PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gideon Navarro (ranked 827 p4p, 1473 weight class) and Zenzo Rai (ranked 121 p4p, 207 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Navarro
vs
Rai

181 cm
35
173
35 - 20 - 1

183 cm
31
180
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 35 - 20 - 1, fighting out of New York, Gideon Navarro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zenzo Rai!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Navarro lands a body shot.
Navarro missing with a left hand there. Rai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rai or perhaps it was just good defense by Navarro, which made it look bad.
A slow jab from Navarro misses its intended target.
Navarro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Navarro scores with a nice right hand.
A big left from Navarro misses.
Rai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Navarro throws a sloppy head kick
and Rai counters with a series of strikes. Navarro will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rai slips under a jab.
Navarro throws a head kick but Rai moves out of range.
Navarro looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Navarro moves out of range of the body kick from Rai.
Navarro cracks Rai with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gideon Navarro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rai moves out of range of the strikes.
Navarro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Navarro throws a looping overhand right but Rai ducks down to avoid it.
Rai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Navarro defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rai bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Navarro is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rai sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Navarro is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Navarro wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rai has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rai thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rai looking to control but Navarro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rai throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Navarro because Rai loaded up on that one.
Rai wants to stand but Navarro is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Navarro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rai controlling the pace for now.
Rai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Navarro is looking to escape.
Navarro working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navarro slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rai is looking to advance position but Navarro won't allow it.
Rai slows the pace down in half guard.

Navarro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Navarro tries to get to full guard but Rai has control of the leg.

Navarro manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rai shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gideon Navarro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zenzo Rai.
Rai slips a straight right by Navarro.
Navarro looks to throw the jab but Rai is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navarro just misses with a punch to the body.
Rai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Navarro.
Navarro lands a really nice looking cross but Rai seems unphased.
Rai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rai slips a jab and a cross from Navarro.
Rai goes for a double leg but Navarro avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Navarro continues to drive forward.
Navarro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rai.
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!
Navarro stuffs the takedown.
Rai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Navarro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Navarro throws a right hand that misses
and Rai counters with a left and a right that stings Navarro.
Rai walks into a left hand.
Navarro scores with a hook to the body. Rai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Navarro.
Rai steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Navarro.
Rai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Navarro fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rai on the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gideon Navarro dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Navarro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As Navarro backs off Rai throws a huge counter combo but Navarro manages to avoid it all.
Navarro is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Navarro throws out a loose jab but Rai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Navarro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rai.
Rai shoots and misses
enabling Navarro to counter with a crisp jab.

Rai changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Navarro looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Navarro is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Navarro makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Navarro.

Rai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rai stays in close to Navarro's body and controls the position.
Rai trying to control but Navarro is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro working a defensive guard but Rai manages to pass into side control anyway.
Rai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Navarro keeps working.
Navarro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rai can do to turn this around?
Navarro tries to buck Rai off but Rai is having none of it.
Rai staying calm.
Navarro managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rai.
Navarro tries to improve position but can't.
Rai sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Navarro is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Navarro is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rai trying to control the action but Navarro is working from the bottom.
Navarro is trying to improve his position.

Rai tries for a kimura but Navarro is defending well.
Navarro gets back to half guard.
Navarro is trying to get back to full guard.

Rai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Navarro doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navarro wants to get back to full guard.
Navarro is refusing to be controlled, as Rai sits in half guard.
Rai might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Navarro haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Navarro is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Navarro misses with a hook. Rai ducked under it nicely.
Navarro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Navarro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Navarro dips to his left and cracks Rai with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navarro misses with a head kick.
Navarro lands a jab to the head.
Rai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gideon Navarro is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Rai.
Rai staying out of range there.
Navarro lands with a shot to the body.
Navarro bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rai's head backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rai dives in and grabs Navarro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Navarro pushes down on Rai's head and hops out.
Gideon Navarro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zenzo Rai.
Navarro thuds his right hand into Rai's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Navarro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rai moves away.
Navarro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Navarro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Navarro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Navarro throws an off balance right hand

and Rai counters by clinching up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gideon Navarro dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Navarro blocks a head kick by Rai.
Navarro misses with a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rai.
Navarro throwing a counter right hand but Rai manages to avoid it.
Navarro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Navarro defends it nicely.
Gideon Navarro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zenzo Rai.
Donk. Navarro catches Rai right on the button with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Navarro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Navarro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zenzo Rai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Navarro tries to keep at a distance but Rai has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Navarro being controlled against the cage.

Navarro has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rai uses from the top position.
Navarro 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.

Navarro has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rai is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Navarro.
Rai is putting a hurting on Navarro here, landing some big shots from side control.
Navarro prevents Rai from moving into mount.
Navarro is looking to reverse the position.
Rai fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rai is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Navarro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Navarro is not content to let Rai control the position.
Navarro stops Rai from passing to mount.
Navarro is trying to get back to half guard.
Navarro manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rai's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rai wants to free his trapped foot but Navarro is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Navarro looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Navarro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Navarro is not content to let Rai control the position.
Zenzo Rai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rai content to control rather than advance.
Navarro is looking for a sweep. Rai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gideon Navarro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Navarro manages to get to full guard.

Navarro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Navarro is trying to keep Rai in close.
Rai wants to stand but Navarro is controlling his posture from full guard.
Navarro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rai is one step ahead there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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!
Navarro leaves Rai with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gideon Navarro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Navarro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gideon Navarro!
After the fight, Gideon Navarro was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.