PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reinaldo Araujo (ranked 24674 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mad Hatter (ranked 4871 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Araujo
vs
Hatter

177 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 10 - 0

185 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent MT
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 2 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reinaldo Araujo!
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, Mad Hatter!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatter throws a sloppy head kick and Araujo moves out of range easily.
Araujo quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Hatter lands a body shot.
Hatter shoots in and drives through. Araujo sprawls well.
Hatter has a takedown stuffed.
Araujo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hatter checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hatter misses with a body kick.
Hatter ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hatter tries to land a front kick but Araujo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Araujo misses with a low kick as Hatter jumps back.
Hatter tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Araujo defends well and Hatter ends up having to push Araujo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Reinaldo Araujo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mad Hatter.
Araujo throws a right hand that misses
and Hatter connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Araujo tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch but Hatter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hatter shapes to counter with a head kick.
Araujo throws a front kick aimed at Hatter's knee but Hatter avoids it well.
Hatter with the counter takedown but Araujo avoids it easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hatter!
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!

Hatter gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Araujo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hatter after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hatter breaks the clinch.
Hatter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hatter keeps the fight on the outside.
Hatter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Reinaldo Araujo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hatter pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Araujo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hatter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Araujo throws an overhand right that lands on Hatter's shoulder, as Hatter tries to avoid the shot.
Araujo throws a right hand that Hatter ducks under and follows up with a left that Hatter also avoids with ease.
Araujo is breathing heavily.
Hatter shoots in looking for a takedown but Araujo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hatter's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice takedown defense from Araujo. No joy for Hatter on that attempt.
Araujo stuffs the takedown.
Araujo tries to clinch there but Hatter circles away.
Araujo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hatter.
Hatter fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Araujo avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hatter manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Araujo on his heels. He'll look to pass Araujo's guard now, I'm sure.
Araujo wants to sweep here but Hatter controlling him for the moment.
Hatter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Araujo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hatter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Araujo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hatter manages to get himself to full guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hatter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hatter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Araujo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Araujo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hatter trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo throwing strikes from guard but Hatter blocks nicely.
Araujo prevents Hatter from getting back to his feet.
Araujo scoring with some ground and pound.
Hatter looking for a sweep. Not yet Hatter, not yet.
Hatter is pulling down on Araujo's head to control his posture.
Araujo working some strikes from top position.
Hatter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Araujo.
Hatter seems keen to control Araujo's posture.
Araujo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hatter's head.
Hatter wants to get back to his feet but Araujo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Araujo won't allow Hatter to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Araujo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hatter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hatter can do anything to dispel that myth.
Araujo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Araujo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hatter preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hatter throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Araujo works over Hatter with some ground and pound from guard.
Hatter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hatter is trying to keep Araujo in close.
Araujo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hatter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hatter wants to stand up but Araujo is controlling him.
Araujo is looking to work some ground and pound but Hatter has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mad Hatter will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Araujo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hatter misses with a takedown attempt - Araujo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch but Hatter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Araujo misses with a few strikes there.
Hatter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Araujo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mad Hatter seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Hatter clinches up against the cage.
Araujo tries to score a body lock takedown but Hatter shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Araujo has had enough of the clinch but Hatter keeps him there for the moment.

Hatter manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Araujo throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Araujo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hatter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hatter trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hatter working for a triangle but Araujo defends it easily.
Hatter 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.
Hatter trying to control the position.
Hatter looking for a sweep. Not yet Hatter, not yet.
Araujo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Araujo postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Araujo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Araujo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Araujo throws a big right hand that misses.

Hatter had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Araujo defends it easily.

Hatter working for a triangle but Araujo defends it easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Araujo misses with a hook

and Hatter counters by moving into the clinch.

Hatter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Araujo slaps away a takedown attempt from Hatter, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As Hatter looks to move away, Araujo throws a big counter combo but Hatter just gets out of the way.
Reinaldo Araujo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mad Hatter.
Araujo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hatter moves into the clinch.
Araujo can't get the takedown.

Hatter pulls guard effortlessly.
Araujo postures up and lands a big shot to Hatter's brow.
Hatter has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hatter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hatter working for a triangle but Araujo defends it easily.
Araujo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hatter is trying to control the position but Araujo postures up.
Araujo won't allow Hatter to sweep him here.
Hatter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hatter is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Araujo with a nice head shot there.
Hatter really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Araujo. 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Araujo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Hatter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Araujo throwing strikes but missing.
Hatter is trying to keep Araujo in close.
Araujo throwing strikes but missing.
Hatter wants to stand up but Araujo is controlling him.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Reinaldo Araujo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hatter swats away the attempt to clinch by Araujo.
Araujo missing with a left hand there. Hatter was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mad Hatter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Araujo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hatter.

Hatter instigates a clinch.
Araujo has Hatter pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hatter manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hatter leaning against his opponent.

Hatter pulls guard effortlessly.
Araujo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Araujo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hatter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Hatter is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Araujo is working Hatter over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatter looking for a sweep. Not yet Hatter, not yet.
Araujo landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Araujo throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatter trying to control the position here.

Hatter is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Araujo with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hatter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hatter seems keen to control Araujo's posture.
Araujo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Hatter is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hatter working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Araujo scores with a spinning back kick!

Hatter decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hatter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Araujo's head.
Araujo missing with punches from the bottom.
Araujo scores with a few weak punches.

Hatter decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
No joy there for Hatter, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Reinaldo Araujo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Araujo doesn't manage to clinch there - Hatter circles away.
Hatter keeps the fight on the outside.
Hatter attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Araujo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hatter gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Araujo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hatter avoids it.

Hatter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hatter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hatter shoots for a takedown but Araujo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hatter tries to close the distance and clinch but Araujo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Araujo throws a series of punches but Hatter avoids them all with ease.

Hatter gets a clinch.

Hatter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hatter ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Hatter instigates a clinch.
Araujo wants to take the fight to the mat but Hatter manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hatter throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hatter prevents a body shot from Araujo.
Hatter scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hatter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hatter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Reinaldo Araujo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mad Hatter.
Araujo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Araujo is looking to clinch.
Hatter is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Araujo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
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!

Hatter clinches with his opponent.
Hatter drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hatter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Araujo is trying to break the clinch but Hatter has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hatter is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Araujo is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mad Hatter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hatter winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mad Hatter!