PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Math Azeve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freyr Linden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Azeve
vs
Linden

172 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
179 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Math Azeve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Freyr Linden!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azeve shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Linden pinned against the cage. Linden gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Azeve fails with a takedown attempt.

Azeve closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Azeve lands in his opponent's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Linden holds on and takes a little breather.
Linden keeping moving, preventing Azeve from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linden wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Linden looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Linden is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Linden keeping moving, preventing Azeve from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linden managing to control the position.
Azeve has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Despite being in the dominant position, Freyr Linden just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Linden circles away from the clinch attempt.
Azeve is looking to clinch.
Azeve tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Azeve could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Linden prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Math Azeve. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azeve tries to pull guard but Linden holds him up against the cage and eventually Azeve drops back down to his feet.

Azeve manages to break the clinch.
Azeve is trying hard to land a takedown here. Linden sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Linden shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azeve trying to control the position.
Linden stopping the sweep attempt from Azeve.

Azeve has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Linden can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Linden with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Linden controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Linden works over Azeve with some ground and pound from guard.
Azeve is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Azeve has his foot on Linden's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Linden works his way back into a safe position though.
Azeve is breathing heavily.
Linden slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freyr Linden dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Linden shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Linden stays in close to Azeve's body and controls the position.
Azeve not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Azeve throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Linden slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Azeve keeping full guard, as Linden tries to pass.
Azeve being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Freyr Linden just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Linden decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Linden.
Azeve is in trouble now - Linden has advanced to mount!
Linden is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Linden goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Azeve is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Linden keeping moving, preventing Azeve from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Linden pushes a forearm under Azeve's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Azeve is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Freyr Linden!