PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renato Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonardo The Turtle (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.

Sobral
vs
The Turtle

185 cm
22
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Renato Sobral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leonardo The Turtle!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sobral changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. The Turtle tries to avoid it but Sobral manages to keep hold of a leg and drag The Turtle to the ground. The Turtle escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sobral will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sobral shoots in but The Turtle avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Sobral. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobral closes this distance looking for a takedown but The Turtle circles away.
Sobral looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The Turtle displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sobral.
Sobral looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? The Turtle is fending him off so far but Sobral persists. Nope, The Turtle circles away and we're back to standing.
Renato Sobral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sobral has a takedown stuffed.
Sobral is breathing heavily.

The Turtle drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The Turtle is looking to take a break and control but Sobral is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sobral wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The Turtle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sobral keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Turtle is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The Turtle tries to advance to mount but can't.
The Turtle is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Sobral is not content to let The Turtle control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sobral has his takedown stuffed

and The Turtle counters with a shoot takedown. Sobral fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Turtle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sobral swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The Turtle preventing the sweep.
The Turtle trying to control but Sobral is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Turtle is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sobral keeping moving, preventing The Turtle from controlling successfully.
The Turtle postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The Turtle trying to control but Sobral is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

The Turtle scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sobral pushes The Turtle off looking to stand but The Turtle dives back in and keeps control.
Sobral is looking to improve his position.
Sobral looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sobral tries to get to full guard but The Turtle has control of the leg.
Sobral is staying active underneath The Turtle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Turtle is pressing down on Sobral's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sobral is holding on for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sobral has his takedown stuffed
and The Turtle counters with a stiff right hand.

The Turtle scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The Turtle tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sobral knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sobral on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sobral tries to get out of the position.
The Turtle is looking to take a break and control but Sobral is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sobral moves into full guard.
The Turtle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sobral swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo The Turtle dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sobral shoots and misses

and The Turtle counters with a takedown into side control.
Sobral tries to bench press The Turtle off him but The Turtle keeps the position.

Sobral sneaks out the side door and pushes The Turtle away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Renato Sobral is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sobral fails with the takedown

and The Turtle counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The Turtle tries to pass to full mount but Sobral defends it.
The Turtle is looking to take a break and control but Sobral is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sobral missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The Turtle is trying to control. Sobral wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Turtle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The Turtle wants to take a breather but Sobral is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by The Turtle.
Sobral manages to work his way to half guard, despite The Turtle's best efforts.
The Turtle wants to pass the guard but Sobral is defending well.
Leonardo The Turtle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sobral wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Turtle wants to take a breather but Sobral is having none of it.
Sobral is trying to stand.
Sobral tries to push off, looking to stand up, but The Turtle manages to move to mount!
The Turtle prevents Sobral from getting the reversal.
The Turtle tries to control but Sobral wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobral tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sobral is working hard here to advance position.
The Turtle trying to control but Sobral is having none of it.
The Turtle might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sobral kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sobral wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sobral is looking to improve his position but The Turtle isn't that keen on the idea.
The Turtle wants to control the pace but Sobral is squirming around nicely.
Sobral really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The Turtle trying to control but Sobral is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo The Turtle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sobral has his takedown stuffed

and The Turtle counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sobral won't be happy with that.
The Turtle is looking to take a break and control but Sobral is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leonardo The Turtle just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sobral with a lazy takedown attempt

and The Turtle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sobral's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The Turtle trying to control but Sobral is working from the bottom.
The Turtle wants to pass the guard but Sobral is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Turtle prevents Sobral from getting back to his feet.
The Turtle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sobral looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sobral throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The Turtle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The Turtle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sobral with a lazy takedown attempt

and The Turtle counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sobral won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Sobral. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobral is looking for a sweep.
Sobral misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Sobral is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but The Turtle has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sobral gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Turtle blocks the strikes from Sobral.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sobral manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Sobral kicks The Turtle off and gets to his feet.

The Turtle closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - The Turtle lands in his opponent's guard.
Sobral throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sobral doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sobral strikes from his own guard.
Sobral 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Turtle wants to control from the top but Sobral keeps moving.
Sobral wants to stand up but The Turtle is controlling him.
Sobral keeping moving, preventing The Turtle from controlling successfully.
Sobral looking for a sweep. Not yet Sobral, not yet.
The Turtle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sobral. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

Sobral gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows The Turtle to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The Turtle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobral wants to sweep but no luck.
The Turtle trying to control but Sobral is working from the bottom.
Sobral scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
The Turtle wants to pass the guard but Sobral is keeping the position.
Sobral striking from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The Turtle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sobral swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Renato Sobral has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonardo The Turtle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

and The Turtle counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo The Turtle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well The Turtle 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo The Turtle!