PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ariihau Paeniu (ranked 4110 p4p, 3981 weight class) and James Garcia (ranked 515 p4p, 0 weight class). Paeniu kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is OCN. James Garcia has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Paeniu
vs
Garcia

192 cm
23
195
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
24
185
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ariihau Paeniu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garcia misses with a wild combination.
Garcia stuns Paeniu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Garcia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Paeniu.
Paeniu fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Garcia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Garcia does no damage.
Paeniu changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Garcia scores with a jab to the body.
Garcia throws a series of punches but Paeniu avoids them all with ease.
Paeniu half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Paeniu misses with a takedown attempt

and Garcia counters with a crisp one two that drops Paeniu! Garcia thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Paeniu to his feet! Paeniu is in big trouble!
Paeniu dodges the punch combination from Garcia.
Paeniu drops down looking for a counter takedown but Garcia sprawls and moves away.
Paeniu doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Paeniu with a poor takedown
and Garcia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariihau Paeniu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia misses with a two punch combination.
Paeniu tries to counter with a takedown but Garcia is quick to defend against it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paeniu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garcia defends it nicely.
Garcia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Paeniu feinted with a counter takedown.
Garcia misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Garcia misses.
Garcia will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paeniu slips a jab from Garcia.
Garcia loads up on a big right hand but Paeniu slips the punch.
Paeniu feinted with a counter takedown.
Garcia throws a combination that misses

and Paeniu counters with a shoot takedown. Garcia fights it but they end up in guard.
Paeniu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paeniu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paeniu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Paeniu throws a big elbow that misses.
Paeniu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Paeniu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paeniu postures up in Garcia's guard and throws a big left but Garcia blocks it.
Garcia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Paeniu drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Paeniu jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Paeniu lands a couple of digs.
Paeniu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Paeniu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Garcia has momentary wrist control but Paeniu slips an elbow through the middle.
Paeniu passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Paeniu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Paeniu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Garcia dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Paeniu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Paeniu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garcia defends it nicely.
Garcia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Paeniu.
Paeniu attempts a counter takedown but Garcia avoids it well and moves away.
James Garcia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia throws a big shot that misses.
Paeniu shoots for a takedown but Garcia saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariihau Paeniu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Garcia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Garcia misses.
Paeniu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Horrible takedown attempt by Paeniu or perhaps it was just good defense by Garcia, which made it look bad.
As Paeniu backs off Garcia throws a huge counter combo but Paeniu manages to avoid it all.
Garcia throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paeniu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Garcia misses with a double jab.
Garcia fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia swinging wildly here.
James Garcia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Garcia looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Paeniu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Garcia but Garcia pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Paeniu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Garcia connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Paeniu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Garcia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
James Garcia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paeniu fails with the takedown
and Garcia counters with a left and a right that stings Paeniu.

Paeniu is rocked!
Garcia lands with a big left! Paeniu is wobbled badly! Garcia comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Paeniu to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). James Garcia!