PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Conrad Booth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Cristiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ronaldo Cristiano told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Booth
vs
Cristiano

151 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

162 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Conrad Booth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldo Cristiano!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Booth swats away the attempt to clinch by Cristiano.
Cristiano looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Booth shoots in for a takedown but Cristiano shows good takedown defense.
Cristiano tries to clinch but Booth moves out of range.
Booth half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Cristiano clinches up against the cage.
Booth is looking to break free of the clinch but Cristiano has double underhooks.
Cristiano lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cristiano lands a body punch in the clinch.
Booth has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cristiano after a bit of a struggle.
Cristiano trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cristiano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cristiano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cristiano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Booth tries to pull guard but Cristiano forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conrad Booth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cristiano keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Booth's efforts to push away.
Booth jumps guard but Cristiano turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booth wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cristiano has him pressed against the cage.

Booth successfully pulls guard.
Cristiano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Booth is keeping the position for now.
Booth not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Booth has a closed guard, preventing Cristiano from standing up.
Booth trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Booth knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cristiano on the ground.

Booth is looking for a triangle but Cristiano pushes his legs off easily.
Booth is trying to keep Cristiano in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cristiano advances position into side control!
Cristiano controls the position.
Booth tries to bench press Cristiano off him but Cristiano keeps the position.
Cristiano throws an elbow but Booth slips to the side and avoids it well.
Booth holding on.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cristiano shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cristiano showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cristiano is thwarting Booth's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cristiano wants to take a breather but Booth is having none of it.
Booth is looking for a sweep. Cristiano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booth tries to kick Cristiano off but Cristiano keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Booth trying to control here.
Booth is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Booth makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
We've been informed that Cristiano has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Booth shoots in and drives through. Cristiano sprawls well.
Cristiano swats away the attempt to clinch by Booth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cristiano fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Booth sprawls well initially but Cristiano persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Cristiano dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cristiano looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Booth not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Booth is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cristiano is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Booth pulls Cristiano in close to his closed guard and prevents Cristiano from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cristiano postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cristiano is breathing heavily.

Booth has his foot on Cristiano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cristiano works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cristiano gets to his feet - Booth follows without any prompting.
Cristiano defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Booth.
And Cristiano tries to counter it with a takedown but Booth pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Cristiano shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Booth's guard.
Booth wants to stand but Cristiano is controlling the position.
Booth looking to control.
Cristiano is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cristiano trying to control the position from guard on top but Booth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cristiano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booth is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Booth working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cristiano has passed into half guard!
Cristiano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Booth is looking to improve his position.
Booth could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Booth is staying active underneath Cristiano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cristiano has taken the fight to the clinch.
Booth wants to break the clinch but can't.
Booth can't get the takedown.
Cristiano throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Booths head.
Booth wants to break free but Cristiano has control.
Booth tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conrad Booth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Booth takes a shot to the head.
Cristiano struggles to land a body shot inside as Booth controls his hands.
Cristiano gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Booth decides to pull guard.
Cristiano trying to control but Booth is working from the bottom.

Cristiano gets to his feet - Booth follows without any prompting.

Cristiano darts in and clinches Booth up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booth tries to pull guard but Cristiano forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A short left from Cristiano.
Booth blocks an elbow strike from Cristiano.
Booth is trying to break free.
Booth wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Booth working hard to break the clinch.
Cristiano lands a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Booth is trying to pull guard but Cristiano has him pressed against the cage.
A short uppercut from Cristiano.
A hook to the body from Cristiano.
Cristiano utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Booth wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cristiano presses Booth against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cristiano pushes Booth back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Booth tries to pull guard but Cristiano forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cristiano scores a nice knee to the body.
Cristiano gets underhooks to prevent Booth's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Cristiano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cristiano pushes Booth up against the cage in a clinch.
Cristiano trying to land knees to the body.
Booth wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Booth tries to pull guard but Cristiano won't allow it.

Booth manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cristiano stops Booth from standing up.
Booth trying to control the position.
Cristiano passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cristiano tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Booth is trying to stand up here but Cristiano is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booth tries to roll over but Cristiano keeps him under control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cristiano tries to stand but can't do so whilst Booth controls his leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Booth circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cristiano doesn't manage to clinch there - Booth circles away.
Booth moves in looking to clinch but Cristiano pushes him off.

Booth closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cristiano quickly recovers to half guard.
Booth wants to stand but Cristiano has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristiano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Booth is working away from the top position though.
Cristiano wants to get back to full guard.
It looks like Booth is going to stand back up.
Cristiano is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristiano wants to control but Booth is keeping busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Booth shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cristiano defends it nicely.
Cristiano moves in looking to clinch but Booth pushes him off.

Cristiano shoots in and gets a takedown into Booth's guard.
Booth wants to stand up but Cristiano is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristiano trying to control but Booth is working from the bottom.

Cristiano stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Booth shoots in and drives through. Cristiano sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conrad Booth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Booth shoots for a takedown but Cristiano saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cristiano is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Booth's half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronaldo Cristiano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cristiano 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 26:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 26:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldo Cristiano!