PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Howard King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rene Fernandes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rene Fernandes has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Howard King's chin.

King
vs
Fernandes

194 cm
20
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
226 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Howard King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rene Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
King keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
King throws a hook to the side of Fernandes's head but Fernandes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Fernandes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows King to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
King throws a big elbow that misses.
Fernandes keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
King is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fernandes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Fernandes is pulling down on King's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fernandes fails with a takedown attempt.
Howard King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rene Fernandes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King shoots in looking for a takedown but Fernandes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing King's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Some wild striking there from Fernandes.
King fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fernandes avoids it really well and circles away.
Fernandes shoots in and drives through. King sprawls well.
King scores with a head kick. Fernandes tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Fernandes moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fernandes tries to score a power double leg takedown but King sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fernandes somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Fernandes. No joy for King on that attempt.
King throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fernandes's waist but Fernandes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing King off to one side.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fernandes is trying hard to land a takedown here. King sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fernandes looks gassed!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from King is defended easily by Fernandes.
Fernandes slaps away a takedown attempt from King, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fernandes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fernandes wants it to stay on the feet.
Fernandes misses with a takedown attempt - King sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Fernandes closes the distance and pushes King back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Fernandes.

King pulls guard successfully.

King working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fernandes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fernandes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
King is trying to keep Fernandes in close.
Fernandes pushes down on King's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
King wants to control but Fernandes is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes works his way into full mount!
Fernandes looking to control and managing it successfully.
King wants to control but Fernandes is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fernandes unloads with some shots from mount but King bucks and avoids them well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fernandes looking to secure an arm triangle but King defends it well.
Fernandes controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rene Fernandes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

King slaps away a takedown attempt from Fernandes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fernandes connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fernandes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around King's waist but King gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fernandes off to one side.
Fernandes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
King will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Fernandes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fernandes misses with a hook to the ribs.
King jumps guard but Fernandes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
King drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fernandes pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Howard King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fernandes shoots in looking for a takedown. King tries to sprawl out of it but Fernandes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. King manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fernandes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King fails with the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Fernandes or perhaps it was just good defense by King which made him look bad.
Fernandes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but King circles away quickly and effectively.
King shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice takedown defense from King. No joy for Fernandes on that attempt.
Rene Fernandes seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Fernandes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
King blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King jumps guard but Fernandes stands there with King around his waist. King gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
King prevents the takedown attempt.
King is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fernandes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
King tries to pull guard but Fernandes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Fernandes keeps control of King as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

King has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fernandes uses from the top position.
Fernandes controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fernandes slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
King has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fernandes is working away from the top position though.
Fernandes is controlling the pace.
Fernandes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed King's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King trying to hold on to Fernandes's head to control him but Fernandes postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Howard King wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown but King shows good takedown defense.

Fernandes has closed the distance and engaged King in a clinch.
King jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fernandes walks away with a smile on his face. King gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice sprawl there from King as Fernandes shoots in.
Fernandes fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King tries to close the distance and clinch but Fernandes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
King fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Fernandes gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rene Fernandes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from King is defended easily by Fernandes.
King fails with the takedown.
Fernandes throws a body kick that misses.
Horrible takedown by Fernandes or perhaps it was just good defense by King which made him look bad.
King shoots in but Fernandes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Howard King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King shoots in for a takedown but Fernandes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fernandes throws a right hand that King ducks under and follows up with a left that King also avoids with ease.
Howard King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
King blocks a head kick by Fernandes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes misses with a takedown attempt - King sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fernandes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
King shoots for a takedown but Fernandes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
King keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fernandes is trying hard to land a takedown here. King sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fernandes shoots in but no luck this time.
King tries for a takedown but Fernandes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
King shoots in for a takedown but Fernandes shows good takedown defense.

Fernandes closes the distance and pushes King back into the cage.
Fernandes displaying some good clinch control by pressing King up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes wants a takedown but no success here.
Fernandes wants to break free but King has control.
Fernandes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fernandes stops a takedown attempt from King.
King avoiding damage as Fernandes throws knees to the body.
Fernandes tries to break the clinch but King is controlling the position.
King jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fernandes walks away with a smile on his face. King gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Fernandes tries to bum rush King with a series of wild strikes but King uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fernandes misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Fernandes as King shoots in.
King shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fernandes but Fernandes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fernandes 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.
Fernandes bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps King's head backwards.
King shoots for a double leg takedown but Fernandes sprawls well. He's pushed King's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A leg kick checked by King.
Fernandes throws a nice looking combination but King bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fernandes fails with a takedown attempt.
King is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
King has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from King there as he acknowledges the shot.
King looks for a takedown but Fernandes sprawls well.
King defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fernandes.
King fails to land the takedown.
Decent striking displayed by Fernandes there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fernandes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
King closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fernandes circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rene Fernandes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fernandes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rene Fernandes!
Rene Fernandes seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.