PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between rafael BJJ (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariel Nahuelpan (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.

BJJ
vs
Nahuelpan

150 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, rafael BJJ!
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, Ariel Nahuelpan!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nahuelpan fails to land the takedown.
Ariel Nahuelpan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nahuelpan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
BJJ is looking for a sweep.

Nahuelpan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
BJJ gets back to half guard.
Nahuelpan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
BJJ gets full guard.
BJJ looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nahuelpan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BJJ tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nahuelpan trying to control the position from guard on top but BJJ is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nahuelpan is looking to work some ground and pound but BJJ has wrist control.
Nahuelpan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Nahuelpan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
BJJ misses with a takedown attempt

so Nahuelpan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nahuelpan won't allow BJJ to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now BJJ is on top in guard.
Nahuelpan keeping full guard, as BJJ tries to pass.
BJJ is breathing heavily.
Nahuelpan looking to hit a scissor sweep but BJJ is one step ahead there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nahuelpan is trying to keep BJJ in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BJJ trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nahuelpan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. BJJ manages to get himself to full guard.
Nahuelpan preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nahuelpan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nahuelpan wants to control from the top but BJJ keeps moving.
Nahuelpan is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
BJJ throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
BJJ tries to land a sweep but no joy.
BJJ lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nahuelpan!
BJJ really is a fat lump.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nahuelpan is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nahuelpan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

BJJ seems to be working for a kimura but Nahuelpan defends the submission attempt.
Nahuelpan is pressing down on BJJ's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nahuelpan trying to keep a closed guard but BJJ is proving a slippery customer.
Nahuelpan looking for a sweep. Not yet Nahuelpan, not yet.
Nahuelpan is trying to control the position but BJJ postures up.
BJJ advances position into side control!
BJJ advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

BJJ looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
BJJ throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Nahuelpan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with BJJ. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
BJJ wants to control the pace but Nahuelpan is squirming around nicely.
BJJ thowing shots but they're missing.
Nahuelpan is working to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by BJJ there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nahuelpan is squirming around, avoiding BJJ's attempts to control the action.
Nahuelpan tries to reverse the position but BJJ maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
BJJ blocks Nahuelpan's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Nahuelpan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

BJJ gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nahuelpan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
BJJ looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nahuelpan is one step ahead there.
BJJ is working hard here to advance position.
BJJ keeping moving, preventing Nahuelpan from controlling successfully.
Nahuelpan stays in close to BJJ's body and controls the position.
BJJ is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nahuelpan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nahuelpan preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Nahuelpan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
BJJ letting Nahuelpan take a breather here.
BJJ tries to break the clinch but Nahuelpan is controlling the position.
Nahuelpan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. BJJ is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nahuelpan prevents a takedown attempt there.

BJJ is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nahuelpan is just too persistent for him and manages to trip BJJ to the mat. BJJ regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
BJJ wants to sweep but no luck.
Nahuelpan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nahuelpan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
BJJ manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nahuelpan tries to reverse the position but BJJ maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nahuelpan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
BJJ tries to control but Nahuelpan wriggling away.
Nahuelpan is in all sorts of trouble here.
BJJ unloads with some shots from mount but Nahuelpan bucks and avoids them well.
Nahuelpan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Nahuelpan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nahuelpan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. BJJ is keeping the position for now.
BJJ looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nahuelpan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nahuelpan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nahuelpan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
BJJ bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nahuelpan's guard.
Nahuelpan is pulling down on BJJ's head to control his posture.

BJJ drops back looking for a leg! Nahuelpan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nahuelpan manages to kick BJJ off! BJJ jumps back into Nahuelpan's guard.
BJJ trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Nahuelpan manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Nahuelpan chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

BJJ had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nahuelpan is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. BJJ Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nahuelpan's back instead.

BJJ working for the choke.
Nahuelpan wants to control his opponent's hands but BJJ gets his hands free.

BJJ is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Nahuelpan is defending well though. BJJ let's go of the attempt for now.
Ariel Nahuelpan has got the better of the ground game so far.
BJJ misses with punches from the back.
Nahuelpan has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from BJJ.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Nahuelpan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nahuelpan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Nahuelpan closes the distance and clinches.

Nahuelpan works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Nahuelpan stopping the sweep attempt from BJJ.
BJJ will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
BJJ manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nahuelpan manages to get himself to full guard.
BJJ trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nahuelpan pushes BJJ off and gets back to his feet.
Nahuelpan scores with a jab to the body.
Nahuelpan punishes BJJ's body with a nice straight punch.

BJJ gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
BJJ manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nahuelpan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nahuelpan wants to control but BJJ is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nahuelpan is trying desperately to improve position.
BJJ throwing strikes here but Nahuelpan is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
BJJ unloads with some shots from mount but Nahuelpan bucks and avoids them well.
Nahuelpan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
BJJ throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
BJJ has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nahuelpan's face.
BJJ throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Nahuelpan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nahuelpan tries to roll over but BJJ keeps him under control.
Nahuelpan flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nahuelpan wants to control but BJJ is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nahuelpan wants to improve his position but BJJ is controlling well.
BJJ tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nahuelpan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nahuelpan preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Nahuelpan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

BJJ is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Nahuelpan has managed to free his arm - good work.
BJJ trying to pass the guard but Nahuelpan defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nahuelpan misses with some strikes from the bottom.
BJJ wants to pass the guard but Nahuelpan is defending well.
Nahuelpan blocking the ground and pound attempt from BJJ.

Nahuelpan has one foot on BJJ's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
BJJ with a poor takedown

and Nahuelpan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for BJJ!
BJJ tries to reverse the position but Nahuelpan maintains control.
Nahuelpan dominating with strikes here.
BJJ manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nahuelpan is looking to take a break and control but BJJ is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
rafael BJJ has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ariel Nahuelpan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

BJJ is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nahuelpan pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ariel Nahuelpan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nahuelpan 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ariel Nahuelpan!