PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Caio Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Tennant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Almeida's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Blink 182 - Dammit. Caio Almeida had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Almeida
vs
Tennant

182 cm
25
200 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

180 cm
22
190 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Caio Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, David Tennant!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida doesn't manage to clinch there - Tennant circles away.

Almeida moves into range and clinches up with Tennant.
Tennant prevents Almeida from breaking the clinch.
Tennant with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Almeida pulls guard effortlessly.
Almeida trying to keep a closed guard but Tennant is proving a slippery customer.

Almeida throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tennant escapes and throws Almeida's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Almeida is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Tennant has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Almeida can't do much from the bottom here.
Almeida looking for a sweep but Tennant has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Almeida 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Almeida actively working from the bottom here.
Tennant stops Almeida from getting back to his feet.

Tennant stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Almeida gets a clinch.

Almeida ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Almeida no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Tennant stands up from Almeida's guard - Tennant perhaps looking for a knockout.

Tennant rushes Almeida and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Almeida looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Knees to the body from Tennant.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tennant with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tennant obliges.
Almeida is breathing heavily.
Tennant with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Caio Almeida has been cut.
Almeida drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tennant working Almeida over with knees to the body.
Almeida takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tennant misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Almeida.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tennant obliges.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tennant landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tennant tries to land a knee to the head but Almeida blocks with his arms.
Tennant misses with an elbow over the top.
Tennant looking to throw knees to the head but Almeida is blocking nicely.
A knee to the head by Tennant.
Tennant lands an elbow just above Almeida 's eye.
Tennant with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Almeida landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tennant tries to land a knee to the head but Almeida blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Tennant.
Almeida throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tennant missing with knees to the body.
Tennant throws a knee to the head but misses.

Almeida manages to break the clinch.
Tennant throws a head kick but Almeida moves out of range.
Tennant clinches but Almeida breaks the clinch
and Almeida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Almeida fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tennant, pushing him back against the cage.
Almeida tries to pull guard but Tennant won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Tennant throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tennant with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tennant is pressed up against the cage. Almeida has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tennant down to the mat. Tennant avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caio Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tennant tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Almeida counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Almeida.
Almeida postures up.
Almeida sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tennant's guard.

Almeida is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Almeida thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tennant to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Almeida drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tennant looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tennant looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tennant!
Almeida wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Tennant working away.

Tennant tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tennant has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You can see the frustration on Almeida's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but David Tennant will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Caio Almeida's cut.
That's time! Almeida's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Almeida fails to land with a series of punches.
Tennant throws a head kick but Almeida moves out of range.

Almeida moves into the clinch successfully.
Almeida tries to pull guard but Tennant won't allow it.
Tennant with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Almeida goes for a takedown attempt but Tennant pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Almeida fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tennant avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caio Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tennant fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tennant tries to clinch up
and Almeida makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Tennant really felt that one!
Donk. Almeida catches Tennant right on the button with a cross.

Tennant rushes Almeida and presses him up against the cage.
Tennant tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tennant.
Almeida is working for takedown but Tennant is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tennant throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Almeida blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tennant using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Almeida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Almeida tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tennant connects with a nasty looking knee right to Almeida's face.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Tennant.
Tennant gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tennant tries to land a knee to the head but Almeida blocks with his arms.
Tennant misses with an elbow over the top.
Tennant with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tennant landing knees to the head.
Almeida tries for a takedown but Tennant manages to get underhooks.

Almeida turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Almeida swings around for an armbar but Tennant sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Almeida's guard.
Almeida wants to get back to his feet but Tennant passes into half guard.
Almeida throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Almeida actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida pushes Tennant off but Tennant dives into side control.
Almeida is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Tennant is controlling him well.

Tennant decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Almeida looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tennant is fending him off so far but Almeida persists. Nope, Tennant circles away and we're back to standing.
Tennant thuds his shin into the meat of Almeida's side.
Tennant tries to clinch up.
Tennant looks to clinch

and Almeida counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tennant's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Almeida wants to stand but Tennant has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Tennant pushes Almeida off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tennant is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Almeida fails to land the takedown.

Tennant fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Almeida, pushing him back against the cage.
Tennant pushes off an throws an elbow but Almeida leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Almeida working hard to break the clinch.
Tennant tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Almeida tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tennant blocks the elbow strike.
Tennant landing knees to the head.
Knees to the body from Almeida.
Tennant with a knee to the head.
Tennant connects with a knee to the head.
Tennant looking to throw knees to the head but Almeida is blocking nicely.
Almeida with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Almeida blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Almeida breaks the clinch.
Tennant fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tennant stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tennant wants it to stay on the feet.
Caio Almeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Almeida walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tennant.
Tennant looks to clinch
and Almeida counters with a three punch combo that has Tennant backing up. Tennant nods at Almeida to acknowledge the strikes.
Almeida swats away the attempt to clinch by Tennant.
Almeida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tennant pinned against the cage. Tennant gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Tennant clinches.
Tennant scores with a knee to the head.
Almeida avoids a wild elbow strike from Tennant.
Almeida looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Almeida trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tennant landing knees to the head.
Tennant trying to land knees to the body.
Tennant with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Almeida jumps into guard, dragging Tennant to the mat.

Almeida looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tennant has picked Almeida up and slammed him! Almeida can't keep hold of the triangle and Tennant manages to pass to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but David Tennant will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Caio Almeida's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tennant throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Almeida.
Almeida tries to clinch but Tennant is having none of it.
Tennant fails in his attempt to clinch.
Caio Almeida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Almeida swinging wildly here.

Almeida has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tennant landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tennant connects with a knee to the head.
Tennant unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tennant throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Almeida blocks it with crossed arms.
Almeida fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tennant trying to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Tennant.
Almeida tries to pull guard but Tennant holds him up against the cage and eventually Almeida drops back down to his feet.
Tennant utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tennant with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Almeida has clasped his hands together around Tennant's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Almeida misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Almeida thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Almeida looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Almeida swings around for an armbar but Tennant sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Almeida's guard.
Tennant stops Almeida from standing up.

Almeida has an active guard here but Tennant has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Tennant gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Tennant rushes Almeida and presses him up against the cage.
Almeida working Tennant over with knees to the body.
Tennant tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Almeida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tennant moves into the clinch.
Tennant misses with a knee to the head.
Tennant tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Almeida avoids it.
Almeida missing with knees to the body.
Tennant throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Almeida blocks it with crossed arms.
Almeida tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tennant smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caio Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Almeida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tennant as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tennant throws a head kick that Almeida semi-blocks.
Tennant tries to clinch but Almeida moves away

and Almeida decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tennant's guard.
Almeida loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tennant avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tennant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Almeida.
Almeida looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Almeida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Tennant has his feet on Almeida's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Almeida.

Almeida stands up and beckons Tennant to his feet.
Caio Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tennant moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tennant scores with a head kick.
Tennant darts in trying to clinch

so Almeida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Almeida stands up from Tennant's guard - Almeida perhaps looking for a knockout.
David Tennant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head kick misses from Tennant.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caio Almeida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tennant has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Tennant!