PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Loureiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saxton Hale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Loureiro comes to the cage accompanied by Angra - Acid Rain. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Loureiro
vs
Hale

183 cm
20
190 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

183 cm
22
192 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Loureiro!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saxton Hale!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hale gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Loureiro is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hale is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hale has escaped and now he's on top!
Loureiro 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.
Loureiro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hale looking to pass the guard.
Hale slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hale is working Loureiro over with some ground and pound from side control.
Loureiro is trying to control Hale's posture but Hale avoids it.
Loureiro is trying to get back to half guard.
Loureiro manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hale's best efforts.

Loureiro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loureiro keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Loureiro is pressing down on Hale's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hale stopping the sweep attempt from Loureiro.

Loureiro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hale got a little sloppy there for a moment and Loureiro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hale has managed to get both his arms back between Loureiro's legs - danger averted.
Hale wants to pass the guard but Loureiro is keeping the position.
Hale throwing strikes from guard but Loureiro blocks nicely.
Hale is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Loureiro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hale can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hale lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loureiro looking to control.
Hale slips nicely into half guard.
Loureiro is looking for a sweep. Hale is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hale throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Loureiro is trying to maintain the position but Hale is very close to passing his half guard.

Loureiro is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hale pulls his head out easily.
Loureiro wants to control but Hale is keeping busy.
Loureiro is trying to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hale avoids the body shot from Loureiro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Loureiro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hale was covering up waiting for the punch and Loureiro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hale pulls Loureiro in close to prevent any damage.

Loureiro is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hale is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hale has escaped and now he's on top!

Loureiro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hale is aware though and is defending well.
Hale landing some decent shots from guard.
Loureiro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loureiro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hale is one step ahead there.
Hale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Loureiro is keeping the position for now.
Hale with a flurry of punches that miss.
Loureiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Loureiro, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Loureiro fails with a takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Loureiro.
Loureiro shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hale as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rafael Loureiro will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hale closes the distance and clinches.
Hale tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Loureiro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hale smiles and moves away.
Loureiro shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hale as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loureiro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Loureiro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hale doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Loureiro counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loureiro is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hale sees it coming and defends easily.
Hale wants to control but Loureiro is keeping busy.

Loureiro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Hale is defending against the submission attempts here by Loureiro.
Hale is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Loureiro's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Loureiro's back!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Hale. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Loureiro manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hale's guard. Nice work there by Loureiro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Loureiro drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hale manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Loureiro has Hale in his guard.
Hale must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Loureiro is keeping the position for now.
Loureiro tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hale avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Loureiro trying to control the position.
Hale stands up over Loureiro, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hale working some strikes from top position.
Loureiro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hale is pushing down on Loureiro's leg trying to pass to half guard. Loureiro is fighting to maintain full guard but Hale has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Loureiro is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hale scores with a couple of nice shots.

Loureiro looking for submissions off his back.
Loureiro is looking to control Hale's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Loureiro avoid being mounted?
Loureiro trying to get back to full guard but Hale takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Hale scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Loureiro manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Loureiro taking some punishment here, with Hale in his half guard.
Loureiro has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hale is working away from the top position though.
Loureiro taking some punishment here, with Hale in his half guard.

Loureiro looking for submissions off his back.
Hale landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loureiro trying to control here.
Hale moves nicely into side control.
Hale cracks Loureiro with a big right hand but Loureiro just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hale in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Loureiro manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hale takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Loureiro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Loureiro won't allow Hale to pass to mount.
Hale is thwarting Loureiro's attempts to control the position.
Hale is pressing down on Loureiro's thigh, looking to free his foot. Loureiro is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saxton Hale 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Loureiro misses with a takedown
and Hale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Loureiro shoots and misses

and Hale counters with a single leg into guard. Loureiro didn't expect that.
Hale working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Loureiro has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hale is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Loureiro.
Loureiro tries to bench press Hale off him but Hale keeps the position.
Hale gets to mount! Loureiro was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Loureiro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loureiro tries to hold on but Hale pushes him away.
Hale landing shots from mount.
Loureiro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Saxton Hale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hale working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hale scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hale connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Loureiro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Hale.
Loureiro is trying to escape the mount.
Loureiro is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Loureiro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hale lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hale is landing with some decent strikes but Loureiro is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
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!
Hale fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Loureiro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Loureiro tries to lock up and control but Hale gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The referee warns Loureiro that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The referee warns Loureiro that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hale lands a big elbow.
Loureiro bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hale pulls Loureiro in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Loureiro drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hale looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hale looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hale!
Loureiro is looking for a sweep.
Hale scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Loureiro to see if he's OK.
Loureiro is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hale off and has taken his back!

Loureiro is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Hale is defending well though. Loureiro let's go of the attempt for now.
Hale rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Hale is doing well to control the position and prevent Loureiro from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Loureiro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Loureiro looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hale wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saxton Hale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hale 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saxton Hale!
Saxton Hale is the new middleweight champion!