PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Emerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Geronimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emerson comes to the cage accompanied by Laurent Wolf - No Stress. The crowd seem to be enjoying Geronimo's choice of entrance music: "War," by Edwin Starr. Don Geronimo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Emerson
vs
Geronimo

185 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
24
170 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

[JMFC] Blueprint Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Emerson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Geronimo!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Geronimo throws a shot from downtown. Emerson moves away and avoids it.
Geronimo shoots in but Emerson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Emerson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Geronimo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Emerson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Geronimo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Geronimo has his hands clasped together around Emerson's back. He's all about the action.
Geronimo tries to get to full guard but Emerson has control of the leg.
Geronimo is staying active underneath Emerson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Geronimo regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emerson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Geronimo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Emerson has managed to get both his arms back between Geronimo's legs - danger averted.
Geronimo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Geronimo will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Geronimo looking for a sweep. Not yet Geronimo, not yet.
Emerson trying to control but Geronimo is working from the bottom.
Emerson won't allow Geronimo to sweep him here.
Geronimo working a defensive guard here.
Geronimo wants to sweep here but Emerson controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Geronimo has his takedown stuffed

and Emerson counters with a takedown into side control.
Emerson trying to control the action but Geronimo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Geronimo gets back to half guard.
Emerson controlling the pace.
Geronimo is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Geronimo is trying to control but can't.
Geronimo tries to roll over but Emerson keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Geronimo is pressing down on Emerson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Geronimo trying to keep a closed guard but Emerson is proving a slippery customer.
Emerson won't allow Geronimo to sweep him here.
Geronimo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Emerson's guard.

Geronimo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Geronimo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Geronimo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Emerson tries to roll over but Geronimo keeps him under control.
Geronimo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Geronimo trying to control from half guard but Emerson is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Geronimo thows a huge punch but Emerson dodges it nicely.
Geronimo passes to side control.

Geronimo is trying to get an arm triangle but Emerson is defending well.
Geronimo looks gassed!

Geronimo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Geronimo trying to control the action but Emerson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Don Geronimo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Geronimo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Emerson counters with a shoot takedown. Geronimo fights it but they end up in guard.

Geronimo is looking for a triangle but Emerson pushes his legs off easily.

Geronimo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Geronimo keeping moving, preventing Emerson from controlling successfully.

Geronimo is looking for a triangle but Emerson pushes his legs off easily.
Emerson wants to control from the top but Geronimo keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Geronimo trying to control the position.
Geronimo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Emerson is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Geronimo misses with a takedown
letting Emerson counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Geronimo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Emerson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gabriel Emerson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Geronimo.
Geronimo is breathing heavily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Geronimo.
Emerson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Geronimo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Geronimo trying to control the action but Emerson is working from the bottom.
Geronimo tries to move to mount but Emerson blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emerson is being controlled here.

Geronimo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Emerson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Geronimo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Geronimo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Emerson throws a series of punches but Geronimo avoids them all with ease.
Geronimo tries for a takedown but Emerson circles away easily

and Emerson counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Geronimo pulls guard successfully.
Geronimo keeping moving, preventing Emerson from controlling successfully.
Geronimo keeping full guard, as Emerson tries to pass.
Emerson is stalling in the full guard.
Emerson stopping the sweep attempt from Geronimo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gabriel Emerson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Emerson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Geronimo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Emerson somewhat.
Geronimo tries for a takedown but Emerson circles away easily

and Emerson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Geronimo is staying active underneath Emerson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Geronimo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Geronimo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Emerson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Geronimo sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Geronimo is refusing to be controlled, as Emerson sits in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Geronimo tries to get to full guard but Emerson has control of the leg.
Geronimo regains full guard. Nicely done.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Geronimo is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Geronimo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Emerson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Geronimo manages to get himself to full guard.
Emerson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Geronimo has his foot on Emerson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Emerson works his way back into a safe position though.
Geronimo wants to improve his position but instead Emerson has moved into half guard.
Geronimo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Emerson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Emerson's back!
Emerson trying to control but not successfully.
Geronimo lands a shot to the body.
Will Geronimo go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Geronimo lands shots from the back.
Geronimo trying to control momentarily.
Emerson grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Geronimo throwing sloppy strikes.
Geronimo doesn't have the hooks in and Emerson manages to turn into his guard.
Geronimo is trying to keep Emerson in close.

Geronimo is looking for a triangle but Emerson pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emerson slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Geronimo.
Geronimo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Geronimo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Emerson's guard.
Emerson keeping full guard, as Geronimo tries to pass.
Emerson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Geronimo is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Don Geronimo.
I think Geronimo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!