PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tim Pigeon (ranked 3985 p4p, 196 weight class) and Demian Azevedo (ranked 4608 p4p, 221 weight class). Tim Pigeon has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Pigeon
vs
Azevedo

166 cm
26
139 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim Pigeon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Demian Azevedo!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pigeon just misses with a punch to the body.

Pigeon rushes Azevedo and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Azevedo tries to pull guard but Pigeon won't allow it.

Pigeon successfully pulls guard.
Pigeon on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pigeon tries to get out of the position.

Pigeon looking for a guillotine here but Azevedo defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pigeon is on top in guard.

Pigeon trying to move into half guard but instead Azevedo has managed to sweep!

Pigeon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pigeon wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Azevedo is now in half guard.
Azevedo uses his free foot to push down on Pigeon's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Pigeon.
Pigeon has given up his back here.

Azevedo looking to break Pigeon's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Pigeon remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Azevedo will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pigeon breaks Azevedo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Pigeon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Azevedo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pigeon trying to control the position from guard on top but Azevedo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Azevedo is on top in guard.

The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Pigeon is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Azevedo is aware though and is defending well.

Pigeon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Azevedo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pigeon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pigeon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Azevedo.
Pigeon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Azevedo passes Pigeon's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Pigeon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pigeon is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Azevedo jumps into side control!
Pigeon is trying to get back to half guard.
Pigeon prevents Azevedo from improving position.
Pigeon struggling a bit here.
Pigeon looking for a sweep but Azevedo has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Azevedo throws some wild stikes that Pigeon manages to avoid easily.
Pigeon is wriggling around trying to escape.
Azevedo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Pigeon tries to control Azevedo's body but Azevedo pushes him off. Pigeon squirms to his side and now Azevedo has his back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pigeon rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Azevedo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pigeon knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pigeon is trying to get back to full guard.
Pigeon wants to control but Azevedo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Azevedo is looking to advance position but Pigeon won't allow it.
Azevedo controlling the action here.
Pigeon trying to hold on to Azevedo's head to control him but Azevedo postures up.
Pigeon is doing well to control the position and prevent Azevedo from advancing to side control.
Pigeon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Azevedo on the ground.

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.
Pigeon has hold of Azevedo's hands but Azevedo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Azevedo works his way into side control.
Pigeon is looking to regain half guard here but Azevedo keeps moving and retains side control.
Pigeon struggling a bit here.
Pigeon tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Azevedo easily slips into full mount!
Azevedo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pigeon tries to hold on but Azevedo pushes him away.
Azevedo wants to control the pace but Pigeon is squirming around nicely.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pigeon throwing hammer fists to the chest of Azevedo. What's that going to do exactly?
Azevedo blocks Pigeon's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Azevedo throwing strikes here but Pigeon is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Azevedo trying to control but Pigeon is having none of it.
Pigeon is trying desperately to improve position.

Azevedo working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Pigeon keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Pigeon is working hard here to advance position.
Poor strikes thrown by Azevedo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Pigeon can't escape the position.
Azevedo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Pigeon wants to control but Azevedo is having none of it.
Pigeon reaches up to try and control the position but Azevedo seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Pigeon rolls and tries to escape and now Azevedo has his back!
Pigeon staying busy and making it hard for Azevedo to control.
Pigeon is in bad spot here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Well, with Azevedo on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Pigeon is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Azevedo missing with strikes.
Azevedo has the hooks in. Pigeon is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Pigeon preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Azevedo.
Pigeon is in bad spot here.
Azevedo punches the canvas rather than the man.
Pigeon is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Azevedo struggling to keep hold of the position.
Pigeon is trying to break free.
Pigeon trying to control the position but Azevedo manages to sink in the hooks.
Azevedo lands with a hammerfist to the side of Pigeon's head.
Azevedo keeps control of the position as Pigeon tries to break free.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pigeon just trying to survive but Azevedo is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Azevedo has the hooks in. Pigeon is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Azevedo is persistently looking for the submission but Pigeon is defending it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azevedo not allowing Pigeon to control his hands.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Azevedo's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Pigeon trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Azevedo tries to get the hooks in deep but Pigeon pushed the leg off.
Pigeon wants to control his opponent's hands but Azevedo gets his hands free.
Pigeon is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Pigeon is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Pigeon is really stuck here.
Pigeon trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Pigeon tries to roll but Azevedo sticks to his back.
Azevedo tries to keep control of the position but Pigeon is staying busy.
Azevedo controlling well, preventing Pigeon from escaping the position.
Azevedo thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Azevedo not allowing Pigeon to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Azevedo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pigeon misses with a wild body shot.
Pigeon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azevedo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Azevedo wants to counter the offense by Pigeon and move into the clinch position.
Pigeon just misses with a punch to the body.

Pigeon darts in and clinches Azevedo up against the ropes.

Pigeon pulls guard successfully.
Azevedo wants to control from the top but Pigeon keeps moving.
Azevedo passes Pigeon's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azevedo prevents Pigeon from improving his position.
Pigeon trying to control but Azevedo postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pigeon moves into full guard.
Azevedo trying to control the position from guard on top but Pigeon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pigeon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Azevedo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Azevedo trying to control the position from guard on top but Pigeon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pigeon has his foot on Azevedo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Azevedo works his way back into a safe position though.
Pigeon is trying to keep Azevedo in close.
Azevedo is pushing down on Pigeon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pigeon is fighting to maintain full guard but Azevedo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pigeon tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Azevedo has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Azevedo punching from mount but Pigeon doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pigeon tries to lock up and control but Azevedo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Demian Azevedo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pigeon holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Azevedo tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Azevedo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pigeon regains half guard.
Azevedo wants to free his trapped foot but Pigeon is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo passes to side control.
Azevedo trying to control the action but Pigeon is working from the bottom.
Pigeon sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Azevedo wants to work for an arm triangle but Pigeon is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pigeon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Azevedo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pigeon wants to control but Azevedo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pigeon wants to improve his position but Azevedo is controlling well.
Azevedo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pigeon keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Pigeon trying to control from the bottom.
Pigeon tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Azevedo has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Azevedo wants to control the pace but Pigeon is squirming around nicely.
Azevedo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pigeon is squirming around, avoiding Azevedo's attempts to control the action.
Pigeon tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Azevedo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Pigeon can't escape the position.
Pigeon wants to hold on but Azevedo pushes him away.
Azevedo tries to control but Pigeon wriggling away.

Azevedo is working for a guillotine from mount but Pigeon frees his head quite easily.
Azevedo moves to the back position.

Azevedo is persistently looking for the submission but Pigeon is defending it well.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Pigeon trying to control but not successfully.
Pigeon is really stuck here.
Pigeon trying to control the hands but Azevedo won't let him.

Pigeon is trying to control his opponent's hands. Eventually Azevedo gets his hands free and sinks in a rear naked choke. For a while it looks like Pigeon is going to survive but after struggling valiantly, he eventually has to tap out! Azevedo is your winner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Demian Azevedo!
Demian Azevedo thanked the fans post fight for their support.