PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Fontes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Paiva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paiva has chosen Gunslinger -Avenged Sevenfold as his entrance music. Bruno Paiva is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Fontes
vs
Paiva

186 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Determined

Beast Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Joaquim Fontes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Paiva!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fontes shoots in and drives through. Paiva sprawls well.
Fontes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fontes fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joaquim Fontes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paiva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Paiva wants to clinch up but Fontes keeps it at a distance.
Bruno Paiva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paiva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Paiva wants to clinch.
Fontes tries to clinch up.
Paiva avoids the head kick by Fontes.

Paiva closes the distance and clinches.
Fontes jumps guard but Paiva stands there with Fontes around his waist. Fontes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fontes can't get the takedown.
Paiva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Fontes takes a knee right on the jaw!

Paiva manages to break the clinch.
Paiva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Paiva fails in his attempt to clinch.

Paiva clinches up with Fontes and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paiva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Fontes's face.

It looks like Joaquim Fontes has been cut.

Fontes pulls guard effortlessly.

Fontes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Fontes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Paiva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fontes wants to sweep here but Paiva controlling him for the moment.

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.

Fontes has his feet on Paiva's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Paiva rushes Fontes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Fontes manages to break the clinch.
Bruno Paiva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fontes shoots in looking for a takedown. Paiva tries to sprawl out of it but Fontes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Paiva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Paiva wants to clinch up but Fontes keeps it at a distance.

Fontes closes the distance and clinches.
Fontes wants to get back to striking at distance but Paiva won't allow it.

Paiva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fontes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Paiva tries to clinch

and Fontes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Fontes wants to break free but Paiva has control.
Fontes dodges an elbow strike from Paiva.
Fontes takes a knee right on the jaw!
Fontes can't break the clinch.
Fontes has had enough of the clinch but Paiva keeps him there for the moment.
Fontes is breathing heavily.

Fontes manages to break the clinch.
Fontes moves out of range as Paiva throws a body kick.
Fontes takes a swing at Paiva's ribcage but misses.
Paiva wants to clinch but Fontes slips to the side
and Fontes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Fontes has Paiva up against the cage in a clinch.
Fontes blocks an elbow strike.

Paiva breaks from the clinch.
Fontes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A thudding body kick lands there by Paiva!

Paiva moves into the clinch successfully.
Fontes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Paiva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paiva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Fontes's face.
Paiva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Paiva is trying to break the clinch but Fontes has him pressed against the cage.
Fontes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Paiva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Fontes.
Fontes is trying to stall.

Paiva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fontes shoots in but Paiva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fontes keeps the fight on the outside.
Paiva tries to clinch but Fontes moves out of range.
Paiva tries to clinch up

and Fontes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fontes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paiva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joaquim Fontes will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fontes fails with the takedown.
Paiva wants to clinch

and Fontes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Paiva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fontes is looking to clinch.

Fontes closes the distance and clinches.
Paiva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Paiva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fontes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Fontes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paiva clinches but Fontes breaks the clinch
and Fontes counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Paiva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Paiva is breathing heavily.
Fontes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Fontes clinches up against the cage.
Fontes avoiding damage as Paiva throws knees to the body.
Paiva takes an elbow to the temple.

Fontes drags the fight down to the ground.
Fontes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paiva's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fontes wants to pass the guard but Paiva is keeping the position.
Fontes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two 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.

Fontes stands and steps away. Paiva gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fontes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joaquim Fontes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fontes moves out of range of the body kick from Paiva.
Fontes tries for a takedown but Paiva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A right-left combo lands from Fontes.

Fontes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fontes lands in his opponent's guard.
Fontes works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fontes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Paiva!
Fontes scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four 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.
Fontes content just to control the position here.
Fontes throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Paiva because Fontes loaded up on that one.

Fontes swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Paiva is now in Fontes's guard. A big mistake from Fontes there, giving up the dominant position!
Paiva is looking to stand up but Fontes won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Fontes dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Fontes fails with the takedown.
Paiva tries to clinch

and Fontes counters with a single leg into guard. Paiva didn't expect that.
Fontes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Fontes gets to his feet - Paiva follows without any prompting.
Paiva lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Paiva tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Fontes counters with a two punch combo.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fontes.

Fontes moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paiva avoiding damage.
Paiva is looking to break free of the clinch but Fontes has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paiva is trying to break the clinch but Fontes has him pressed against the cage.

Fontes turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Fontes decides to stand back up.

Fontes clinches up with Paiva and pushes him back against the cage.
Fontes can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joaquim Fontes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fontes tries to stall but Paiva uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Paiva misses with a knee to the head.
Fontes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Fontes manages to break the clinch.

Fontes forces Paiva back against the cage and clinches.
Fontes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Paiva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Fontes drags the fight down to the ground.
Fontes is controlling Paiva's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fontes doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Fontes pushes Paiva off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Fontes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paiva, pushing him back against the cage.
Fontes tries to score a body lock takedown but Paiva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Fontes pulls guard effortlessly.
Fontes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fontes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Paiva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fontes looking to control.
Paiva being controlled here momentarily.
Paiva stops Fontes from standing up.

That's four 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.
Fontes wants to sweep but no luck.
Fontes 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joaquim Fontes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fontes, 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joaquim Fontes!