PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Botello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Kaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Botello comes to the cage accompanied by Makin it Work. Kaka has chosen Pjanoo by Eric Prydaz as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that John Botello has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily John Botello seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Botello
vs
Kaka

170 cm
21
212 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
203 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ka-POW Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Botello!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Kaka!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Botello keeps the fight on the outside.
Botello rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kaka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kaka tries to close the distance and clinch but Botello swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Botello misses with a looping right.
Kaka is looking to clinch but Botello is avoiding it.

Kaka forces Botello back against the cage and clinches.
Kaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The referee is keeping an eye on Botello - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Botello lands with a short shot to the head.
Kaka trying to land knees to the body.
Kaka holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kaka is trying to maintain a safe position but Botello gets an underhook and turns Kaka into the cage.
Botello lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Botello controlling the action here for a moment.
Botello lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kaka backwards.
Kaka has Botello pressed against the cage.
Kaka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaka is stalling here.
Botello digs a right hand underneath Kaka's ribcage. Kaka let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Botello misses with a short punch on the inside.
Botello pushes Kaka back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Botello tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kaka just stands there and leans against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Botello.
Botello will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kaka up against the cage.
Kaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Botello blocks it with crossed arms.
Botello scores with a shoulder strike.
Botello on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kaka tries to stall but Botello uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kaka is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Botello lands a hook to the side of the head.
Botello avoiding damage as Kaka throws knees to the body.
Kaka misses with a knee to the head.
Botello misses with the head strike.
Botello lands a nice shot to the body.
Kaka looking to stall.
Botello lands a body shot in the clinch.
Botello takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Botello avoids it.
The referee calls for Botello to work.
Kaka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Botello has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Botello pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kaka is pressed up against the cage. Botello has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kaka down to the mat. Kaka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kaka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kaka staying out of range there.

Botello closes the distance and clinches.
Still in the clinch, Botello scores with a nice short uppercut.
Botello avoiding damage as Kaka throws knees to the body.
Botello's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Botello throws a head punch that misses.
Botello misses with a punch on the inside.
Kaka throws a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Botello fails to land.
Kaka tries a knee to the head but Botello blocks it.
Kaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Botello holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaka looking to slow down the pace here.
Botello misses with a punch on the inside.
Kaka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Botello's face.
Botello lands a hook that snaps the head of Kaka backwards.
Kaka blocks an uppercut.
Botello content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Botello misses with a hook from the clinch.
Botello is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kaka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Botello. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Botello is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kaka's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kaka tries to land a knee to the head but Botello blocks with his arms.
Botello misses with a punch on the inside.
Botello avoiding damage as Kaka throws knees to the body.
Kaka misses with a knee strike.
Kaka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Botello up against the cage.
Botello softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Botello lands a hook that snaps the head of Kaka backwards.
Kaka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Botello avoids it.
Kaka misses with a knee to the head.
Botello scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Botello takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kaka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kaka looking to throw knees to the head but Botello is blocking nicely.
Kaka scores with a knee to the head.
Botello scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Botello doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Botello lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kaka backwards.
A right hand to the body from Botello.
Kaka looks gassed!
Botello scores with a shoulder strike.
Botello effectively controlling the action here.
Still in the clinch, Botello scores with a nice short uppercut.
Botello lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kaka backwards.
Botello working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Botello swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kaka scores a nice knee to the body.
Kaka looking to slow down the pace here.
Botello lands with a short shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Botello 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.

Kaka closes the distance looking to clinch
and Botello counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaka tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kaka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kaka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Botello counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Botello swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kaka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kaka there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kaka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Botello throws out the jab.
Botello circles away from the clinch attempt
and Botello counters with a series of strikes. Kaka will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kaka closes the distance but Botello moves to the side
and Botello counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Botello has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaka takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Botello clinches up with Kaka and pushes him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Kaka.
Botello stalling in the clinch but Kaka improves position.
Botello working aggressively here.
Kaka leaning his opponent against the cage.
Botello managing to block the knees to the body from Kaka.
Kaka is trying to maintain a safe position but Botello gets an underhook and turns Kaka into the cage.
Kaka is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Botello has denied him.
Botello has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Botello looking to stall.
Kaka trying to control the position but instead, Botello has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kaka into the cage.
Botello stalling in the clinch.
Kaka looking to slow down the pace here.

Botello pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botello wants to stand but Kaka is controlling the position.

Botello pushes Kaka off and gets back to his feet.

Kaka clinches with his opponent.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kaka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Botello lands with a right to the head.
Botello lands a nice uppercut.
Kaka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kaka tries to land a knee to the head but Botello blocks with his arms.
Botello gets through Kaka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kaka is trying to stall.
Come on Botello - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botello scores with a nice hook to the head.
Botello lands a right hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Botello.
Kaka stalling in the clinch but Botello improves position.
Kaka missing with knees to the body.
Kaka with a knee to the head.
Kaka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Botello throws a head punch that misses.
Kaka trying to control the position but instead, Botello has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kaka into the cage.
Botello is looking to control Kaka's arms but Kaka gets an underhook and turns him. Now Botello has his back to the cage.
Botello lands with a short shot to the head.
Botello lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kaka backwards.
Kaka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kaka lands a knee to the head.
Kaka is breathing heavily.
Kaka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Botello is keeping busy.
Botello working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Botello lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kaka is looking to control Botello's arms but Botello gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kaka has his back to the cage.
Kaka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Botello swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Botello creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Botello fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Botello to work.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Botello in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Botello tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kaka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A bit of stalling here from Botello.
Kaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Botello lands a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kaka being controlled against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Botello connects with a jab.
Ricardo Kaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaka tries to clinch but Botello moves away
and Botello counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaka slips a jab from Botello.
Kaka tries to clinch but Botello moves away
and Kaka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Botello swings for the body but Kaka moves out of range.
Kaka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kaka tries to clinch but Botello moves away
and Botello counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kaka throws a head kick but Botello moves out of range.
Botello takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Botello throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Botello throws a right hand that Kaka ducks under and follows up with a left that Kaka also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botello fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kaka on the side of the head.
Kaka darts in trying to clinch
and Botello counters with a nice body shot.
Kaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Botello.
Botello throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Botello looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaka is just out of range.
Kaka tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Botello counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Botello.
Kaka trying to stall but Botello improves his position.
Botello leaning against his opponent.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Botello lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kaka backwards.
Kaka is trying to stall.
Kaka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaka is trying to stall.
Kaka seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.

