PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kelvin Laibida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Nadal (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.

Laibida
vs
Nadal

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
ANARCHY

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kelvin Laibida!
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, Rafael Nadal!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laibida lands a nice shot to the body.
Nadal tries to clinch but Laibida is having none of it.
Nadal tries to close the distance and clinch but Laibida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Laibida gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Knees to the body from Nadal.
Laibida tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Laibida tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nadal scores with a knee to the head.
Nadal missing with knees to the body.
Nadal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Laibida is defending well for now.
Laibida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nadal connects with a nasty looking knee right to Laibida's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nadal missing with knees to the body.
Laibida throws a punch but it's blocked by Nadal.
Laibida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nadal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laibida.
Nadal scores with a knee to the head.
Laibida avoiding damage as Nadal throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nadal unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nadal tries to land knees in the clinch but Laibida avoids the damage to the body.
Nadal is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelvin Laibida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nadal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Laibida is defending well for now.
A knee to the head by Nadal.
Nadal lands a nice knee to the body.
Laibida is breathing heavily.
Laibida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Laibida managing to block the knees to the body from Nadal.
Nadal tries to land knees in the clinch but Laibida avoids the damage to the body.
Laibida wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Laibida fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Laibida avoiding damage as Nadal throws knees to the body.
Nadal tries to land knees in the clinch but Laibida avoids the damage to the body.
Nadal scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nadal trying to land knees to the body.
Laibida is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nadal is defending well.
Nadal tries to land knees in the clinch but Laibida avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nadal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Laibida is defending well for now.
Laibida tries to break the clinch but Nadal is controlling the position.
Laibida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nadal gets underhooks to prevent Laibida's takedown attempt.
Laibida fails to pull guard.
Nadal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Laibida is defending well for now.
Nadal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Laibida is defending well for now.
Stalling in the clinch from Laibida.
Nadal tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Laibida avoids it.
Laibida is looking to break free of the clinch but Nadal has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laibida is trying to push Nadal away but Nadal has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Laibida is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nadal misses with a knee strike.
Laibida avoiding damage as Nadal throws knees to the body.
Laibida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nadal has him pressed against the cage.
Laibida tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nadal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nadal managing to block the knees to the body from Laibida.
Nadal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laibida.
Laibida is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Laibida pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Laibida pulls Nadal in close to prevent any damage.
Nadal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laibida uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Laibida has taken the fight to the clinch.
Laibida has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nadal is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nadal with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Laibida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Laibida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Laibida drags the fight down to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laibida seems keen to control Nadal's posture.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nadal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laibida is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Laibida darts in and clinches Nadal up against the cage.
Nadal tries a knee to the head but Laibida blocks it.
Nadal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Laibida is defending well for now.
Nadal landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nadal lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Laibida is trying to pull guard but Nadal has him pressed against the cage.
Laibida tries to pull guard but Nadal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Laibida avoiding damage as Nadal throws knees to the body.
Nadal tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Laibida avoiding damage as Nadal throws knees to the body.
Nadal is breathing heavily.
Laibida managing to block the knees to the body from Nadal.
Laibida drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nadal pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelvin Laibida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nadal moves in looking to clinch but Laibida pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nadal doesn't manage to clinch there - Laibida circles away.
Laibida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Laibida throws a half hearted mid kick.

Nadal pushes Laibida up against the cage in a clinch.
Nadal is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Laibida digs a right hand underneath Nadal's ribcage. Nadal let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nadal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Laibida is defending well for now.
Nadal landing knees to the body.
Nadal crunches a lovely knee into Laibida's ribcage.
Laibida presses Nadal against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nadal avoids the elbow strike from Laibida, against the cage.
Laibida is working for takedown but Nadal is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nadal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laibida throws an elbow that misses.
Laibida is looking to break free of the clinch but Nadal has double underhooks.
Nadal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laibida's efforts to push away.
Nadal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laibida.
Laibida managing to block the knees to the body from Nadal.
Laibida misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nadal.
Laibida tries to break free but Nadal pushes him back against the cage.
Laibida has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nadal is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laibida tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nadal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nadal missing with knees to the body.
Laibida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nadal missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laibida has had enough of the clinch but Nadal keeps him there for the moment.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nadal as Laibida tries to tie him up.
Laibida tries to pull guard but Nadal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nadal crunches a lovely knee into Laibida's ribcage.
Laibida taking a breather.
Laibida can't break the clinch.
Laibida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laibida has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nadal avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Laibida takes a knee to the side of the body.
Laibida tries to pull guard but Nadal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nadal trying to land knees to the body.
Laibida is trying to drag Nadal to the mat but Nadal just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laibida fails to pull guard.
Nadal lands a good knee to the midsection. Laibida won't want to take too many of those.
Laibida drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nadal pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nadal tries to clinch but Laibida moves out of range.
Nadal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nadal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Laibida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Laibida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Nadal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Laibida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Nadal closes the distance and pushes Laibida back into the cage.
Nadal missing with knees to the body.
Nadal landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nadal lands a good knee to the midsection. Laibida won't want to take too many of those.
Nadal tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Laibida avoids it.
Nadal tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Laibida avoids it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nadal obliges.
Laibida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nadal.
Laibida is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nadal pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Laibida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nadal landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nadal scores a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nadal utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nadal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laibida.
Knees to the body from Nadal.
Rafael Nadal seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Laibida is trying to break the clinch but Nadal is controlling him.
Nadal using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nadal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Laibida is defending well for now.
Laibida fails to pull guard.
Laibida is looking to break free of the clinch but Nadal has double underhooks.
Nadal tries to land knees in the clinch but Laibida avoids the damage to the body.
Nadal tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Laibida avoids it.
Laibida is trying to pull guard but Nadal has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelvin Laibida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nadal obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nadal keeps control of Laibida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Laibida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nadal has him pressed against the cage.
Laibida takes a knee right on the jaw!
Laibida avoiding damage as Nadal throws knees to the body.
Nadal missing with knees to the body.
Laibida is working for takedown but Nadal is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nadal putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Laibida in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Laibida looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Laibida is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nadal gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nadal connects with a knee to the head.
Nadal crunches a lovely knee into Laibida's ribcage.
Nadal tries to land knees in the clinch but Laibida avoids the damage to the body.
Laibida throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nadal blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laibida misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nadal landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nadal gets underhooks to prevent Laibida's takedown attempt.
Nadal lands a nice knee to the body.
Laibida managing to block the knees to the body from Nadal.
Laibida jumps guard but Nadal stands there with Laibida around his waist. Laibida gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Laibida tries for a takedown but Nadal manages to get underhooks.
Nadal lands a good knee to the midsection. Laibida won't want to take too many of those.
Laibida is trying to pull guard but Nadal turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nadal scores a nice knee to the body.
Nadal missing with knees to the body.
Laibida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laibida lands a shot to the body.
Laibida is trying to pull guard but Nadal turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nadal trying to land knees to the body.
Laibida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laibida is trying to force a seperation but Nadal has the dominant position.
Laibida managing to block the knees to the body from Nadal.
Laibida looking to throw knees to the head but Nadal is blocking nicely.
Laibida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Laibida is looking for a takedown.
Laibida avoiding damage as Nadal throws knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laibida tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nadal smiles and moves away.
Laibida keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Nadal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nadal winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Nadal!