PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Bija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Galvao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bija
vs
Galvao

181 cm
25
180 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jordan Bija!
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, Andre Galvao!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bija throws a head kick that misses.
Jordan Bija seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Galvao on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bija throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Galvao shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bija defends it nicely.
Galvao looks gassed!
Bija tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Galvao paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bija throws a sloppy head kick and Galvao moves out of range easily.

Bija shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bija looking to secure an arm triangle but Galvao defends it well.
Bija is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Galvao can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Bija postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Galvao looks a forlorn figure.
Bija lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bija landing strikes from the mount.
Bija controlling his opponent.
Bija can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Galvao is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Galvao is wriggling around trying to escape.
Galvao in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Galvao is trying desperately to improve position.
Bija lands a big elbow.
Bija with shots to the head and body - Galvao looks very uncomfortable down there.
Galvao tries to reverse the position but Bija maintains control.
Bija raining down shots from the mount!
Galvao is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bija will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bija looking to control but Galvao is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Bija with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Bija trying to control but Galvao is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bija is really struggling to control Galvao but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Galvao really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Galvao is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bija lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bija with good strikes from the mount here!
A nice elbow there by Bija.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bija trying to control but Galvao is having none of it.

Bija with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Galvao is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bija cracks Galvao with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Bija in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Galvao is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bija can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Galvao is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Galvao manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Bija working the head and body with strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Galvao is refusing to be controlled, as Bija sits in half guard.

Galvao actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bija controlling the action here.
Galvao is pressing down on Bija's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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

Bija 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.

Bija stands up from Galvao's guard - Bija perhaps looking for a knockout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bija looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bija. Galvao shrugs it off though.
Galvao shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Bija dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A head kick misses from Bija.
Bija lands a head kick!

It looks like Andre Galvao has been cut.
Bija tries to close the distance and clinch but Galvao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bija is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bija scores with a kick to the midsection.
Jab from Bija.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bija.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Galvao is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bija wants to take a breather but Galvao is having none of it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bija lands a nice short elbow.
Bija working the head and body with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bija slips a nice elbow through Galvao's hands, connecting with Galvao's forehead.
Bija is keen to just control but Galvao is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bija lands a nice short elbow.
Bija passes to side control.
Galvao gets back to half guard.

Galvao looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bija wants to stand up but Galvao is controlling the position.
Bija lands strikes from half guard.

Galvao looking for submissions off his back.
Bija moves into full mount! Galvao won't be happy about that!
Galvao really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bija takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bija knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Galvao on the ground.
Bija landing strikes, looking to finish!
Galvao is trying desperately to improve position.
Bija controlling from the full mount.
Bija with a couple of short strikes.

Bija is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Galvao to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Galvao shrugs it off.
Galvao is trying to escape the mount.
Bija lands a heavy elbow.
Galvao is squirming around, avoiding Bija's attempts to control the action.
Galvao keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bija unloading with bombs!
Galvao is in all sorts of trouble here.
Galvao sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bija landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bija is trying to control the action in half guard but Galvao is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Galvao looking for submissions off his back.
Bija wants to stand but Galvao has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Galvao is trying to get back to full guard.
Bija wants to control but Galvao is keeping him busy.
Galvao is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bija scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bija looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bija throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Galvao drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bija looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Galvao is pushing down on Bija's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bija is fighting to maintain full guard but Galvao has managed to sneak the leg through.
Galvao wants to pass the guard but Bija is defending well.

Galvao 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Galvao thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bija's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Bija dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Andre Galvao's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bija bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Galvao feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bija trying to keep a closed guard but Galvao is proving a slippery customer.
Galvao won't allow Bija to get back to his feet.
Jordan Bija overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Galvao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bija is keeping the position for now.

Galvao drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bija manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Galvao has Bija in his guard.
Bija lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bija's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Galvao working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bija doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bija manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Galvao keeping moving, preventing Bija from controlling successfully.
Bija sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bija trying to control but Galvao is working from the bottom.
Bija preventing the sweep.

Bija stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bija darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bija throws a head kick that misses.
Bija goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Bija pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Galvao moves out of range as Bija strikes.
Galvao shoots and misses
and Bija finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Bija misses with a body kick.
Bija is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Bija throws a head kick but Galvao moves out of range.
Bija tries to clinch up but Galvao circles away and keeps his distance.
Galvao shoots in but Bija avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bija pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bija throws a head kick that Galvao semi-blocks.
Bija throws a jab when Galvao was well out of range.
Galvao avoids the head kick by Bija.

Galvao shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Galvao showed some decent athleticism there.
Bija blocking the ground and pound attempt from Galvao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Galvao missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bija works his way to full guard. Good work.
Galvao in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bija pulls Galvao in close to prevent any damage.
Galvao passes Bija's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Galvao is working for a kimura but Bija is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Galvao missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jordan Bija is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bija looks like he's trying to stand up.

Galvao is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bija has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bija makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bija.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jordan Bija.
Well Bija has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jordan Bija!