PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rubiao Macarenco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and rafael borges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rubiao Macarenco had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 267.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. 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.

Macarenco
vs
borges

210 cm
25
290 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
22
253 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rubiao Macarenco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, rafael borges!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
borges is looking to clinch but Macarenco is avoiding it.

Macarenco darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Macarenco with the ground and pound but borges uses the opportunity to regain guard.

borges looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Macarenco throwing strikes from guard but borges blocks nicely.
borges is looking to stand up but Macarenco isn't so interested in that idea.
borges looking to hit a scissor sweep but Macarenco is one step ahead there.
Macarenco postures up in borges's guard and throws a big left but borges blocks it.
borges working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Macarenco.

borges has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Macarenco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
borges avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macarenco postures up and lands a big shot to borges's brow.
borges wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Macarenco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Macarenco working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of borges's head.
borges wants to sweep but no luck.
Macarenco throws a big right hand that misses.
Macarenco is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Macarenco is looking to work some ground and pound but borges has wrist control.

borges working for a triangle but Macarenco defends it easily.
Macarenco throwing strikes but missing.
Macarenco scoring with punches to the head and body.
Macarenco knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for borges on the ground.
borges is trying to control the position but Macarenco postures up.
Macarenco lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macarenco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Macarenco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
borges working a defensive guard here.

borges has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Macarenco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
borges looks gassed!
borges throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Macarenco working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of borges's head.
Macarenco postures up and lands a big shot to borges's brow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Macarenco is looking to work some ground and pound but borges has wrist control.
borges 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.
borges working a defensive guard here.
Macarenco working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

borges has his foot on Macarenco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Macarenco works his way back into a safe position though.
Macarenco chips away with some ground and pound.
Macarenco keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of borges's head.
Macarenco working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of borges's head.
Macarenco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
borges trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

borges has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Macarenco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Macarenco landing some decent shots from guard.
Macarenco scoring with punches to the head and body.
Macarenco is working borges over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Macarenco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Macarenco working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of borges's head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now borges is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
borges wants to stand but Macarenco is controlling his posture from full guard.
borges is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Macarenco throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
borges trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
borges trying to control the position from guard on top but Macarenco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macarenco looking to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
borges preventing the sweep.
Macarenco has a closed guard, preventing borges from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Macarenco scores with a takedown into borges's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rubiao Macarenco dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

borges tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Macarenco was well out of range. Poor timing from borges.
borges misses with a takedown

and Macarenco counters by moving into the clinch.
borges is pressed up against the cage. Macarenco has hold of a leg and is looking to drag borges down to the mat. borges avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
borges doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Macarenco counters with a shoot takedown. borges fights it but they end up in guard.
borges preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Macarenco lands a couple of digs.
borges is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
borges might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Macarenco kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Macarenco with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macarenco lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
borges has momentary wrist control but Macarenco slips an elbow through the middle.
Macarenco throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Macarenco preventing the sweep.

borges is looking to sinch up a triangle. Macarenco throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to borges's body to avoid the submission. borges has instead reached around Macarenco's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! borges arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). rafael borges!