PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Morientes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morientes comes to the cage accompanied by Rap Das Armas. Araujo has chosen Bawitdaba as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Morientes
vs
Araujo

185 cm
21
182 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
174 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Morientes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gustavo Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morientes moves out of range of the leg kick from Araujo.
Araujo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Araujo wants to clinch.
Morientes keeps the fight on the outside.
Morientes ducks under a wild hook from Araujo.
Araujo wants to clinch up but Morientes keeps it at a distance.
Araujo fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Araujo throws a solid leg kick but Morientes takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Araujo.
Gustavo Araujo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Araujo misses.
Araujo misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Morientes.
Morientes shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Morientes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Araujo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Morientes.
Araujo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Araujo tries to clinch up but Morientes circles away and keeps his distance.

Araujo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Morientes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Araujo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Araujo has had enough of the clinch but Morientes keeps him there for the moment.
Araujo wants to break free but Morientes has control.
Araujo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Araujo stops a takedown attempt from Morientes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Araujo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Araujo tries a low kick but Morientes avoids it.
Araujo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Araujo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Morientes shoots in but Araujo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Morientes blocks a head kick by Araujo.
Morientes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Morientes throws a jab when Araujo was well out of range.
Araujo tries a head kick but it misses.
Araujo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morientes moves out of range as Araujo throws a body kick.
Araujo misses with a low kick.
Araujo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Araujo wants to clinch.
Araujo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Morientes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Araujo!
Araujo tries to buck Morientes off but he can't manage it.

That's four 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.
Morientes looking to ground and pound but Araujo is blocking nicely.

Morientes goes for an armbar but Araujo turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Araujo.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Araujo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Morientes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Araujo. Araujo obviously looking to wear him down.
Araujo works the jab nicely.
Morientes is breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Araujo as Morientes shoots in.
Morientes takes one on the button.
Araujo throws a head kick that misses.
Araujo tries a head kick but it misses.
Araujo wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Araujo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Morientes's sensitive parts.
Araujo throws a sloppy head kick and Morientes moves out of range easily.
Morientes moves out of range of the body kick.
Morientes moves out of range as Araujo throws a body kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morientes.
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morientes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo tries to clinch up but Morientes circles away and keeps his distance.
Araujo swings for the body but Morientes moves out of range.
Gustavo Araujo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morientes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Araujo!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Morientes thowing shots but they're missing.
Araujo is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Araujo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Morientes tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Araujo wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Araujo is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Araujo is breathing heavily.
Morientes misses with a head shot.
Araujo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Morientes breaks from Araujo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Morientes lands with some strikes.
Morientes avoids the attempt from Araujo to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo can't escape the position.
Araujo wants to get back to his feet.
Morientes with shots to the head and body - Araujo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Araujo's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Morientes throws some wild stikes that Araujo manages to avoid easily.
Araujo is bucking up trying to escape but Morientes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Morientes jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Araujo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Araujo tries to escape but Morientes is in control.
Morientes cracks Araujo with a big right hand but Araujo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Morientes creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Araujo is trying to control Morientes's posture but Morientes avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morientes scoring with punches and elbows.
Araujo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Morientes is controlling him well.
Morientes working the ground and pound from side control.
Morientes working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Morientes fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The strikes coming from Morientes are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Araujo wants to clinch up but Morientes keeps it at a distance.
Morientes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick from Araujo misses.
Morientes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Morientes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four 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.
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch but Morientes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Morientes fails with a takedown attempt.
Morientes swats away the attempt to clinch by Araujo.
Araujo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Morientes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Araujo keeps Morientes at a distance using the push kick.
Araujo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Araujo fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Morientes dominated that second round.
That's time! Morientes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Araujo moves in looking to clinch but Morientes pushes him off.
Araujo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Araujo tries to clinch there but Morientes circles away.
Araujo misses with a body kick.
Araujo moves in looking to clinch but Morientes pushes him off.
Morientes on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Araujo tries to clinch but Morientes is having none of it.
Araujo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Araujo throws a low kick, looking for Morientes's leg but Morientes calmly moves out of range.
Araujo throws a head kick but Morientes moves out of range.
Morientes moves out of range of the body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Morientes avoids the head kick by Araujo.

Morientes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Araujo to the mat! Araujo manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Araujo pushes Morientes off and scrambles back to his feet.
Araujo tries to clinch there but Morientes circles away.
Araujo looks to score with a jab to the body but Morientes is just out of range.
Araujo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Morientes takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Morientes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Araujo sprawls well. Araujo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morientes gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morientes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Morientes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Araujo doesn't manage to clinch there - Morientes circles away.
Araujo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Morientes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Araujo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Morientes is defended easily by Araujo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Morientes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Araujo misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morientes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Araujo to the mat! Araujo manages to get full guard.

Araujo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Araujo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morientes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Araujo as he jumps to the side.
Morientes blocks a head kick by Araujo.
Nice sprawl there from Araujo as Morientes shoots in.
Araujo tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morientes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Araujo is looking to clinch.
Araujo throws a leg kick but Morientes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch but Morientes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Araujo slips under a jab from Morientes.
Araujo moves in looking to clinch but Morientes pushes him off.
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Morientes paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Araujo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Morientes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice body punch from Araujo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustavo Araujo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Araujo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustavo Araujo!
Gustavo Araujo is the new welterweight champion!