PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Celivaldo Varejao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jairo Aquino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Varejao
vs
Aquino

194 cm
26
269 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
270 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Enjoys gardening

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Celivaldo Varejao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jairo Aquino!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Varejao fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Varejao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aquino throws a half hearted mid kick.
Varejao tries to clinch there but Aquino circles away.
Varejao takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Varejao takes a kick to the side of the head.
Varejao tries to clinch but Aquino is having none of it.
Aquino fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Varejao.
Aquino thumps Varejao with a low kick.
Aquino misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aquino tries to work over Varejao's front leg with a kick but Varejao checks it.
Aquino throws a sloppy head kick and Varejao moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varejao avoids the head kick by Aquino.
Varejao tries to clinch but Aquino moves out of range.
Varejao tries to clinch but Aquino moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Varejao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aquino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Some wild striking there from Varejao.
Varejao tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Aquino manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Varejao has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Aquino.
Aquino connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varejao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aquino throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Varejao blocks a head kick by Aquino.
Varejao tries to clinch but Aquino moves out of range.
Aquino looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Varejao fails in his attempt to clinch.
Varejao wants to clinch up but Aquino keeps it at a distance.
Aquino pushes Varejao away with a front kick.
Varejao defending well as Aquino loads up on a big left hand.
Aquino shoots for a takedown but Varejao saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Aquino stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Varejao checks a leg kick.
Varejao tries to clinch but Aquino moves away
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Aquino keeps the fight on the outside.
Aquino throws a right hand that misses

and Varejao counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Varejao.
Varejao lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Aquino or not.
Aquino fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Varejao pushes Aquino back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Varejao prevents a takedown attempt there.
Celivaldo Varejao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jairo Aquino.
Aquino doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Varejao drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Aquino gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Aquino jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Varejao walks away with a smile on his face. Aquino gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Varejao misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Aquino counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Aquino.
Aquino fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Varejao is out of range.
Varejao is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Varejao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Varejao clinches.

Varejao pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aquino wants to get up but he can't break Varejao's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Aquino being controlled here momentarily.
Varejao keeping moving, preventing Aquino from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jairo Aquino dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Varejao does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Aquino.
Varejao shoots in for a takedown but Aquino shows good takedown defense.
Varejao tries to clinch but Aquino moves out of range.
Aquino is looking to land body kicks.
Aquino misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aquino will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Aquino throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Varejao moves in looking to clinch but Aquino pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aquino circles away from the clinch attempt.
Varejao takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Celivaldo Varejao has been cut.
Varejao shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aquino but Aquino pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aquino connects with a solid leg kick.
Aquino throws a sloppy head kick and Varejao moves out of range easily.
Varejao fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aquino closes the distance and clinches up with Varejao, looking for a takedown. Aquino pushes Varejao against the cage but Varejao circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Celivaldo Varejao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Varejao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Varejao tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Aquino counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aquino finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Varejao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Varejao lands a body punch in the clinch.
Aquino wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Varejao has him pressed against the cage.
Varejao lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short body shot lands from Varejao as the two fighters clinch.
Aquino jumps guard but Varejao stands there with Aquino around his waist. Aquino gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Varejao breaks from the clinch.
Aquino connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Varejao lands a two punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aquino lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Varejao circles away quickly and effectively.
Varejao wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Varejao closes the distance and clinches.
Aquino using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Varejao has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aquino misses with a body punch.
Aquino jumps guard but Varejao stands there with Aquino around his waist. Aquino gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Celivaldo Varejao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jairo Aquino.
Aquino has a couple of punches blocked by Varejao.
Aquino has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Varejao avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Varejao is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Stalling in the clinch from Varejao.
Aquino tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Varejao just stands there and leans against the cage.
Varejao stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Varejao keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Aquino's efforts to push away.
Aquino tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A short left from Varejao.

Varejao ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Varejao no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Aquino sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Varejao has control of Aquino's left arm, preventing Aquino from doing any damage.
Aquino trying to control but Varejao is working from the bottom.
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 Celivaldo Varejao will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Celivaldo Varejao's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Varejao closes the distance and clinches.
A body shot lands from Varejao.
Aquino wants to break free but Varejao has control.
Varejao avoiding damage.
Aquino is trying to force a seperation but Varejao has the dominant position.
Aquino has a couple of punches blocked by Varejao.
Aquino is trying to push Varejao away but Varejao has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Aquino struggles to land a body shot inside as Varejao controls his hands.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Aquino tries to pull guard but Varejao holds him up against the cage and eventually Aquino drops back down to his feet.

Varejao decides to pull guard.
Varejao bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aquino's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varejao thows a big elbow that misses.
Varejao with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aquino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Varejao with a flurry of punches that miss.
Varejao postures up in Aquino's guard and throws a big left but Aquino blocks it.
Varejao throws and elbow that misses. Aquino uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Varejao's guard. Nice move by Aquino!
Aquino looking to sit in guard and control but Varejao gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aquino takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Varejao with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aquino preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Aquino is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Varejao accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Varejao controls from within his opponent's guard.

Varejao drops back looking for a leg! Aquino is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Aquino manages to kick Varejao off! Varejao jumps back into Aquino's guard.
Varejao in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Varejao loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aquino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varejao is looking to work some ground and pound but Aquino has wrist control.
Aquino looking to control.
Varejao trying to control the position from guard on top but Aquino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Varejao accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aquino wants to get back to his feet but Varejao is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Varejao postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Varejao postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Varejao postures up in Aquino's guard and throws a big left but Aquino blocks it.
Varejao stops Aquino from standing up.
Varejao postures up in Aquino's guard and throws a big left but Aquino blocks it.
Aquino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Varejao trying to control the position from guard on top but Aquino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Varejao throwing strikes but missing.
Aquino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Varejao wants to control from the top but Aquino keeps moving.
Varejao working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Varejao loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aquino is looking to stand up but Varejao isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Varejao wants to stand and escape but instead Aquino has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Aquino trying to control but Varejao is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Celivaldo Varejao showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Varejao has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Celivaldo Varejao!