PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hisashi Mikagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caio Fernandes (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.

Mikagi
vs
Fernandes

188 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 Rio de Janeiro, Hisashi Mikagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Caio Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mikagi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mikagi tries to pull guard but Fernandes holds him up against the cage and eventually Mikagi drops back down to his feet.
Fernandes wants to get back to striking at distance but Mikagi won't allow it.
Fernandes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Fernandes breaks from the clinch.
Mikagi looks for a takedown but Fernandes sprawls well.
Fernandes shoots in but Mikagi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fernandes fails with the takedown

and Mikagi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fernandes's guard.
Fernandes throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Fernandes throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Fernandes is trying to keep Mikagi in close.
Fernandes throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Fernandes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mikagi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Mikagi wants to hold on but Fernandes pushes him away.
Fernandes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Fernandes with shots to the head and body - Mikagi looks very uncomfortable down there.
Fernandes avoids the attempt from Mikagi to control.
Mikagi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes lands a big elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fernandes tries to push Mikagi's head away but Mikagi is holding on tight.
Mikagi is working to get back to half guard.
Fernandes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikagi is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Mikagi wants to control but Fernandes is having none of it.
Mikagi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fernandes breaks from Mikagi's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikagi tries to hold on but Fernandes postures up.
Mikagi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mikagi tries to lock up and control but Fernandes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mikagi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A nice elbow there by Fernandes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caio Fernandes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fernandes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mikagi.
Fernandes tries to clinch

and Mikagi counters by clinching up.
Fernandes working hard to break the clinch.
Fernandes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mikagi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fernandes's efforts to push away.
Fernandes is looking to break free of the clinch but Mikagi has double underhooks.
Mikagi is trying to break the clinch but Fernandes has him pressed against the cage.
Fernandes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fernandes is trying to break the clinch but Mikagi is controlling him.
Mikagi is trying to force a seperation but Fernandes has the dominant position.
Mikagi stalling.
Mikagi wants a takedown.
Fernandes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fernandes wants to break free but Mikagi has control.
Fernandes keeps control of Mikagi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fernandes is trying to break the clinch but Mikagi has him pressed against the cage.
Mikagi has Fernandes pushed against the cage.
Mikagi tries to circle away but Fernandes has him pinned against the cage.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch but Mikagi keeps him there for the moment.

Fernandes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mikagi instigates a clinch.
Mikagi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mikagi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fernandes's efforts to push away.
Mikagi pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mikagi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mikagi tries to land a front kick but Fernandes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Mikagi moves into the clinch.
Mikagi wants to break free but Fernandes has control.

Fernandes breaks the clinch.
Mikagi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fernandes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fernandes fails to land the takedown.
Mikagi fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hisashi Mikagi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mikagi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fernandes avoids it really well and circles away.
Fernandes throws a head kick that misses.
Mikagi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fernandes moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikagi fails with a takedown attempt.
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mikagi sprawls well. Mikagi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fernandes gets slowly back to his feet.
Mikagi throws a head kick but Fernandes moves out of range.
Mikagi's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Mikagi duly obliges.

Fernandes pushes Mikagi up against the cage in a clinch.
Fernandes working hard to break the clinch.

Fernandes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fernandes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mikagi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Fernandes has a takedown stuffed.

Mikagi moves into range and clinches up with Fernandes.
Fernandes is trying to force a seperation but Mikagi has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Mikagi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fernandes working hard to break the clinch.
Mikagi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fernandes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch but Mikagi keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fernandes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Caio Fernandes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fernandes shoots in and drives through. Mikagi sprawls well.
Fernandes is breathing heavily.
Fernandes tries to clinch
and Mikagi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mikagi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fernandes tries to avoid it but Mikagi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fernandes to the ground. Fernandes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fernandes lands with a kick to the temple. Mikagi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Mikagi stalks Fernandes and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fernandes's face. Fernandes staggers backwards, shaken.

Mikagi moves into the clinch successfully.
Fernandes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mikagi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mikagi is working for takedown but Fernandes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mikagi keeps control of Fernandes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Fernandes breaks from the clinch.
Fernandes throws a nice head kick!
Fernandes throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mikagi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fernandes.
Fernandes tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mikagi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Mikagi lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Mikagi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fernandes has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes is looking to control Mikagi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fernandes avoid being mounted?
Mikagi trying to control the action but Fernandes is working from the bottom.
Fernandes is trying to maintain the position but Mikagi is very close to passing his half guard.
Mikagi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fernandes is not content to let Mikagi control the position.
Fernandes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fernandes thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

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

Mikagi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mikagi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fernandes's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hisashi Mikagi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Mikagi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Fernandes has a takedown stuffed.
Fernandes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mikagi.
Mikagi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horrible takedown by Fernandes or perhaps it was just good defense by Mikagi which made him look bad.
Mikagi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fernandes defends it nicely.

Mikagi rushes Fernandes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fernandes wants to get back to striking at distance but Mikagi won't allow it.
Mikagi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mikagi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fernandes.

Fernandes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hisashi Mikagi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fernandes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hisashi Mikagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caio Fernandes.
Mikagi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fernandes but Fernandes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fernandes slaps away a takedown attempt from Mikagi, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes fails with a takedown attempt.
Fernandes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fernandes with a poor takedown

and Mikagi counters by moving into the clinch.
Fernandes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mikagi has him pressed against the cage.
Mikagi tries to break the clinch but Fernandes is controlling the position.

Mikagi drags the fight down to the ground.

Mikagi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Fernandes 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 Mikagi.
Mikagi tries to bench press Fernandes off him but Fernandes keeps the position.
Mikagi tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Fernandes presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikagi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mikagi is working hard here to advance position.
Fernandes avoids the attempt from Mikagi to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikagi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mikagi tries to lock up and control but Fernandes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fernandes looking to finish Mikagi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mikagi!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mikagi working to try and regain half guard.
Fernandes looking to finish Mikagi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mikagi!
Mikagi is looking to improve his position but Fernandes isn't that keen on the idea.
Fernandes unloading with bombs!
Mikagi is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caio Fernandes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fernandes 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caio Fernandes!