PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Fernandes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Sewell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernando Fernandes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fernandes
vs
Sewell

189 cm
22
210 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
205 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Fernandes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Sewell!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sewell has Fernandes up against the cage in a clinch.

Fernandes ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Fernandes no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Fernandes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sewell is one step ahead there.
Fernandes throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sewell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fernandes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fernandes is trying to hold Sewell in close to prevent damage but Sewell has managed to pass into half guard.
Fernandes flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sewell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fernandes is positioning himself well to prevent Sewell advancing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sewell in particular looking to stall.
Fernandes missing with punches from the bottom.
Sewell prevents Fernandes from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sewell moves into full mount! Fernandes won't be happy about that!
Sewell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Fernandes is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Sewell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fernandes throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Sewell controlling his opponent.
Fernandes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Sewell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fernandes tries to lock up and control but Sewell gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fernandes flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Sewell with good strikes from the mount here!
Sewell controlling the position easily from mount.
Fernandes tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Fernandes tries to hold on but Sewell pushes him away.
Sewell raining down shots from the mount!
Fernandes is bucking up trying to escape but Sewell cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Fernandes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fernandes wants to control but Sewell is having none of it.
Fernandes is breathing heavily.
Sewell content just to control the position here.
Fernandes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sewell wants to control the pace but Fernandes is squirming around nicely.
Fernandes holds on to Sewell around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Sewell controlling from the full mount.
Fernandes looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sewell is trying to stick to Fernandes's back but Fernandes is turning into Sewell. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Sewell's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Fernandes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Sewell dominated that 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.

Fernandes fails to land the takedown.

Sewell clinches up against the cage.
Fernandes gets underhooks to prevent Sewell's takedown attempt.
Sewell stops a takedown attempt from Fernandes.
Fernandes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sewell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sewell as Fernandes tries to tie him up.
Fernandes avoiding damage.
Sewell's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fernandes wants to break free but Sewell has control.
Fernandes scores with a hook to the body.
Fernandes throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sewell gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Fernandes regains guard.
Sewell stands up over Fernandes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sewell trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fernandes striking off his back but it's not causing Sewell any problems.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sewell stands up from Fernandes's guard - Sewell perhaps looking for a knockout.
Fernandes darts in trying to clinch

and Sewell counters by clinching up.
Sewell working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sewell trying to stall but Fernandes improves his position.
Fernandes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sewell.
Sewell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Fernando Fernandes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Sewell.
Fernandes lands an elbow just above Sewell 's eye.
Fernandes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sewell is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sewell tries a body shot but Fernandes blocks it.
Fernandes working hard to break the clinch.
Sewell tries to stall but Fernandes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Fernandes lands an elbow inside.
Fernandes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sewell backwards.
Fernandes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sewell gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sewell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fernandes walks away with a smile on his face. Sewell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Fernandes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sewell counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sewell tries to pull guard but Fernandes won't allow it.
Sewell blocks the elbow strike.

Sewell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sewell working a defensive guard here.
Fernandes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fernandes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sewell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fernandes.
Fernandes tries to free his leg and advance position but Sewell is retaining full guard.
Fernandes stays in close to Sewell's body and controls the position.
Fernandes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sewell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sewell is trying to control. Fernandes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fernandes is trying to stand back up but Sewell is controlling him
Fernandes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sewell.
Sewell is keen to just control but Fernandes is a slippery customer.
Fernandes is trying to stand up here but Sewell is controlling him well.

Fernandes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Sewell is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sewell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Fernandes tries to clinch but Sewell moves away

and Sewell counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Fernandes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sewell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sewell stopping the sweep attempt from Fernandes.
Michael Sewell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sewell won't allow Fernandes to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Sewell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Fernandes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sewell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fernandes wants to control but Sewell postures up.

Sewell decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Fernandes misses with a leg kick

and Sewell counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fernandes is trying to maintain the position but Sewell is very close to passing his half guard.
Fernandes scores with a few weak punches.
Fernandes is looking to control Sewell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fernandes avoid being mounted?
Sewell is keen to just control but Fernandes is a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Fernandes kicks Sewell off and gets back to his feet.
Fernandes shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sewell.

Sewell rushes Fernandes and presses him up against the cage.
Sewell misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sewell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fernandes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fernandes lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fernandes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sewell avoids the elbow strike from Fernandes, against the cage.

Fernandes successfully pulls guard.

Fernandes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fernandes trying to control the position.

Fernandes scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sewell is looking to clinch but Fernandes is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes tries to clinch

and Sewell moves into the clinch.
Fernandes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Still in the clinch, Fernandes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fernandes wants a takedown.
Fernandes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sewells head.
Sewell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fernandes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fernando Fernandes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Sewell.

Fernandes gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sewell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fernandes is working away from the top position though.
Fernandes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sewell is trying to stand up here but Fernandes is controlling him well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fernandes in particular looking to stall.
Sewell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sewell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fernandes working over Sewell with some ground and pound. Sewell looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fernandes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Fernandes shoots in for a double leg but Sewell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fernandes slaps away a takedown attempt from Sewell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fernandes with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sewell decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fernandes's guard.
Sewell is working Fernandes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Fernandes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fernandes looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes striking off his back but it's not causing Sewell any problems.
Sewell preventing the sweep.
Fernandes has momentary wrist control but Sewell slips an elbow through the middle.
Sewell trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sewell stands up out of Fernandes's guard for a moment - Fernandes manages to land a nice upkick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fernandes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sewell counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fernandes won't be happy with that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sewell is staying tight to Fernandes's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Fernando Fernandes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Sewell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fernandes throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Sewell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sewell has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Sewell!