PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Fabinho (ranked 6471 p4p, 2468 weight class) and Ace Leon (ranked 643 p4p, 326 weight class). Fabinho comes to the cage accompanied by Glowed Up - Kaytranada. Roberto Fabinho had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Fabinho
vs
Leon

193 cm
20
214
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
215
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roberto Fabinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ace Leon!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fabinho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Leon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leon now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Leon goes for a double leg but Fabinho avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fabinho continues to drive forward.

Fabinho has managed to clinch.
Leon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Leon takes a shot to the head.

Leon gets control of Fabinho's arms and successfully pulls guard. Leon will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Fabinho looking to pass the guard.

Leon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fabinho pushing down on Leon's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fabinho is working for a submission of some sort.
Fabinho trying to mount his opponent but Leon defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leon wants to get back to his feet.
Fabinho trying to control the action but Leon is working from the bottom.
Fabinho takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Leon is pressing down on Fabinho's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fabinho wants to control from the top but Leon keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fabinho is really struggling to control Leon but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Leon 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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Leon keeping full guard, as Fabinho tries to pass.
Leon keeping moving, preventing Fabinho from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Leon is looking to clinch but Fabinho is avoiding it.
Fabinho avoids the body shot from Leon.
Leon connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fabinho throws a body punch but Leon moves out of range.
Fabinho fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leon manages to avoid it.

Leon darts in and clinches Fabinho up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leon is trying to pull guard but Fabinho has him pressed against the cage.
Roberto Fabinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ace Leon.
Leon tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Fabinho just stands there and leans against the cage.

Leon pulls Fabinho into guard.
Leon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leon keeping full guard, as Fabinho tries to pass.
Fabinho wanted to stand there but Leon had control of the position.
Leon wants to get back to his feet but Fabinho passes into half guard.
Fabinho works his foot free and advances to mount.

Fabinho wants to finish this one by submission but Leon is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Fabinho.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Fabinho there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Leon can't escape the position.

Fabinho stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Fabinho scores with a jab to the head.

Fabinho closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leon is trying to stand up here but Fabinho is controlling him well.

Fabinho is working for a kimura but Leon is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fabinho prevents Leon from standing back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Fabinho dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fabinho misses with a straight left.
Leon swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fabinho throws a right and a left that Leon avoids nicely.
Fabinho moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fabinho lands a body shot.
Fabinho moves in looking to clinch but Leon pushes him off.
Fabinho pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fabinho cracks a nice hook into Leon's ribs.
Fabinho works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Leon shoots in but Fabinho avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fabinho looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Fabinho swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Leon.
Leon defending well as Fabinho loads up on a big left hand.
Roberto Fabinho is winning the standup battle so far.
A jab from Fabinho finds it's way through Leon's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fabinho lands a right hook to the body.
Fabinho tries to clinch but Leon is having none of it.

Fabinho changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Leon looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fabinho trying to control the action but Leon is working from the bottom.

Fabinho looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Leon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fabinho wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fabinho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leon keeps working.
Fabinho is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Leon can do to turn this around?
Leon is trying to buck Fabinho off.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Fabinho is looking to take a break and control but Leon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leon is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Fabinho has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Leon is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Leon moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Fabinho slips under a jab from Leon.
Fabinho scores with a nice right hand.
Leon tries to clinch up.
Fabinho listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Leon.
Fabinho throws a looping overhand right but Leon ducks down to avoid it.
Leon throws out a counter right but Fabinho avoids it with no problem.
Leon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fabinho.
Leon tries to close the distance and clinch but Fabinho swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fabinho throws a big counter combination but Leon scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Fabinho swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leon throws a right and a left that Fabinho avoids nicely.
Leon throws a predictable looking body shot
and Fabinho counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fabinho lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Fabinho takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leon takes a swing at Fabinho's ribcage but misses.
Fabinho bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Leon's head backwards.
Leon throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Leon misses with a left hand

and Fabinho counters with a takedown into side control.
Leon is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Fabinho is looking to take a break and control but Leon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Fabinho dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck for Leon with that takedown attempt.
Fabinho throwing a counter right hand but Leon manages to avoid it.
Fabinho ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Fabinho looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Leon!
Fabinho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leon keeps working.
Leon pushes Fabinho away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Fabinho gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Fabinho is trying to get an arm triangle but Leon is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leon is pushing Fabinho's head away, looking to escape. Fabinho manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fabinho is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Leon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Leon trying to remain calm as Fabinho controls from the top position.
Leon wants to get back to his feet.
Roberto Fabinho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leon gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Fabinho thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ace Leon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fabinho sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Leon trying desperately to get to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fabinho landing strikes from the mount.
Leon is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Leon tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fabinho sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fabinho is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
A jab lands there for Fabinho.
Fabinho closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fabinho lands a lovely overhand right.
No luck for Leon with that takedown attempt.

Fabinho gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch on the inside from Leon fails to land.
Fabinho avoiding damage as Leon throws knees to the body.
Leon is trying to pull guard but Fabinho turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Roberto Fabinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ace Leon.
Fabinho working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Leon takes a shot to the head.
Leon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Fabinho to keep the fight standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Fabinho successfully pulls guard.
Roberto Fabinho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fabinho managing to control the position.
Fabinho's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Leon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fabinho is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leon with a nice head shot there.
Fabinho is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roberto Fabinho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fabinho has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roberto Fabinho!
In his post fight interview, Roberto Fabinho started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.