PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Junior Talarico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Matheus Freitas (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.

Talarico
vs
Matheus Freitas

177 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
23
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 New York, Junior Talarico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hugo Matheus Freitas!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Freitas with that takedown attempt.
Freitas moves in looking to clinch but Talarico pushes him off.
Freitas with a lazy takedown attempt

and Talarico counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Talarico wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Freitas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Talarico can't get the takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Freitas.
Freitas gets underhooks to prevent Talarico's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Talarico. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Talarico is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Freitas is keeping busy.
Talarico tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Freitas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Talarico gets underhooks to prevent Freitas's takedown attempt.
Talarico tries to pull guard but Freitas holds him up against the cage and eventually Talarico drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freitas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Talarico's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Talarico wants to get back to striking at distance but Freitas won't allow it.
Talarico has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Freitas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Talarico tries to pull guard but Freitas holds him up against the cage and eventually Talarico drops back down to his feet.

Freitas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Freitas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Talarico looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freitas pulls Talarico in close to his closed guard and prevents Talarico from doing any damage or advancing position.
Freitas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Freitas working for a triangle but Talarico defends it easily.
Freitas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Talarico. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talarico showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Talarico wants to stand but Freitas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Talarico is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitas keeping moving, preventing Talarico from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Junior Talarico wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Freitas closes the distance and pushes Talarico back into the cage.
Talarico managing to block the knees to the body from Freitas.
Freitas dodges an elbow strike from Talarico.
Talarico holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Talarico drops down looking for an ankle pick but Freitas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Talarico tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Freitas swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freitas shoots in but no luck this time.
A head kick misses from Freitas.
Freitas tries for a takedown but Talarico circles away easily

and Talarico counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Freitas!
You can see the frustration on Freitas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
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!
Freitas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Talarico passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Freitas!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Talarico tries to control but Freitas wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Talarico dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Freitas clinches.
Freitas trying to land knees to the body.

Freitas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Freitas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Freitas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Talarico counters with a nice leg kick.
Freitas swinging wildly here.
Freitas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Freitas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Freitas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Talarico fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freitas lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Talarico backs up against the cage.
Talarico fails with a takedown attempt.

Freitas clinches.
Talarico looking to slow down the pace here.
Freitas is looking to break free of the clinch but Talarico has double underhooks.
Freitas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Talarico blocks it with crossed arms.
Freitas has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Talarico stalling in the clinch but Freitas improves position.
Talarico working hard to break the clinch.
Talarico wants to take the fight to the mat but Freitas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Talarico goes for a takedown attempt but Freitas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Talarico. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Freitas.
The fight stays on the outside here - Talarico looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Junior Talarico is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Talarico. No joy for Freitas on that attempt.
Freitas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Talarico.
Freitas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Freitas moves into range and clinches up with Talarico.
Freitas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Talarico smiles and moves away.
Freitas is breathing heavily.
Freitas with a lazy takedown attempt

and Talarico counters with a shoot takedown. Freitas fights it but they end up in guard.
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!
Freitas wants to sweep but no luck.
Talarico might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talarico content to stall in guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Talarico works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Talarico in particular looking to stall.
Freitas is looking to control Talarico's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Freitas avoid being mounted?
Junior Talarico overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talarico seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

We're going to have a standup here because Junior Talarico wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Freitas gets caught napping as Talarico dives in and scores a takedown. Freitas manages to retain guard.

Talarico stands and steps away. Freitas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Freitas has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Talarico misses with a jab, cross combination.
A big left from Talarico misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Talarico dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Freitas shoots in for a double leg but Talarico sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Talarico looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Talarico is controlling the pace.
Talarico is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Freitas!

Talarico is working for a guillotine from mount but Freitas frees his head quite easily.

Talarico is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Talarico as Freitas shoots in.
Freitas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Talarico drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Freitas is looking to reverse the position.

Talarico is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Freitas has escaped the position, nice work there.

Talarico decides to stand back up.
Freitas swats away the attempt to clinch by Talarico.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talarico is looking to clinch but Freitas is avoiding it.

Talarico feints and as Freitas raises his hands in defense, Talarico changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Freitas wants to stand up but Talarico is controlling him.
Talarico controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Talarico is looking to work some ground and pound but Freitas has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Talarico accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Talarico.
Talarico pushes down on Freitas's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Talarico is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Freitas sees it coming and defends easily.
Freitas is trying to control but Talarico manages to pass to mount!
Talarico sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Talarico with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talarico controlling his opponent.
Talarico breaks from Freitas's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Talarico landing shots from mount.
Freitas tries to hold on but Talarico pushes him away.
Talarico scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Freitas?
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Talarico controlling the position easily from mount.
Hugo Matheus Freitas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Junior Talarico is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior Talarico showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Talarico, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Junior Talarico!
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight for Junior Talarico!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Junior Talarico!

Junior Talarico wins by unanimous decision!