PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cedric Florain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Azevedo (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.

Florain
vs
Azevedo

186 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cedric Florain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Azevedo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Florain misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Azevedo.
Azevedo looks to land a combination but Florain avoids it well.

Florain has Azevedo up against the cage in a clinch.

Florain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A left and a right from Azevedo both land. Nice combination.
Florain tries to clinch up but Azevedo circles away and keeps his distance.
Florain lands a head kick that stumbles Azevedo and the fighters go to the mat.

Azevedo is rocked!
Azevedo is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Florain dives into side control.
Azevedo is still in real trouble! Can Florain finish him?
Azevedo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Florain is controlling him well.
Azevedo is looking to get back to his feet here but Florain is keeping cool and he's managed to take Azevedo's back.
Azevedo seems to have recovered his senses.
Florain keeps control of the position easily here as Azevedo tries to buck him off.
Azevedo trying to get back to his feet but Florain is in full control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florain just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Azevedo controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Azevedo is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

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.
Good control from Florain.
Azevedo wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo looks gassed!
Azevedo is keeping busy.
Azevedo is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Azevedo trying to get back to his feet but Florain is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Azevedo is trying to shake Florain off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Florain won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Azevedo avoids the head kick by Florain.
Florain walks into a left hand.
Azevedo throws a right hand that Florain ducks under and follows up with a left that Florain also avoids with ease.
Azevedo throws a right and a left that Florain avoids nicely.
Azevedo scores with a three punch combo!
Azevedo throws a series of punches but Florain avoids them all with ease.

Florain forces Azevedo back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Florain dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Florain doesn't manage to clinch there - Azevedo circles away.
Azevedo throws a good cross that connects.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Florain lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Azevedo lands a lovely overhand right.
Cedric Florain is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Florain throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Azevedo.
Florain throws a head kick that misses.
Azevedo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Florain circles away quickly and effectively.
Florain on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Azevedo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Azevedo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Florain at a distance.
Florain takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Azevedo tries to keep at a distance but Florain has taken the fight into the clinch.
Azevedo being controlled against the cage.
Azevedo can't break the clinch.
Azevedo is looking to break free of the clinch but Florain has double underhooks.
Azevedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Florain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Florain throws a head kick but Azevedo moves out of range.
Azevedo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Azevedo stalks Florain and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Florain's face. Florain staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo clobbers Florain with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Azevedo looks to land a combination. Florain sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Good exchange - Azevedo coming out on top.
Azevedo misses with a body kick.
Florain tries a head kick but it misses.
Azevedo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Azevedo misses with a low kick.
Azevedo throws a leg kick but Florain sees it coming and moves out of range.
Azevedo avoids the head kick by Florain.
Azevedo lands with a shot to the body.
A punch combination from Azevedo misses.
Azevedo connects with a crisp jab.
Azevedo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Florain checks a leg kick.
Florain tries a head kick but it misses.
Azevedo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Azevedo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
An inside leg kick from Azevedo misses.
Azevedo scores with a three punch combo!
Azevedo throws a leg kick but Florain sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Azevedo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Azevedo throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Azevedo keeps the fight on the outside.
Left hook, right uppercut from Azevedo.
Azevedo tries a head kick but it misses.
Florain walks into a stiff left hand from Azevedo.
Azevedo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Florain looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Florain drives through and clinches with Azevedo against the cage.
Florain prevents Azevedo from breaking the clinch.

Florain manages to break the clinch.
Azevedo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Florain at a distance.
Florain really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Azevedo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Azevedo connects with a jab.
Florain walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Azevedo throws a low kick but Florain avoids it.
Florain tries a head kick but it misses.
Azevedo misses with a two punch combination.
Azevedo misses with a few strikes there.
Florain throws a head kick that Azevedo semi-blocks.
Azevedo's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Azevedo duly obliges.
Azevedo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A right-left combo lands from Azevedo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo misses with a few strikes there.
Florain takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Azevedo tries to keep at a distance but Florain has taken the fight into the clinch.
Azevedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Florain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azevedo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice shot by Azevedo.
Florain fails in his attempt to clinch.
Azevedo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Azevedo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azevedo blocks a head kick by Florain.
Florain throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azevedo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Florain misses with a head kick.
Azevedo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Azevedo is working the combinations to good effect here.
Azevedo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Azevedo with a nice cross.
Azevedo scores with a one two! Florain had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Azevedo with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Azevedo stalks Florain and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Florain's face. Florain staggers backwards, shaken.
Azevedo moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Azevedo throws out a powerful jab.

