PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Oliver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Amaral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Oliver
vs
Amaral

195 cm
18
196 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

189 cm
19
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tommy Oliver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Amaral!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliver doesn't manage to clinch there - Amaral circles away.
Oliver tries to clinch up.
Tommy Oliver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oliver fails with an attempt to clinch.

Amaral feints and as Oliver raises his hands in defense, Amaral changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Amaral's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Oliver is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Oliver is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Amaral moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Amaral has a closed guard, preventing Oliver from standing up.
Amaral wants to sweep here but Oliver controlling him for the moment.
Amaral throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Amaral bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Oliver's guard.
Amaral missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Amaral stands up over Oliver, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Amaral missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Amaral scoring with some ground and pound.
Amaral landing with the ground and pound.
Amaral sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Oliver's guard.
Amaral wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oliver keeps working.

Amaral is trying to work for a kimura but Oliver is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Amaral landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Oliver manages to get to full guard.
Oliver avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Amaral 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.
Amaral trying to control the position from guard on top but Oliver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Amaral looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amaral postures up and lands a big shot to Oliver's brow.
Amaral wants to control from the top but Oliver keeps moving.
Amaral won't allow Oliver to sweep him here.
Amaral throwing strikes from guard but Oliver blocks nicely.
Amaral working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Oliver throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick from Oliver lands but Amaral takes it in his stride.

It looks like Joao Amaral has been cut.
Oliver looks to land a combination but Amaral avoids it well.
Oliver tries to close the distance and clinch but Amaral swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oliver keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliver shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Amaral counters with a single leg into guard. Oliver didn't expect that.
Amaral scoring with punches to the head and body.
Amaral wants to control from the top but Oliver keeps moving.
Amaral passes Oliver's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Amaral not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Oliver wants to get back to his feet.
Amaral is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Amaral thows a huge punch but Oliver dodges it nicely.
Oliver is trying to stand back up but Amaral is controlling him

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Amaral shoots in and bounces Oliver off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Amaral with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amaral landing with the ground and pound.
Oliver is wriggling around but Amaral manages to pass to half guard.
Oliver taking some punishment here, with Amaral in his half guard.
Oliver looks like he's trying to stand up.

Amaral stands up out of the half guard.
Oliver tries to clinch

and Amaral counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Amaral postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Amaral stops Oliver from standing up.
Amaral won't allow Oliver to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Amaral dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joao Amaral's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Oliver darts in trying to clinch

and Amaral counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Amaral tries to pass to full mount but Oliver defends it.

Amaral is looking for a kimura here.
Amaral is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Amaral stops Oliver from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oliver moves into full guard.
Oliver wants to get back to his feet but Amaral is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral with a nice head shot there.
Oliver keeping full guard, as Amaral tries to pass.
Amaral postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Oliver tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Oliver is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Oliver clinches but Amaral breaks the clinch

and Amaral counters with a single leg into guard. Oliver didn't expect that.
Amaral throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Oliver works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Amaral stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Oliver swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliver preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Oliver is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Amaral is aware though and is defending well.
Oliver is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Amaral is controlling him.
Amaral postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Oliver wants to stand up but Amaral is controlling him.
Amaral is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Amaral has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Amaral wants to control from the top but Oliver keeps moving.
Amaral wants to pass the guard but Oliver is keeping the position.
Oliver is looking to stand up but Amaral isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amaral works over Oliver with some ground and pound from guard.

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

and Amaral counters with a nice double leg into side control. Oliver won't be happy with that.
Oliver is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Amaral asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Amaral creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Amaral is putting a hurting on Oliver here, landing some big shots from side control.
Oliver is looking for a sweep.
Oliver is working to avoid the ground and pound but Amaral connects with a decent elbow.
Oliver is trying to get back to his feet.
Amaral in side control lands a decent elbow.
Oliver wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

and Amaral counters with a takedown into side control.
Amaral looks up at the clock and then as Oliver takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Amaral smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Amaral scores with a couple of short elbows.
Amaral wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oliver keeps working.
Amaral works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Oliver parries the strikes from Amaral easily there. Amaral is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Oliver to escape.
Oliver is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Amaral is controlling him well.
Amaral is chipping away with strikes.
Oliver tries to escape but Amaral is in control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Amaral circles away from the clinch attempt

and Amaral decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Oliver's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Amaral showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joao Amaral's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Amaral bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Oliver is looking for a sweep.
Amaral lands a decent elbow from side control.
Oliver manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Amaral prevents Oliver from standing back up.
Amaral trying to control the pace.
Ground and pound from Amaral.
Oliver tries to kick Amaral off but Amaral keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Amaral tries to pass the half guard into mount. Oliver knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Amaral wants to control but Oliver is keeping him busy.
Amaral is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Amaral looks to land a strike but Oliver avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliver wants to stand and escape but Amaral is having none of it.
Amaral landing some decent shots from guard.
Joao Amaral has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

and Amaral counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Oliver tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Amaral working Oliver over with strikes.
Oliver has hold of Amaral's hands but Amaral slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Amaral has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Amaral unloading with bombs!
Amaral landing strikes, looking to finish!
Amaral with the ground and pound from mount.
Oliver is trying desperately to improve position.
A nice elbow there by Amaral.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliver is bucking up trying to escape but Amaral cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Oliver keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Amaral connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Amaral lands a heavy elbow.
Amaral thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Oliver is wriggling around trying to escape.
Amaral fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Oliver taking shots to the head.
Oliver is desperately trying to improve his position but Amaral has a good base and remains in mount.
Oliver wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Amaral prevents Oliver from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amaral lands a big shot there that rocks Oliver but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Amaral breaks from Oliver's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Amaral cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Oliver is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Amaral cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Joao Amaral is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Amaral lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Oliver wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Oliver is looking to get to half guard.
Oliver is bucking up trying to escape but Amaral cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Oliver tries to reverse the position but Amaral maintains control.

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.
BOOM! Amaral connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Amaral breaks from Oliver's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Amaral putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Oliver is trying to stand.
Amaral raining down shots from the mount!
Amaral has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Oliver's face.
Oliver taking shots to the head.
Amaral won't let Oliver get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Amaral fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Amaral has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Oliver is trying to stand up.
BOOM! Amaral connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Amaral controlling the pace for now.
Tommy Oliver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Amaral comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Amaral winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Amaral!