PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafa Soares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Independent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Soares
vs
Independent

183 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafa Soares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Independent!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Independent looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Soares is fending him off so far but Independent persists. Nope, Soares circles away and we're back to standing.
Independent shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Soares but Soares pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Independent looks gassed!
Independent tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soares paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soares buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Soares throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Independent keeps the fight on the outside.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Soares fails with a takedown attempt.
Soares looks for a takedown but Independent sprawls well.
Soares throws a right and a left that Independent avoids nicely.
Soares with a lazy takedown attempt

and Independent counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafa Soares. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Soares working for a triangle but Independent defends it easily.
Soares wants to stand but Independent is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Independent defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Soares.
Soares dominating with strikes here.
Soares is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Soares pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Independent is desperately trying to improve his position but Soares has a good base and remains in mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Independent can do anything to dispel that myth.
Soares lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Independent hang on?

Soares wants to finish this one by submission but Independent is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Soares.
Soares lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Soares is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Independent is surviving well by controlling Soares's body position as best he can.
Soares lands a big shot there that rocks Independent but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Soares scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Soares has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Independent?

Independent is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Soares locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Independent is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rafa Soares!