PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Henrique Paiva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Verson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henrique Paiva has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Paiva
vs
Verson

185 cm
24
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
20
150 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Henrique Paiva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Verson!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Verson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Paiva did well to prevent Verson getting side control.
Paiva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Verson stalling.
Paiva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Verson throwing shots but Paiva is blocking nicely.
Paiva wants to get back to full guard.

Paiva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Paiva is looking to improve his position.
Verson is looking to take a break and control but Paiva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Paiva looks to land a combination but Verson avoids it well.

Verson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Verson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Paiva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Paiva can't escape the position.
Verson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paiva is looking to escape.
Paiva tries to buck Verson off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Verson has control of Paiva's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Paiva regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Paiva takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Verson looking to control but Paiva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Verson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Paiva?
Paiva is trying desperately to improve position.
Verson controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verson with shots to the head and body - Paiva looks very uncomfortable down there.
A nice elbow there by Verson.
Verson controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paiva can't escape the position.
Paiva is bucking up trying to escape but Verson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Verson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

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.
Paiva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Verson controlling the position easily from mount.
Paiva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Verson trying to control but Paiva is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rodrigo Verson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Verson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paiva throws a right and a left that Verson avoids nicely.
Verson blocks a jab.
Paiva takes a swing at Verson's ribcage but misses.
Paiva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Verson dodges the punch combination from Paiva.

Verson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Paiva did well to prevent Verson getting side control.
Verson is controlling the pace.
Paiva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paiva.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Paiva is on top in guard.
Paiva controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Paiva wants to control from the top but Verson keeps moving.
Paiva won't allow Verson to sweep him here.
Verson is controlling Paiva's posture.
Verson wants to sweep here but Paiva controlling him for the moment.
Paiva wants to pass the guard but Verson is keeping the position.
Paiva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Verson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paiva wants to free his trapped foot but Verson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Paiva controlling the pace.
Verson is trying to get back to full guard.
Verson is trying to maintain the position but Paiva is very close to passing his half guard.
Verson tries to get to full guard but Paiva has control of the leg.
Verson is doing well to control the position and prevent Paiva from advancing to side control.
Paiva thows a huge punch but Verson dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Paiva gets caught flat footed, as Verson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Paiva 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.
Paiva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Paiva escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Verson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Paiva wants to sweep here but Verson controlling him for the moment.
Verson advances position into side control!
Paiva wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verson working the body and head with strikes.
Verson lands a decent elbow from side control.
Paiva is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Verson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Paiva is looking to reverse the position.
Verson happy to just control the position for now.
Rodrigo Verson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Verson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Verson scoring with punches from side control.
Paiva tries to buck Verson off but Verson is having none of it.
Verson is looking to take a break and control but Paiva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Verson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Paiva, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Verson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Verson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Paiva wants to improve his position but Verson is controlling well.
Verson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Paiva is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Verson jumps into side control!
Paiva is looking for a sweep.
Verson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Paiva down.
Verson advances to mount.
Verson lands with some strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Paiva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Verson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paiva is looking to escape.
Paiva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Verson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paiva is looking to escape.
BOOM! Verson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Verson punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Verson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Verson landing punches.
Paiva really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Verson lands a big shot there that rocks Paiva but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Paiva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Verson landing punches.
Paiva is looking to get to half guard.
Verson lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paiva is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Verson with a couple of short strikes.
A nice elbow there by Verson.
Verson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Verson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rodrigo Verson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Verson prevents Paiva from getting the reversal.
Verson controlling the pace for now.
Henrique Paiva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paiva keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Verson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Verson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Verson 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 26:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Verson!