PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kim Jong Thrill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elpidio Rafael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kim Jong Thrill had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jong Thrill
vs
Rafael

166 cm
24
148 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

163 cm
20
145 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kim Jong Thrill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Elpidio Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thrill throws the left hand but Rafael avoids the punch easily.

Thrill darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Thrill is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rafael doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thrill.
Thrill tries to pass to full mount but Rafael defends it.

Rafael looking for submissions off his back.
Thrill wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rafael keeps working.

Rafael is defending against the submission attempts here by Thrill.

Thrill is looking for a kimura but Rafael is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thrill to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rafael manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rafael wants to sweep here but Thrill controlling him for the moment.
Thrill pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rafael is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thrill trying to control the position from guard on top but Rafael is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rafael looking for a sweep. Not yet Rafael, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rafael has his takedown stuffed

and Thrill counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rafael!
Thrill is breathing heavily.
Thrill sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Rafael can't escape the position.
Rafael is squirming around, avoiding Thrill's attempts to control the action.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thrill has hold of Rafael's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rafael manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rafael is looking to improve his position but Thrill isn't that keen on the idea.

Thrill working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rafael tries to reverse the position but Thrill maintains control.
Rafael is trying to reverse the position but instead Thrill has taken his back - oops!
Thrill doesn't have the hooks in and Rafael manages to turn into his guard.

Thrill is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rafael is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rafael throwing strikes from guard but Thrill blocks nicely.
Rafael postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rafael throwing strikes but missing.
Thrill trying to control the position.
Thrill looking for a sweep. Not yet Thrill, not yet.
Thrill keeping full guard, as Rafael tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rafael changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thrill looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rafael working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thrill tries to improve position but can't.
Thrill struggling a bit here.
Rafael grinds an elbow into Thrill's temple.
Thrill trying to control but Rafael flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Thrill is trying to break free.
Rafael punishes Thrill with strikes from the back mount.
Rafael lands an elbow to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on Thrill's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Rafael lands a shot to the head.
Thrill turns into Rafael and is now in his guard.

Rafael working for a triangle but Thrill defends it easily.

Thrill is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kim Jong Thrill dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thrill gets caught flat footed, as Rafael shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rafael postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rafael working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thrill wants to control but Rafael passes easily into half guard.
Rafael looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thrill with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Thrill avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rafael.

Thrill is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rafael pulls his head out easily.
Rafael working over Thrill with some ground and pound. Thrill looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thrill is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rafael seems to be working for a kimura but Thrill defends the submission attempt.
Thrill moves into full guard.

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

Thrill is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rafael defends well.
Rafael has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Thrill had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rafael is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thrill Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rafael's back instead.
Even with his hooks in, Thrill manages to miss with strikes from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rafael manages to reverse the position and now he's in Thrill's guard. Nice work there by Rafael.
Thrill looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rafael drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rafael jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rafael drops back looking for a leg! Thrill is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thrill manages to kick Rafael off! Rafael jumps back into Thrill's guard.
Rafael in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rafael gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thrill counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thrill jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rafael dodges the punch combination from Thrill.

Rafael scores with a takedown into Thrill's guard.

Thrill is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rafael defends well.
Elpidio Rafael has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rafael keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thrill's head.
Thrill 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rafael got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thrill has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rafael has managed to get both his arms back between Thrill's legs - danger averted.
Rafael makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rafael cracks Thrill with a solid left hand.
Rafael forces his way into half guard.
Rafael not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rafael looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thrill has hold of Rafael's hands but Rafael slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rafael connects with a nice short shot to Thrill's temple.

Rafael is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thrill is just riding it out for now. Rafael eventually gives up the hold.
Thrill is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rafael's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rafael's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elpidio Rafael showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rafael misses with a takedown

and Thrill counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rafael flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Thrill works his foot free and advances to mount.
Thrill can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rafael is looking to escape.
Thrill forces the positional change into back control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rafael is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Thrill is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thrill is trying to stick to Rafael's back but Rafael is turning into Thrill. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Thrill's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rafael.

Thrill has his foot on Rafael's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rafael works his way back into a safe position though.
Rafael lands a couple of digs.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rafael's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rafael postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Thrill is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Rafael has his hands clasped together but Thrill extends an breaks Rafael's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Thrill.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kim Jong Thrill!