PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Heliodoro Zuberi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Rain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andy Rain is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zuberi
vs
Rain

160 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

164 cm
21
141 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Heliodoro Zuberi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andy Rain!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rain will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rain stuffs the takedown attempt from Zuberi. Zuberi gets slowly back to his feet.
Rain tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rain fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zuberi, pushing him back against the cage.
Rain connects with a knee to the head.
Zuberi trying to stall but Rain improves his position.
Rain crunches a lovely knee into Zuberi's ribcage.
Rain lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rain putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zuberi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rain with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rain lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rain lands a nice knee to the body.
Rain lands a good knee to the midsection. Zuberi won't want to take too many of those.
Zuberi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rain pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zuberi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zuberi fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heliodoro Zuberi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rain gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rain lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rain scores a nice knee to the body.
Rain connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zuberi's face.
Zuberi jumps guard but Rain stands there with Zuberi around his waist. Zuberi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rain connects with a knee to the head.
Zuberi is working for takedown but Rain is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rain landing knees to the head.
Zuberi takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rain landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zuberi is breathing heavily.
Rain scores with a knee to the head.
Zuberi fails to pull guard.
Rain is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rain using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rain.
Rain landing knees to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rain.
Rain unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rain with a knee to the head.
Rain throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zuberi blocks it with crossed arms.
Zuberi tries to pull guard but Rain won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rain landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rain with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Rain.
Zuberi tries to pull guard but Rain won't allow it.
Rain using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zuberi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rain is pressed up against the cage. Zuberi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rain down to the mat. Rain avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zuberi.
Zuberi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rain swivels and escapes.
Zuberi shoots in for a takedown but Rain shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zuberi.

Rain gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rain with a knee to the head.
Rain with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rain connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zuberi's face.
Rain lands a good knee to the midsection. Zuberi won't want to take too many of those.
Rain landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuberi jumps guard but Rain stands there with Zuberi around his waist. Zuberi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rain putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zuberi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rain tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rain misses with a knee to the head.

Zuberi pulls Rain into guard.
Zuberi 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zuberi has his foot on Rain's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rain works his way back into a safe position though.

Zuberi is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Rain rolls with it to try and escape but Zuberi cranks on the arm and Rain is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Heliodoro Zuberi!