PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Romulo Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Ribeiro
vs
Sobral

188 cm
22
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
204 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Romulo Ribeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renato Sobral!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ribeiro.

Ribeiro is trying to get an arm triangle but Sobral is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribeiro controlling from side mount.
Ribeiro's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ribeiro is trying to get an arm triangle but Sobral is defending well.
Sobral is looking for a sweep.

Ribeiro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sobral has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sloppy strikes there by Ribeiro.
Ribeiro wants to control but Sobral is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sobral is trying to buck Ribeiro off.
Sobral managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Ribeiro.
Ribeiro landing strikes.

Ribeiro stands up and beckons Sobral to his feet.

Ribeiro feints and as Sobral raises his hands in defense, Ribeiro changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ribeiro controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sobral preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ribeiro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ribeiro is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro passes Sobral's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ribeiro passes to full mount!
Sobral is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobral avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ribeiro.
Ribeiro wants to control but Sobral is keeping him busy.
Ribeiro looking to control but instead Sobral has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Sobral wants to sweep but Ribeiro has passed to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romulo Ribeiro dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sobral doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ribeiro counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sobral!
Ribeiro scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sobral really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ribeiro controlling from mount.

Ribeiro has hold of Sobral's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sobral manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ribeiro wants to control the pace but Sobral is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ribeiro scoring with strikes but Sobral is staying in there.
Sobral is working to get back to half guard.
Ribeiro looking to control and managing it successfully.

Sobral bucks up and throws Ribeiro to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobral is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ribeiro cracks Sobral with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ribeiro throws a wild body kick that Sobral sees coming a mile off.

Ribeiro darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Ribeiro seems content to control.
Ribeiro working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro throwing shots but Sobral is blocking nicely.

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

Ribeiro is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sobral doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ribeiro.
Sobral avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ribeiro.
Ribeiro not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ribeiro trying to control the action but Sobral is working from the bottom.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sobral doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ribeiro counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sobral!
Sobral 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.
Sobral regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ribeiro.

Ribeiro is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sobral is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sobral has escaped and now he's on top!

Ribeiro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sobral can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romulo Ribeiro dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sobral tries to clinch there but Ribeiro circles away.
Ribeiro throws a right and a left that both miss.

Sobral feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ribeiro keeping moving, preventing Sobral from controlling successfully.
Sobral won't allow Ribeiro to get back to his feet.
Ribeiro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sobral trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribeiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sobral slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Ribeiro.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro is trying to stand back up but Sobral is controlling him
Sobral prevents Ribeiro from improving his position.
Ribeiro is refusing to be controlled, as Sobral sits in half guard.

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

Sobral gets a takedown into half guard.
Ribeiro is trying to maintain the position but Sobral is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro keeping control of the position.
Sobral stops Ribeiro from getting back to his feet.

Sobral is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ribeiro is looking for a sweep. Sobral is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sobral is working for a kimura but Ribeiro is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ribeiro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sobral must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sobral looking to pass the guard.
Ribeiro has control of Sobral's left arm, preventing Sobral from doing any damage.
Ribeiro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sobral!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ribeiro is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sobral can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sobral wants to control but Ribeiro is having none of it.
Ribeiro controlling the pace for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ribeiro jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sobral is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sobral and Ribeiro has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Sobral comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ribeiro has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romulo Ribeiro!