PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Keji (ranked 1604 p4p, 2087 weight class) and Joao Cajo Branca (ranked 166 p4p, 219 weight class). Branca has chosen original score medley as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Keji
vs
Branca

225 cm
32
275
24 - 13 - 0

194 cm
38
269
32 - 23 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdul Keji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Cajo Branca!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branca throws out a loose jab but Keji uses good head movement to avoid it.
Keji throws a body punch but Branca moves out of range.
Keji waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Branca.
Good standup being displayed there by Keji as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Joao Cajo Branca has been cut.
Branca throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Keji misses with a body shot.
Keji looks to score with a jab to the body but Branca is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keji misses with a straight left.
Keji blocks a jab.
Branca throws a looping overhand right but Keji ducks down to avoid it.
A quick step to the side and Keji tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branca misses with a lunging right hand
and Keji counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Keji really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Branca throws a hook but Keji blocks it.
Keji is looking to wear down Branca with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A swing and a miss from Keji.
Branca doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Branca misses with an uppercut.
Branca with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Keji to score with a decent uppercut.
Branca swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Branca is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Keji jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Keji scores with a jab to the body.
Branca scores with a body shot.
Branca attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branca throws a body shot but no joy.
A low kick from Branca is predictable there
and Keji connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Keji needs to keep his hands up - Branca had a free shot at his head there.
Branca misses the jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Branca dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Keji. That did some damage!
Branca works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice defenses there by Keji.
Branca fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Keji has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Keji scores with a crisp jab that stopped Branca in his tracks.

That has opened up Joao Cajo Branca's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Keji as he connects with a hook.

Keji sends Branca crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Keji is motioning to the referee to let Branca up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Branca is rocked!

The cut above Joao Cajo Branca's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
A jab from Branca does it's job there.
Branca is still on wobbly legs! Can Keji finish him?
Keji is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Keji lands hard precision jab right on the jaw that stiffens Branca up and sends him tumbling to the mat! The ref grabs Keji from behind before he can pounce. Some folks in the crowd didn't like that stoppage, but I saw Branca's eyes roll way back in his head, he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Abdul Keji!
Our winner, Abdul Keji, 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.