Botello successfully pulls guard.
Botello looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kaka is one step ahead there.
Botello controls Kaka momentarily but Kaka frees himself.
Botello wants to stand and escape but Kaka is having none of it.
Kaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Botello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaka drops back looking for a leg! Botello is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Botello manages to kick Kaka off! Kaka jumps back into Botello's guard.
Kaka stopping the sweep attempt from Botello.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kaka is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kaka tries to clinch
and Botello counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Botello misses with a body shot.
Kaka closes the distance but Botello moves to the side
and Botello counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kaka looks to clinch
and Botello counters with a nice body shot.
Botello misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kaka tries to clinch but Botello moves away
and Botello counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kaka tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Botello holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nice body punch from Botello - that landed with a thud.
Botello lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kaka backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Botello clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kaka slips a jab from Botello.
Botello misses with a body shot.
Kaka throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kaka tries to clinch but Botello moves away
and Botello counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaka throws a quick inside leg kick.
A jab from Botello misses.
Botello pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kaka tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Botello counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Botello tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kaka landing knees to the head.
Botello blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Botello lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Botello lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kaka is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kaka.
Botello lands a shoulder strike.
Botello misses with the head strike.
Botello is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A knee to the head by Kaka.
Botello is looking to control Kaka's arms but Kaka gets an underhook and turns him. Now Botello has his back to the cage.
Kaka blocking some punches.
Botello is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Botello looking to slow down the pace here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Botello.
Botello working aggressively here.
Kaka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Botello.
Kaka tries to land a knee to the head but Botello blocks with his arms.
Kaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Botello lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kaka's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Botello slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Botello.
Kaka trying to control the position but instead, Botello has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kaka into the cage.
Kaka misses with a knee to the head.
Kaka working Botello over with knees to the body.
Kaka missing with knees to the body.
Kaka misses with a knee strike.
Come on Botello - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kaka blocks an uppercut.
Botello has Kaka pushed against the cage.
Kaka with a knee to the head.
Kaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Botello blocks it with crossed arms.
Kaka has Botello pressed against the cage.
Botello has Kaka pressed against the cage.
Kaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kaka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Botello misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kaka trying to stall but Botello improves his position.
Botello working aggressively here.
Botello lands an uppercut.

Botello gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kaka regains guard.
Botello wants to control from the top but Kaka keeps moving.
Kaka looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaka, not yet.
Botello loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Kaka throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Botello passes Kaka's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Botello is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kaka is looking to improve his position.
Kaka is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Botello in particular looking to stall.
Kaka wants to improve his position but Botello is controlling well.
Kaka won't allow Botello to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Botello had his way with Ricardo Kaka in 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. This is the final round!

Kaka lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kaka tries to clinch up
and Botello counters with a nice uppercut.

Kaka has closed the distance and engaged Botello in a clinch.
Botello is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Botello softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kaka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Botello.
Botello tries for a takedown but Kaka manages to get underhooks.
Botello avoiding damage as Kaka throws knees to the body.
John Botello has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Botello misses with a short punch on the inside.
Botello lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kaka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Botello is defending well for now.
Botello blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Botello tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botello lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Botello is working Kaka over against the cage.
Kaka is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Botello tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Botello stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kaka misses with a knee to the head.

Botello pulls guard effortlessly.
Kaka trying to control but Botello is working from the bottom.
Botello is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kaka tries to free his leg and advance position but Botello is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botello is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kaka is controlling him.
Kaka wants to control from the top but Botello keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Botello throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Botello throws a hook but Kaka avoids it easily.
Kaka tries to clinch
and Botello counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kaka tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botello pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kaka moves out of range as Botello strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Botello misses the target.
Kaka closes the distance but Botello moves to the side
and Botello counters with a straight right hand.
Kaka tries to clinch but Botello moves away
and Botello counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kaka thinking.
Kaka closes the distance but Botello moves to the side
and Botello counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kaka tries to clinch but Botello moves away
and Botello counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kaka wants to clinch but Botello slips to the side
and Botello counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Botello waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kaka.
Kaka closes the distance but Botello moves to the side
and Botello counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaka looks to clinch
and Kaka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kaka clinches but Botello breaks the clinch
and Botello counters with a nice uppercut.
Botello lands a nice shot to the body.
Kaka wants to clinch
letting Botello counter with a right hand.
Botello checks a leg kick nicely.
John Botello is winning the standup battle so far.
Kaka throws a low kick, looking for Botello's leg but Botello calmly moves out of range.
Ricardo Kaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kaka attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Botello moves out of range of the body kick from Kaka.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Botello showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Botello has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 50:45
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 50:45
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Botello!
John Botello retains his light heavyweight title!