PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maelo Paulo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Red Arcinas (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.

Paulo
vs
Arcinas

191 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maelo Paulo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Red Arcinas!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Arcinas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Arcinas has a takedown stuffed.
Arcinas tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arcinas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Arcinas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Paulo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arcinas tries to close the distance and clinch but Paulo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Arcinas fails in his attempt to clinch.

Paulo gets the takedown into side control.
Arcinas is trying to get back to half guard.

Paulo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Paulo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Arcinas has escaped the position, nice work there.

Paulo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Arcinas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arcinas manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Arcinas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Paulo pulls his head out easily.

Paulo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Arcinas is trying to get back to full guard.

Paulo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Paulo is breathing heavily.
Paulo prevents Arcinas from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Paulo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Arcinas sees it coming and defends easily.

Paulo wants to work for an arm triangle but Arcinas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Arcinas is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arcinas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Arcinas with a poor takedown

and Paulo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Paulo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Arcinas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Paulo.
Arcinas works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arcinas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Paulo!

Arcinas has hold of Paulo's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Paulo manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Paulo looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Arcinas looking for the choke but no joy.
Paulo can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulo covering up well and avoiding damage.

Arcinas is looking for the choke from the back position but Paulo is controlling his hands well.
Arcinas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Arcinas looking to break Paulo's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Paulo remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Arcinas will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Arcinas doesn't have the hooks in and Paulo manages to turn into his guard.

Paulo drops back looking for a leg! Arcinas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Arcinas manages to kick Paulo off! Paulo jumps back into Arcinas's guard.

Paulo has gone for a leg lock! Arcinas slips out almost immediately though and dives into Paulo's guard.

Paulo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Arcinas is aware though and is defending well.
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 Maelo Paulo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Arcinas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paulo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Arcinas tries to clinch but Paulo moves away

and Paulo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Arcinas!

Paulo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Paulo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Arcinas is on top in guard.
Arcinas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

Arcinas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Arcinas passes Paulo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arcinas has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Paulo is desperately trying to improve his position but Arcinas has a good base and remains in mount.
Paulo is working hard here to advance position.

Arcinas looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Arcinas in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Arcinas fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Arcinas landing strikes, looking to finish!
Arcinas working Paulo over with strikes here.
Maelo Paulo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Arcinas thows a huge punch but Paulo dodges it nicely.
Paulo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Arcinas scores with a couple of nice shots.

Paulo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Arcinas prevents Paulo from improving his position.

Paulo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Paulo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Arcinas lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arcinas frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Arcinas is landing with some decent strikes but Paulo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Paulo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Paulo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Paulo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Arcinas seems to be looking for submissions.
Arcinas throwing shots but Paulo is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arcinas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Paulo actively working from the bottom here.
Paulo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Arcinas throwing shots but Paulo is blocking nicely.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Paulo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Arcinas defends it nicely.
Arcinas tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Paulo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Arcinas trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Arcinas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paulo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Paulo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Paulo has gone for a leg lock! Arcinas slips out almost immediately though and dives into Paulo's guard.
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 Maelo Paulo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Arcinas tries to clinch but Paulo is having none of it.
Arcinas tries to clinch but Paulo is having none of it.

Paulo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Arcinas works his way to full guard. Good work.

Arcinas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Paulo looking to pass the guard.
Arcinas 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arcinas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Paulo some visible discomfort.
Paulo tries to buck Arcinas off but Arcinas is having none of it.
Arcinas works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Paulo is looking to regain half guard here but Arcinas keeps moving and retains side control.
Arcinas throws a strike aimed at the side of Paulo's head but Paulo avoids it well.
Paulo tries to buck Arcinas off but Arcinas is having none of it.
Arcinas is working Paulo over with some ground and pound from side control.

Arcinas tries for a kimura but Paulo is defending well.
Arcinas tries to score with some ground and pound. Paulo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

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.
Paulo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Arcinas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Arcinas is defending against the submission attempts here by Paulo.

Paulo is trying to work for a kimura but Arcinas is defending well.

Paulo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arcinas gets full guard.
Paulo wants to pass the guard but Arcinas is keeping the position.
Arcinas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Arcinas moves into full mount! Paulo won't be happy about that!
Paulo is looking to improve his position but Arcinas isn't that keen on the idea.
A nice elbow there by Arcinas.
Arcinas working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Arcinas forces the positional change into back control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulo is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Arcinas has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Arcinas doesn't have the hooks in and Paulo manages to turn into his guard.

Arcinas working for a triangle but Paulo defends it easily.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Red Arcinas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Paulo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maelo Paulo!