PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Glass Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Joe's choice of entrance music: Rap Overdose. Rickson Araujo has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Araujo
vs
Joe

186 cm
20
203 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
197 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rickson Araujo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Glass Joe!
The judges for this bout are , and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Araujo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joe was well out of range. Poor timing from Araujo.
Joe takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Araujo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Araujo.
Joe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Araujo.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Araujo.
Joe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Joe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Araujo throws an overhand right that lands on Joe's shoulder, as Joe tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Araujo misses.
Joe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Araujo throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo tries a head kick but it misses.
Rickson Araujo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Joe drives through with a takedown into guard.
Joe throwing strikes but missing.
Araujo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joe.
Araujo trying to keep a closed guard but Joe is proving a slippery customer.
Joe passes Araujo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Joe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo is looking to improve his position.
Araujo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Joe is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Araujo defends it well.
Joe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joe with the ground and pound but Araujo uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joe is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Araujo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Araujo has escaped and now he's on top!
Araujo won't allow Joe to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Araujo tries to stand but Joe is controlling from the bottom.
Joe wants to stand and escape but Araujo is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joe is controlling Araujo's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Glass Joe will probably get the nod.
That's time! Araujo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Araujo cracks Joe with a good jab.
Araujo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rickson Araujo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Araujo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Araujo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Araujo misses with a body kick.
Joe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Joe closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Araujo to the mat! Araujo manages to get full guard.
Araujo controlling Joe's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe throws and elbow that misses. Araujo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Joe's guard. Nice move by Araujo!
Joe wants to sweep here but Araujo controlling him for the moment.
Joe looking to control.

That's two 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.
Araujo trying to control the position from guard on top but Joe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Araujo won't allow Joe to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo being controlled here momentarily.
Joe has a closed guard, preventing Araujo from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Joe connects with a body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Araujo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Joe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Glass Joe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Joe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice defenses there by Joe.
Araujo cracks a nice hook into Joe's ribs.
Joe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Araujo.
Joe tries for a takedown but Araujo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Araujo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Araujo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Joe misses with a shot to the body
and Araujo counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Araujo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Joe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Araujo.
Joe takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Araujo thuds his right hand into Joe's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Araujo misses with a body kick.

Araujo gets caught flat footed, as Joe shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Araujo keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.
Araujo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Glass Joe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.
Joe 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Araujo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Joe is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Joe looking to sit in guard and control but Araujo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rickson Araujo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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 preventing the sweep.
Araujo postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickson Araujo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Joe 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Glass Joe!