PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Timmy Gregory (ranked 25850 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Paixao (ranked 6132 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Gregory
vs
Paixao

156 cm
19
151 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Timmy Gregory!
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 Paixao!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Paixao shoots in and bounces Gregory off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paixao wants to control from the top but Gregory keeps moving.
Paixao is looking to work some ground and pound but Gregory has wrist control.
Gregory is pulling down on Paixao's head to control his posture.
Paixao trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paixao passes into half guard.
Gregory might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paixao seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Still in half guard, Paixao seems content to control.
Paixao wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gregory keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Paixao seems content to control.

Paixao is looking for a kimura but Gregory is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Paixao to get the leverage.
Paixao is keen to just control but Gregory is a slippery customer.
Gregory wants to control but Paixao is keeping busy.
Gregory landing small, sideways elbows.
Paixao is trying to control the action in half guard but Gregory is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Paixao tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gregory knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Paixao in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Paixao with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gregory counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Paixao is proving hard to escape from.
Gregory won't allow Paixao to sweep him here.
Gregory controlling from the top position.
Gregory really is a fat lump.
Gregory working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gregory has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paixao looking for a guillotine here but Gregory defends easily.
Gregory is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Paixao is pulling down on Gregory's head to control his posture.
Gregory is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

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.

Paixao instigates a clinch.
Paixao stalling the fight.

Gregory pulls guard effortlessly.
Gregory has control of Paixao's left arm, preventing Paixao from doing any damage.
Paixao slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Paixao throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Paixao working away.
The strikes coming from Paixao are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Paixao tries to score with some ground and pound. Gregory controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Paixao dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Paixao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Gregory pulls guard successfully.
Paixao prevents Gregory from getting back to his feet.
Paixao looking to pass the guard.
Gregory trying to strike off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregory keeping moving, preventing Paixao from controlling successfully.
Paixao slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory is looking to stand back up but Paixao counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Gregory.
Paixao throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gregory wants to control but Paixao is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Paixao wants to stand up but Gregory is controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gregory knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Paixao on the ground.
Paixao seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Paixao manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gregory on his heels. He'll look to pass Gregory's guard now, I'm sure.
Gregory is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Paixao dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gregory can't do much from the bottom here.
Paixao tries to score with some ground and pound. Gregory controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Paixao in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Gregory is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Paixao goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gregory has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Paixao but great work by Gregory.
Paixao is trying to get back to half guard.
Gregory prevents Paixao from escaping the position.
Paixao is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gregory is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Paixao is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paixao works his way to full guard. Good work.
Paixao looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gregory postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gregory is fighting to break Paixao's control of his arms but Paixao is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gregory controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Paixao avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Paixao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Paixao gets a double leg takedown into Gregory's guard.
Paixao trying to control the position from guard on top but Gregory is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paixao tries to free his leg and advance position but Gregory is retaining full guard.
Paixao working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gregory's head.
Gregory seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Gregory is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafael Paixao has got the better of the ground game so far.
Paixao scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Paixao won't allow Gregory to sweep him here.
Paixao slips nicely into half guard.
Paixao tries to stand and escape but Gregory is controlling the position.
Paixao not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Paixao not doing much here.
Gregory preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Paixao pushes Gregory up against the cage in a clinch.
Paixao stalls.
Paixao will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gregory up against the cage.

Paixao breaks the clinch.
Paixao tries a head kick but it misses.
Paixao fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paixao shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gregory sprawls well. Gregory wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Paixao gets slowly back to his feet.
Paixao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Paixao has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gregory tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Paixao smiles and moves away.
Rafael Paixao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paixao has his takedown stuffed

and Gregory counters by moving into the clinch.
Timmy Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Paixao.
Gregory wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Gregory manages to pull guard.
Gregory can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paixao controls the pace.
Paixao prevents Gregory from getting back to his feet.
Gregory is pulling down on Paixao's head to control his posture.
Paixao forces his way into half guard.
Paixao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gregory is trying to maintain the position but Paixao is very close to passing his half guard.
Timmy Gregory has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Paixao is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Paixao is looking to advance position but Gregory won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Paixao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Paixao 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 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

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