Tarbols is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tarbols trying to control the position from guard on top but Da Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarbols stops Da Silva from standing up.
Tarbols advances position into side control!
Da Silva throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Tarbols has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tarbols postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Tarbols staying calm.
Da Silva is not content to let Tarbols control the position.

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.

Tarbols tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tarbols has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tarbols remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tarbols looks for a takedown but Da Silva sprawls well.

Tarbols gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarbols misses with a body punch.

Tarbols gets control of Da Silva's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tarbols will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Da Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Tarbols is retaining full guard.

Tarbols looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Da Silva content to stall in guard here.
Tarbols looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Da Silva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Da Silva is fighting to break Tarbols's control of his arms but Tarbols is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Tarbols looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Tarbols tries for a takedown but Da Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Da Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Tarbols, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rafael Da Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gus Tarbols.
Tarbols is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tarbols looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Da Silva half committed to a counter leg kick.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown but Tarbols shows good takedown defense.
Tarbols unleashes a big counter combination but Da Silva bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gus Tarbols showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Da Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Tarbols manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Da Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tarbols appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Da Silva darts in looking for a takedown but Tarbols gets double underhooks and turns Da Silva into the cage.

Tarbols breaks from the clinch.
Da Silva misses with a wild combination.
Da Silva moves out of range of the body kick from Tarbols.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tarbols.
Rafael Da Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Da Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Tarbols moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tarbols.
Da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tarbols swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Tarbols clinches up with Da Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva jumps guard but Tarbols turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tarbols jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Da Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Tarbols gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Da Silva shoots for a takedown but Tarbols saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tarbols fails to land the takedown.
Da Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tarbols defends it nicely.
Tarbols drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Da Silva defends it well.
Da Silva checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tarbols lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Rafael Da Silva has been cut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Da Silva is defended easily by Tarbols.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tarbols.
Da Silva quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Da Silva is looking to clinch.
Da Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Tarbols, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Da Silva stuffs the takedown.
Da Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Tarbols, looking for a takedown. Da Silva pushes Tarbols against the cage but Tarbols circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Da Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tarbols's waist but Tarbols gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Da Silva off to one side.
Tarbols throws a half hearted mid kick.
Da Silva avoids the head kick by Tarbols.
Tarbols tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tarbols gets a clinch.
Da Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Tarbols breaks the clinch.

Tarbols forces Da Silva back against the cage and clinches.
Tarbols tries to pull guard but Da Silva won't allow it.
Tarbols jumps guard but Da Silva turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Da Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Da Silva is trying to push Tarbols away but Tarbols has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Tarbols drags the fight down to the ground.
Da Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Da Silva gets to his feet - Tarbols follows without any prompting.
Da Silva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tarbols thinks about the counter body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Tarbols. No joy for Da Silva on that attempt.
Tarbols wants to counter the offense by Da Silva and move into the clinch position.
Tarbols blocks the body kick.
Tarbols looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tarbols misses with a head kick.
Da Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Tarbols counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice sprawl there from Da Silva as Tarbols shoots in.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Da Silva fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gus Tarbols comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tarbols 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gus Tarbols!