PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Adam Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Neto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rabago comes to the cage accompanied by SKSK Faces. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Rabago
vs
Neto

182 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

192 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adam Rabago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tiago Neto!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rabago scores with a jab.
Rabago throws a hook but Neto avoids it easily.
Neto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rabago.
Rabago has his takedown stuffed

and Neto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rabago!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rabago holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Neto tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Neto working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Neto looks gassed!
Rabago slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Neto looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rabago with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Neto thows a huge punch but Rabago dodges it nicely.
Neto prevents Rabago from improving his position.

Rabago looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Neto not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Rabago is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Neto pulls his head out easily.
Neto wants to control but Rabago is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago taking some punishment here, with Neto in his half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Neto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jab by Rabago.
Good shot there by Rabago.
Nice straight punches there by Rabago. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rabago.
Neto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Neto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rabago.
Neto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rabago but Rabago pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Adam Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Neto.
Neto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rabago misses with a takedown attempt

and Neto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rabago!
Rabago tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Neto scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rabago?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago wants to try and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neto wants to control the pace but Rabago is squirming around nicely.
Neto lands with some strikes.
Rabago is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Neto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rabago can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rabago tries to buck Neto off but he can't manage it.
Rabago sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rabago makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rabago.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Neto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rabago wants to stand up but Neto is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rabago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Neto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Neto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Neto working some strikes from top position.

Rabago had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Neto is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rabago Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Neto's back instead.
Rabago is not going to allow Neto to sit and survive in this position.
Rabago is trying to stick to Neto's back but Neto is turning into Rabago. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rabago's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Neto.

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

Rabago looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Neto landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rabago is looking for a triangle but Neto pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neto distracts Rabago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Rabago looking for a guillotine here but Neto defends easily.

Rabago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Neto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Neto's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Rabago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Neto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rabago working for a triangle but Neto defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Neto cracks Rabago with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tiago Neto will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Neto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rabago throws a lazy right hand but Neto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rabago tries to clinch

and Neto counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rabago won't be happy with that.
Sloppy strikes there by Neto.
Rabago is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Neto is controlling him well.
Rabago manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rabago blocks the strikes from Neto.
Rabago is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rabago closes this distance looking for a takedown but Neto circles away.
Rabago misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rabago tries to avoid it but Neto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rabago to the ground. Rabago escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rabago throws a hook but Neto avoids it easily.
Rabago throws out a powerful jab.
Rabago misses with an uppercut.

Neto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Neto slips a nice elbow through Rabago's hands, connecting with Rabago's forehead.
Rabago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Neto.
Rabago looks like he's trying to stand up.
Neto wants to control but Rabago is keeping him busy.

Rabago makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Tiago Neto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Neto defending well as Rabago loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago with a poor takedown

and Neto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Neto.

Rabago looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rabago is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rabago is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Neto is controlling him.
Neto is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Neto wants to pass the guard but Rabago is keeping the position.
Neto thows a big elbow that misses.

Rabago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Neto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet but Neto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neto is in close to Rabago's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet but Neto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Rabago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Neto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rabago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Neto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Neto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Neto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rabago keeping moving, preventing Neto from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Neto shoots in for a takedown but Rabago shows good takedown defense.
Adam Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Neto.
Rabago tries to clinch

and Neto counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rabago's guard now.

Rabago is looking for a triangle but Neto pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neto stops Rabago from standing up.
Rabago tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Neto trying to control the position from guard on top but Rabago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rabago wants to stand and escape but Neto is having none of it.

Rabago looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Neto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rabago utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Neto chips away with some ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rabago missing with a left hand there. Neto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rabago scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rabago tries to clinch up but Neto circles away and keeps his distance.
Neto defending well as Rabago loads up on a big left hand.
Neto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rabago but Rabago pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Neto 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!

Rabago wants to clinch but Neto slips to the side

and Neto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rabago pushes Neto off looking to stand but Neto dives back in and keeps control.

Rabago looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Neto looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rabago is not content to let Neto control the position.
Neto is nestled in close to Rabago, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rabago is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Neto scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rabago trying to control here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Neto fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A jab lands there for Rabago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neto tries for a takedown but Rabago sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rabago doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Neto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rabago!
The referee warns Rabago that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rabago is working to get back to half guard.
Rabago is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Rabago tries to hold on but Neto postures up.
Rabago is trying to escape the mount.
Rabago is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neto lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rabago hang on?
Neto landing shots from mount.
Rabago really wants to buck Neto off and get back to his feet.
Tiago Neto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Neto scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rabago?
Neto punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rabago regains half guard.
Rabago is refusing to be controlled, as Neto sits in half guard.
Neto lands with a punch from half guard.

Rabago looking for submissions off his back.

Rabago is defending against the submission attempts here by Neto.
Adam Rabago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabago keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Neto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet.
Neto wants to take a breather but Rabago is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rabago scores with a sloppy right hand. Neto should have avoided that one.
Rabago has his takedown stuffed

and Neto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rabago's guard.

Rabago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Neto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rabago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Neto postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neto stands up over Rabago, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Rabago has his foot on Neto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Neto works his way back into a safe position though.
Neto throwing strikes but missing.
Rabago utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rabago being controlled here, momentarily.

Rabago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Neto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Neto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Neto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rabago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tiago Neto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiago Neto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Neto winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiago Neto!