Florain moves into the clinch.
Azevedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Azevedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Azevedo is trying to break the clinch but Florain has him pressed against the cage.

Florain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Azevedo works Florain's body with a nice hook.
Azevedo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Azevedo lunges at Florain with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Florain's hand.

Florain rushes Azevedo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Azevedo letting Florain take a breather here.
Azevedo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Florain has him pressed against the cage.
Azevedo is trying to break free.
Azevedo wants to break free but Florain has control.
Azevedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Azevedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Azevedo is trying to break free.
Azevedo has had enough of the clinch but Florain keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Florain dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Azevedo moves into range and connects with a jab.
A punch combination from Azevedo misses.

Florain moves into the clinch.

Florain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Azevedo lands a jab-cross combination.

Florain moves into the clinch.

Florain manages to break the clinch.

Florain pushes Azevedo up against the cage in a clinch.
Azevedo takes an elbow to the forehead.

Florain breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Azevedo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Azevedo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Florain.
A head kick misses from Florain.
Azevedo stalks Florain and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Florain's face. Florain staggers backwards, shaken.
An inside leg kick from Azevedo misses.
Azevedo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Azevedo lands a jab-cross combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Azevedo scores with a four punch combination!
Azevedo blocks a head kick by Florain.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Florain clinches with his opponent.
Azevedo tries to break the clinch but Florain is controlling the position.
Azevedo can't break the clinch.

Florain manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florain has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Azevedo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Florain looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Florain tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Azevedo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Azevedo works over Florain's head and body with a nice combination.
A combination from Azevedo does no damage.
Azevedo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Decent striking displayed by Azevedo there.
Azevedo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Florain.

Florain clinches with his opponent.
Azevedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Florain crunches a lovely knee into Azevedo's ribcage.
Azevedo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Florain has him pressed against the cage.
Florain with a knee to the head.
Azevedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Florain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Azevedo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Florain tries to clinch but Azevedo is having none of it.
Florain tries to clinch up but Azevedo circles away and keeps his distance.
Azevedo swats away the attempt to clinch by Florain.
Good standup being displayed there by Azevedo as he connects with a hook.

That's two 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.
Azevedo tries to land a leg kick but Florain saw it coming and moves away.
Azevedo throws a one two combo.
Azevedo tries to bum rush Florain with a series of wild strikes but Florain uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Azevedo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Azevedo punishes Florain's body with a nice straight punch.
Azevedo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A punch combination from Azevedo misses.
Azevedo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Florain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Azevedo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Azevedo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Florain throws a sloppy head kick and Azevedo moves out of range easily.
Azevedo works over Florain's head and body with a nice combination.
Florain dodges the punch combination from Azevedo.
Florain throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Azevedo's head.
Azevedo misses with a series of wild punches.

Florain clinches up with Azevedo and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Florain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some wild striking there from Azevedo.
Florain tries a head kick but it misses.
Azevedo throws a one two combo.

Florain fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Azevedo, pushing him back against the cage.
Azevedo tries to break the clinch but Florain is controlling the position.

Florain breaks the clinch.
Florain throws a nice head kick!
Azevedo moves out of range of the body kick.
Azevedo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Azevedo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Azevedo misses with a low kick.
Florain takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Florain throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Azevedo.
Florain on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Florain doesn't manage to clinch there - Azevedo circles away.
Azevedo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Florain backs up against the cage.
Florain throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azevedo throws out a leg kick but Florain moves out of range and Azevedo only half commits.
Florain misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Florain clinches up with Azevedo and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Azevedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Florain prevents Azevedo from breaking the clinch.

Florain breaks the clinch.
Azevedo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Florain circles away quickly and effectively.
Azevedo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Azevedo swats away the attempt to clinch by Florain.
Florain is looking to clinch.
Azevedo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Florain has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Azevedo lands with an overhand left.
Florain tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Azevedo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Azevedo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Florain has him pressed against the cage.
Florain prevents Azevedo from breaking the clinch.
Azevedo tries to break the clinch but Florain is controlling the position.
Azevedo tries to break the clinch but Florain is controlling the position.
Azevedo tries to break the clinch but Florain is controlling the position.
Rafael Azevedo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cedric Florain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Florain blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Azevedo struggles to land a body shot inside as Florain controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cedric Florain showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Florain has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cedric Florain!