PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miguel de La Penha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Durham (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.

de La Penha
vs
Durham

194 cm
18
227 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Miguel de La Penha!
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, Mike Durham!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
de La Penha shoots in and drives through. Durham sprawls well.

Durham closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Durham has eaten all the pies!
de La Penha tries to buck Durham off but Durham is having none of it.
Durham tries to advance to mount but can't.
de La Penha tries to buck Durham off but Durham is having none of it.
de La Penha is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Durham wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by de La Penha, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Durham tries for a kimura but de La Penha is defending well.
de La Penha regains half guard.
de La Penha is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but de La Penha does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Durham content to control rather than advance.
de La Penha wants to get back to full guard.

Durham is looking for a kimura but de La Penha is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Durham to get the leverage.

Durham is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Durham looks gassed!
de La Penha is looking to improve his position.

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

so de La Penha counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Durham keeping moving, preventing de La Penha from controlling successfully.
Durham has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but de La Penha has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

de La Penha is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Durham knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Durham manages to get back to half guard.
de La Penha wants to free his trapped foot but Durham is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Durham trying to control here.
Durham is trying to get back to full guard.
de La Penha wants to control but Durham is keeping him busy.
Durham won't allow de La Penha to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de La Penha seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Durham does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
de La Penha doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Durham counters with a thumping low kick.
Durham misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
de La Penha avoids the head kick by Durham.
de La Penha slips a straight right by Durham.
de La Penha misses with a takedown

and Durham counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel de La Penha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
de La Penha tries to pull guard but Durham won't allow it.

Durham pulls guard successfully.
Durham has his hands on de La Penha's head, controlling the position.

Durham looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
de La Penha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Durham is keeping the position for now.

Durham looking for a guillotine here but de La Penha defends easily.
Durham keeping moving, preventing de La Penha from controlling successfully.

Durham has his foot on de La Penha's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. de La Penha works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Durham dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

de La Penha misses with a takedown attempt
and Durham counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. de La Penha is lucky that one didn't land flush.
de La Penha misses with a takedown attempt

and Durham holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Durham stops a takedown attempt from de La Penha.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel de La Penha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Durham has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics de La Penha uses from the top position.
de La Penha wants to control from the top but Durham keeps moving.
Durham wants to sweep here but de La Penha controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Durham looking for a guillotine here but de La Penha defends easily.
Durham wants to sweep here but de La Penha controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de La Penha trying to control the position from guard on top but Durham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
de La Penha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Durham swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Durham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Durham keeping moving, preventing de La Penha from controlling successfully.
de La Penha pushing down on Durham's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

de La Penha is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Durham has managed to free his arm - good work.
Durham tries to get to full guard but de La Penha has control of the leg.

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.
Durham is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
de La Penha seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Durham does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
de La Penha tries to pass to full mount but Durham defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Durham manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
de La Penha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Durham is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Durham scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Durham thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
de La Penha is squirming around, avoiding Durham's attempts to control the action.

Durham working for a guillotine from mount but de La Penha is in no mood to give up.
Durham tries to control but de La Penha wriggling away.
Durham might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control de La Penha kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Durham is looking to work his way around to de La Penha's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

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.
de La Penha is trying to escape the mount.
de La Penha wants to hold on but Durham pushes him away.

Durham has hold of de La Penha's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and de La Penha manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
de La Penha tries to hold on but Durham pushes him away.
Durham is trying to take his opponent's back.
de La Penha is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
de La Penha wants to hold on but Durham pushes him away.
Durham controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Durham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

de La Penha misses with a takedown

and Durham decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in de La Penha's guard.
Durham pushing down on de La Penha's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Mike Durham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Durham passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for de La Penha!
de La Penha is desperately trying to improve his position but Durham has a good base and remains in mount.

Durham has control of de La Penha's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and de La Penha regains control of the situation pretty easily.
de La Penha tries to lock up and control but Durham gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
de La Penha is looking to improve his position but Durham isn't that keen on the idea.

de La Penha is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Durham locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! de La Penha is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Durham!