PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Backman (ranked 5175 p4p, 2354 weight class) and Kleber Araujo (ranked 564 p4p, 329 weight class). Kleber Araujo will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Backman
vs
Araujo

181 cm
24
177
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
171
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers 160q Rec&Str

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mickey Backman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kleber Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backman avoids a kick to the body.
Araujo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Backman defends it nicely.
Araujo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Backman throws out a leg kick but Araujo moves out of range and Backman only half commits.
Araujo throws a sloppy head kick and Backman moves out of range easily.
Backman misses with a head kick.
A big right from Araujo misses.
Backman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Araujo.
Araujo misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo shoots for a takedown but Backman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mickey Backman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kleber Araujo.
Araujo misses the shot to the body.
Araujo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Backman throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo dives in for a single leg takedown but Backman sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Backman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Araujo shoots for a double leg takedown but Backman sprawls well. He's pushed Araujo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Araujo looks winded!
Backman throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Backman dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Araujo. That did some damage!

Backman looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Araujo!

Backman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Backman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Araujo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Araujo is trying to escape the position but Backman is controlling the position.
Backman scoring with punches and elbows.
Araujo tries to improve position but can't.
Backman scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Araujo to see if he's OK.
Backman happy to just control the position for now.
Backman passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Araujo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Araujo is trying desperately to improve position.
Backman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Araujo is looking to escape.
Backman landing strikes, looking to finish!
Backman lands a heavy elbow.
Araujo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Backman lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Backman controlling from the full mount.
Backman lands a couple of good shots and Araujo has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Backman softening up his opponent with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backman lands punches and elbows.
Backman trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Araujo doesn't escape.
Araujo covers up after that shot from Backman.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Araujo tries to escape but Backman has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Backman loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Araujo hold on?

Araujo is rocked!
Backman lands strikes from the back and Araujo isn't doing enough to escape the position. The referee steps in to end the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mickey Backman!
An out of breath Mickey Backman thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.