PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Ninjaman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diogo Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ninjaman
vs
Almeida

195 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
229 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Ninjaman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Diogo Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Almeida closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ninjaman's guard.

Almeida decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ninjaman, up you get!
Ninjaman tries for a takedown but Almeida circles away easily

and Almeida counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ninjaman looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ninjaman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Almeida.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ninjaman wants to get back to his feet.
Almeida seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ninjaman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Almeida passes to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almeida is putting a hurting on Ninjaman here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ninjaman is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Almeida asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Almeida should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Almeida stands up.
Almeida tries for a takedown but Ninjaman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninjaman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ninjaman shoots in for a double leg but Almeida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Ninjaman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ninjaman is breathing heavily.
Ninjaman has his takedown stuffed

and Almeida decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ninjaman's guard.
Almeida forces his way into half guard.

Almeida stands up out of the half guard.

Almeida dives in and scores a takedown into Ninjaman's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida prevents Ninjaman from getting back to his feet.

Almeida stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Almeida feints and as Ninjaman raises his hands in defense, Almeida changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Almeida showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninjaman is looking to stand up but Almeida isn't so interested in that idea.
Almeida slips nicely into half guard.

Almeida is working for a submission of some sort.
Almeida prevents Ninjaman from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida controlling the action here.

Almeida is trying to work for a kimura but Ninjaman is defending well.
Ninjaman looks like he's trying to stand up.
Almeida trying to control the action but Ninjaman is working from the bottom.
Ninjaman is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninjaman tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Almeida manages to move to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ninjaman wants to get back to his feet.
Almeida fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ninjaman is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Almeida content just to control the position here.

Almeida working for a submission but Ninjaman is keeping him at bay.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ninjaman wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Almeida dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Almeida scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Almeida wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ninjaman, who protects the arm well.

Ninjaman throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Almeida misses with a takedown attempt - Ninjaman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ninjaman fails with a takedown attempt.
Ninjaman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Almeida's waist but Almeida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ninjaman off to one side.
Almeida fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ninjaman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Almeida as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Ninjaman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ninjaman misses with a takedown

and Almeida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ninjaman's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninjaman is wriggling around but Almeida manages to pass to half guard.
Almeida wants to pass to mount but Ninjaman is defending the position.
Almeida is looking to take a break and control but Ninjaman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Almeida prevents Ninjaman from standing back up.
Still in half guard, Almeida seems content to control.
Ninjaman is looking to escape.
Almeida lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Almeida is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ninjaman!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida working Ninjaman over with strikes here.
Almeida trying to control but Ninjaman is having none of it.
BOOM! Almeida connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Almeida looking to control but Ninjaman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Almeida with good strikes from the mount here!
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!
Ninjaman's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Almeida working for a guillotine from mount but Ninjaman is in no mood to give up.
Almeida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ninjaman is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninjaman trying desperately to get to his feet.
Almeida breaks from Ninjaman's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Ninjaman somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Ninjaman fails with the takedown
and Almeida counters with a left to the body.
Steve Ninjaman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Almeida closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Almeida lands in his opponent's guard.

Ninjaman wriggles free and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida tries to clinch there but Ninjaman circles away.
Ninjaman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Almeida circles away.

Almeida fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ninjaman, pushing him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almeida fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Almeida has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ninjaman after a bit of a struggle.

Ninjaman manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Almeida. No joy for Ninjaman on that attempt.
Ninjaman shoots in for a takedown but Almeida shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ninjaman misses with a takedown

and Almeida counters by moving into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ninjaman tries to break free but Almeida pushes him back against the cage.
Almeida tries for a takedown. No joy.

Ninjaman breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Almeida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Almeida instigates a clinch.

Almeida has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ninjaman regains guard immediately.
Ninjaman is looking to stand up but Almeida isn't so interested in that idea.
Almeida wants to pass the guard but Ninjaman is keeping the position.
Almeida passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Almeida trying to control the position but Ninjaman is working away.
Ninjaman is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Almeida is controlling him well.
Ninjaman trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ninjaman on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Almeida landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninjaman wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Almeida decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Almeida scores with a takedown into Ninjaman's guard.
Almeida stops Ninjaman from standing up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Almeida's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ninjaman wants to get back to his feet but Almeida is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Almeida wants to control from the top but Ninjaman keeps moving.
Ninjaman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Almeida controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninjaman wants to stand up but Almeida is controlling him.
Almeida's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Diogo Almeida has got the better of the ground game so far.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Diogo Almeida hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Almeida shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ninjaman is trying to stand.
Almeida lands a nice shot to the head.
Ninjaman wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Almeida working for a submission but Ninjaman is keeping him at bay.
Ninjaman is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Almeida connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Almeida sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ninjaman is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Almeida tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ninjaman is trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Almeida is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ninjaman to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ninjaman shrugs it off.
Ninjaman is trying to stand but he's just given Almeida his back.

Almeida is looking for the choke from the back position but Ninjaman is controlling his hands well.
Ninjaman wants to get back to his feet.
Almeida trying to control.

Ninjaman fending off the submission attempt from Almeida.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ninjaman trying to get back to his feet but Almeida is in full control for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diogo Almeida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Almeida 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diogo Almeida!