PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Suazo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rod Brave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brave has chosen Eco, Eco (somos de taleco) as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rod Brave is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Suazo
vs
Brave

167 cm
22
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nicolas Suazo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rod Brave!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brave gets a takedown into half guard.
Suazo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Suazo tries to get out of the position.
Suazo wants to get back to his feet.
Brave thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Brave prevents Suazo from standing back up.
Suazo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Brave.
Brave thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Suazo's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A head kick misses from Brave.

Brave looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Brave missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Suazo keeping moving, preventing Brave from controlling successfully.
Brave pushing down on Suazo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brave trying to control from half guard but Suazo is working away.
Brave has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Suazo is trying to stand back up but Brave is controlling him
Brave is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Brave prevents Suazo from standing back up.
Suazo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Brave does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Brave looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Brave swings for the body but Suazo moves out of range.
Suazo blocks a head kick by Brave.
Brave misses with a head kick.
Brave misses with a takedown attempt - Suazo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Brave rushes Suazo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Brave drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Suazo gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Brave breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Brave tries to bum rush Suazo with a series of wild strikes but Suazo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Brave shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Suazo defends it nicely.
Nicolas Suazo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rod Brave.

Brave bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Brave is looking to take a break and control but Suazo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Suazo pushes Brave away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Brave gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Brave stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Brave closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brave passes to side control.
Brave tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Suazo is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Brave asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Brave tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Brave looks gassed!
Suazo is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Suazo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Brave counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Suazo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Brave lands a head kick!
Brave throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Brave gets caught flat footed, as Suazo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Brave is on top in guard.
Brave throwing strikes but missing.
Brave in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Brave thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rod Brave dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Brave plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Brave shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Suazo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Brave tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Suazo advances to half guard.
Suazo uses his free foot to push down on Brave's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Brave.
Suazo unloading with bombs!
Suazo lands with some strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Suazo prevents Brave from getting the reversal.
Nicolas Suazo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brave regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Brave works his way to full guard. Good work.
Suazo passes Brave's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suazo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Suazo throwing shots but Brave is blocking nicely.
Suazo thows a huge punch but Brave dodges it nicely.
Brave is trying to get back to full guard.
Brave works his way to full guard. Good work.
Suazo prevents Brave from getting back to his feet.
Suazo pushes down on Brave's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Suazo trying to pass the guard but Brave defending well.
Brave trying to hold on to Suazo's head to control him but Suazo postures up.
Suazo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Suazo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brave's head.
Brave slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Brave wants to stand up but Suazo is controlling him.
Suazo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Brave throws a half hearted mid kick.
Brave tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nicolas Suazo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Brave with a poor takedown

and Suazo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Brave won't be happy with that.
Brave manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suazo is looking to advance position but Brave won't allow it.
Suazo stops Brave from getting back to his feet.
Suazo wants to pass the guard but Brave is defending well.
Brave is positioning himself well to prevent Suazo advancing to mount.
Suazo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Suazo is pressing down on Brave's thigh, looking to free his foot. Brave is holding on for now.
Suazo throws a strike but Brave avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Brave lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Suazo!
Suazo really wants to buck Brave off and get back to his feet.

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

Brave jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Suazo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Suazo pushes Brave away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Brave gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Brave wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Suazo, who protects the arm well.
Suazo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Brave is controlling him well.

Brave is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Suazo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Suazo is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Brave has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Suazo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Brave.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Suazo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Brave looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Suazo tries to kick Brave off but Brave keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Brave not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Brave stops Suazo from getting back to his feet.
Brave is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Brave throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Suazo is staying active underneath Brave, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Brave stands up from half guard.
Brave has his takedown stuffed

and Suazo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Suazo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Suazo is looking to work some ground and pound but Brave has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suazo postures up in Brave's guard and throws a big left but Brave blocks it.
Suazo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brave swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Brave not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Suazo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brave is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Brave is on top in guard.

Brave gets to his feet. Suazo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A head kick misses from Brave.
Brave lands a head kick. Suazo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Suazo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Brave kicks Suazo off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brave scores a takedown into full mount!
Suazo squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Suazo tries to buck Brave off but Brave takes his back!

Brave looking for the choke from the back.
Suazo looking very determined here, making life difficult for Brave.

Suazo is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brave throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Brave tries to land a front kick but Suazo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Suazo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suazo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Suazo wants to free his trapped foot but Brave is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Brave pushes Suazo off and gets back to his feet.
Brave looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Suazo misses with a takedown
and Brave counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four 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.
Brave throws a sloppy head kick and Suazo moves out of range easily.

Brave shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Suazo is trying to defend but Brave finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Suazo kicks off Brave and gets to his feet.
Brave lands a high kick!
Brave throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Brave throws a quick inside leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brave throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Suazo on the side of the head.
Suazo walks forward, straight into a front kick from Brave.
Brave swinging wildly here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rod Brave.
I think Brave 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nicolas Suazo!