PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cobra Kai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Almer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kai
vs
Almer

178 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
177 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cobra Kai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Almer!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almer moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kai doesn't manage to clinch there - Almer circles away.
Kai thows a body shot but no joy.

Kai throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Almer tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kai is in Almer's guard.
Kai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Almer is keeping the position for now.
Kai stopping the sweep attempt from Almer.
Kai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Almer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kai tries to free his leg and advance position but Almer is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kai trying to control the position from guard on top but Almer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kai slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Kai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kai goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Almer rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kai's guard! Nice work there by Almer!

Kai looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Almer has picked Kai up and slammed him! Kai can't keep hold of the triangle and Almer manages to pass to side control!
Almer working away.
Kai holds on to Almer's head and controls the position momentarily.
Kai is trying to work for a sweep but Almer has mounted him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kai is trying desperately to improve position.
Almer wants to control the pace but Kai is squirming around nicely.
Kai is working to get back to half guard.
Kai regains half guard.

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.
Almer passes into side control, despite Kai's attempt to control the position.
Kai is trying to improve his position.
Almer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kai. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Almer tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
You can see the frustration on Kai's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kai tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cobra Kai dominated that round.
That's time! Kai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Kai.

Kai moves into the clinch.
Kai wants a takedown.
Almer tries to throw a body punch but Kai avoids it by throwing Almer back against the cage.
Almer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Almer working aggressively here.
Kai scores with a hook to the body.
Almer is trying to break the clinch but Kai is controlling him.
Kai lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Almer backwards.
Almer tries to work over Kai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Almer misses with a body punch.
Almer wants to get back to striking at distance but Kai won't allow it.
Almer misses with an elbow strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Kai.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kai.
Kai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Almer avoids it.
Kai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kai taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kai is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kai taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Kai has clasped his hands together around Almer's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kai tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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

Kai swings around for an armbar but Almer sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kai's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almer stops Kai from standing up.
Kai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kai pulls Almer in close to his closed guard and prevents Almer from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almer preventing the sweep.
Kai controlling Almer's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice shot lands for Almer.
Kai catches Almer with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Almer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kai was well out of range. Poor timing from Almer.
Kai tries to clinch but Almer moves out of range.
Almer throws a body punch but Kai moves out of range.
Kai tests Almer's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Kai scores a takedown into full mount!
Almer is breathing heavily.
Kai takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Almer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Almer is squirming around, avoiding Kai's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kai looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Kai moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Almer has worked his arm free - good work by Almer!

Kai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kai tries for a kimura but Almer is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cobra Kai dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Almer throws a big shot that misses.
Kai fails with a takedown attempt.
Almer wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kai gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Almer takes a swing at Kai's ribcage but misses.
Almer takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kai just misses with a punch to the body.
Almer moves out of range as Kai strikes.
Almer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kai.
Kai takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kai tries to clinch up but Almer circles away and keeps his distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Almer throws a leg kick which misses Kai's front leg but catches the back leg as Kai tries to avoid it.
Kai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almer was well out of range. Poor timing from Kai.
Kai scores with a hook to the body. Almer takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Almer rushes Kai and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kai works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kai trying to control but Almer is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kai looking to pass the guard.
Almer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kai slips nicely into half guard.
Kai trying to control the action but Almer is working from the bottom.
Almer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Almer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kai.
Kai wants to free his trapped foot but Almer is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kai seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kai is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Almer is trying to maintain the position but Kai is very close to passing his half guard.
Kai stalling.
Thiago Almer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Almer tries to get to full guard but Kai has control of the leg.
Kai works his way into full mount!

Kai looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kai lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cobra Kai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kai 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Cobra Kai!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Cobra Kai!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Cobra Kai!

Cobra Kai wins by unanimous decision!