PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claude Moraes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maicon Jardim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maicon Jardim told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Moraes
vs
Jardim

200 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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, Claude Moraes!
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, Maicon Jardim!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Moraes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Jardim is trying to control Moraes's posture but Moraes avoids it.
Jardim might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Moraes kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Jardim gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Moraes blocks the strikes from Jardim.
Jardim tries to roll over but Moraes keeps him under control.
Jardim flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Moraes trying to control the action but Jardim is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Jardim gets caught flat footed, as Moraes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Moraes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Moraes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Moraes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Moraes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Moraes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jardim looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Jardim trying to control the position.

Moraes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Moraes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Jardim should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Jardim bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Moraes's guard.
Moraes wants to sweep but no luck.
Jardim wants to stand but Moraes is controlling his posture from full guard.
Moraes keeping moving, preventing Jardim from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Jardim controlling from the top position.
Jardim trying to control but Moraes is working from the bottom.

Moraes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jardim gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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.

Moraes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jardim looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Moraes avoids a kick to the body.
Moraes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jardim sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moraes somewhat.

Jardim feints and as Moraes raises his hands in defense, Jardim changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jardim cracks Moraes with a solid left hand.
Jardim has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Moraes is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moraes working for a triangle but Jardim defends it easily.
Jardim looking to sit in guard and control but Moraes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Moraes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Moraes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Moraes wants to pass the guard but Jardim is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Claude Moraes will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Moraes leaves Jardim with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Good shot there by Jardim.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Jardim has eaten all the pies!
Jardim slaps away a takedown attempt from Moraes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Moraes shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Jardim is pressing down on Moraes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jardim punching from the bottom.
Jardim pulls Moraes in to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Moraes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Moraes won't allow Jardim to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jardim wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Moraes is now in half guard.

Moraes is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Moraes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Moraes is looking for a kimura here.
Jardim wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Moraes with a lazy takedown attempt

and Jardim counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jardim trying to control the position from guard on top but Moraes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Moraes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jardim not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Claude Moraes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Moraes keeping moving, preventing Jardim from controlling successfully.

Moraes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jardim defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moraes trying to control the position.
Moraes looking for a sweep. Not yet Moraes, not yet.

Moraes working for a triangle but Jardim defends it easily.
Jardim trying to stand up but can't free himself from Moraes's guard.

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.
Moraes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jardim manages to get himself to full guard.
Moraes tries to free his leg and advance position but Jardim is retaining full guard.
Moraes preventing the sweep.

Moraes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jardim working a defensive guard here.
Jardim is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
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 Claude Moraes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Jardim looks for a takedown but Moraes sprawls well.
Moraes tries for a takedown but Jardim sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Moraes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jardim looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Moraes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Moraes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Moraes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jardim is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jardim has escaped and now he's on top!
Jardim scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jardim wants to pass the guard but Moraes is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jardim trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Moraes manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Moraes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Moraes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jardim looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jardim looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jardim!
Moraes sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Moraes is refusing to be controlled, as Jardim sits in half guard.
Moraes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Moraes.

Moraes has his foot on Jardim's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jardim works his way back into a safe position though.
Moraes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Jardim tries to reverse the position but Moraes maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jardim tries to lock up and control but Moraes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Moraes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jardim bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Jardim thows a big elbow that misses.

Moraes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Jardim got a little sloppy there for a moment and Moraes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Jardim has managed to get both his arms back between Moraes's legs - danger averted.

Jardim is posturing up here but Moraes has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Jardim tries to roll out but it's too tight and Jardim has to tap! Slick submission there by Moraes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Claude Moraes!