PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Duran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Leao da Ilha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Duran
vs
Leao da Ilha

177 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Real-Deal Nutrition
[MMABR]FALCON CLOTHING[†]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Duran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Leao da Ilha!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leao da Ilha shoots in for a takedown but Duran shows good takedown defense.
Leao da Ilha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Duran throws a head kick that misses.

Duran clinches with his opponent.
Leao da Ilha is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Duran is keeping busy.

Duran breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Duran shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Leao da Ilha manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Leao da Ilha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leao da Ilha looking to control.

Duran stands up and waves to Leao da Ilha to follow him.
Leao da Ilha misses with a takedown attempt

and Duran holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Duran manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Duran has a closed guard, preventing Leao da Ilha from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leao da Ilha wants to control from the top but Duran keeps moving.
Duran 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.
Leao da Ilha trying to control but Duran is working from the bottom.
Leao da Ilha trying to stand up but can't free himself from Duran's guard.

Duran has his foot on Leao da Ilha's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leao da Ilha works his way back into a safe position though.
Leao da Ilha trying to control the position from guard on top but Duran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Duran.

Duran closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Duran gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Leao da Ilha controls Duran momentarily but Duran frees himself.
Leao da Ilha is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Leao da Ilha looking for a guillotine here but Duran defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leao da Ilha looks gassed!
Leao da Ilha looking to hit a scissor sweep but Duran is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leao da Ilha can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Duran controls the pace.
Leao da Ilha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Leao da Ilha postures up in Duran's guard and throws a big left but Duran blocks it.
Leao da Ilha stops Duran from standing up.
Duran wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Leao da Ilha manages to pass to side control.
Duran has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Leao da Ilha is working away from the top position though.
Duran is staying active underneath Leao da Ilha, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Duran dominated that round.
That's time! Duran's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Leao da Ilha throws a hook to the side of Duran's head but Duran sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Duran scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Leao da Ilha with a lazy takedown attempt

and Duran counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Leao da Ilha's guard now.
Duran trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Duran drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Duran jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Duran preventing the sweep.
Leao da Ilha striking off his back but it's not causing Duran any problems.
Duran has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Duran drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Leao da Ilha manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Duran has Leao da Ilha in his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leao da Ilha wants to control from the top but Duran keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duran looking for a guillotine here but Leao da Ilha defends easily.
Leao da Ilha wants to stand but Duran is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Duran wants to sweep here but Leao da Ilha controlling him for the moment.
Leao da Ilha with a flurry of punches that miss.
Leao da Ilha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Leao da Ilha trying to control the position from guard on top but Duran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Duran gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Duran displaying some good clinch control by pressing Leao da Ilha up against the cage.

Duran escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leao da Ilha tries to clinch but Duran moves away
and Duran counters with a one-two to the body.

Duran closes the distance and pushes Leao da Ilha back into the cage.
Leao da Ilha wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Leao da Ilha is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Duran pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Leao da Ilha has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Leao da Ilha tries to score a body lock takedown but Duran shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mike Duran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Leao da Ilha.
Leao da Ilha is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Duran gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Duran pulls guard.
Duran keeping moving, preventing Leao da Ilha from controlling successfully.
Duran working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leao da Ilha with a flurry of punches that miss.
Duran knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Leao da Ilha on the ground.
Duran looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leao da Ilha is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leao da Ilha pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Duran dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Leao da Ilha with a poor takedown

and Duran counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Duran has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Duran controlling the position easily from mount.
Leao da Ilha working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Duran trying to control but Leao da Ilha is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran controlling the pace for now.
Leao da Ilha working to try and regain half guard.
Duran controlling from mount.
Leao da Ilha is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Duran takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Duran has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Duran throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Leao da Ilha because Duran loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Leao da Ilha wants to hold on but Duran pushes him away.
Leao da Ilha can't escape the position.
Duran with good strikes from the mount here!
Duran misses with a head shot.
Duran misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Leao da Ilha is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Duran looking to finish with strikes here!
Leao da Ilha is squirming around, avoiding Duran's attempts to control the action.
Leao da Ilha is looking to improve his position but Duran isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Duran looking to control and managing it successfully.
Duran dominating with strikes here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Duran showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Duran 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Duran!