PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zeca Pagodinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Iberico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zeca Pagodinho has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pagodinho
vs
Iberico

187 cm
24
148 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

166 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zeca Pagodinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Iberico!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iberico fails with a takedown attempt.
Iberico shoots in for a takedown but Pagodinho shows good takedown defense.

Pagodinho rushes Iberico and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Pagodinho lands a takedown into guard.
Iberico is looking to stand up but Pagodinho isn't so interested in that idea.
Pagodinho would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pagodinho won't allow Iberico to get back to his feet.
Iberico is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Pagodinho dives into side control.
Pagodinho content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Pagodinho is looking to take a break and control but Iberico is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Iberico tries to buck Pagodinho off but Pagodinho is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Pagodinho politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Pagodinho prefers to stall for the moment though.
Iberico tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pagodinho wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Zeca Pagodinho.
Iberico shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pagodinho pinned against the cage. Pagodinho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zeca Pagodinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Iberico.
Iberico looks gassed!
Pagodinho lands a really nice looking cross but Iberico seems unphased.
Iberico tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pagodinho swivels and escapes.

Pagodinho shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Iberico's guard.
Pagodinho trying to control but Iberico is working from the bottom.
Iberico is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pagodinho is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagodinho wants to control from the top but Iberico keeps moving.
Pagodinho sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Iberico's guard.
Pagodinho content to control rather than advance.
Pagodinho slips a nice elbow through Iberico's hands, connecting with Iberico's forehead.
Pagodinho really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pagodinho is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Pagodinho decides to stand and escape the position.
Pagodinho shoots for a takedown but Iberico saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Iberico with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pagodinho holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Pagodinho has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Iberico uses from the top position.
Iberico throwing strikes from guard but Pagodinho blocks nicely.
Iberico must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagodinho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pagodinho is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Pagodinho pushes Iberico off and gets back to his feet.
Pagodinho lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Iberico backs up against the cage.

Pagodinho shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pagodinho showed some decent athleticism there.
Iberico is looking for a sweep. Pagodinho is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pagodinho trying to pass the guard but Iberico defending well.
Iberico pushes Pagodinho off looking to stand but Pagodinho dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pagodinho is thwarting Iberico's attempts to control the position.
Iberico is trying to stand up here but Pagodinho is controlling him well.
Iberico wants to get back to full guard.
Iberico holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Iberico kicks Pagodinho off and gets back to his feet.
Iberico fails with the takedown

and Pagodinho counters by clinching up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Iberico wants to break free but Pagodinho has control.
Iberico has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Iberico prevents a takedown attempt there.
Iberico is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeca Pagodinho dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pagodinho shoots in but Iberico avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Iberico tries for a takedown but Pagodinho circles away easily
and Pagodinho counters with a nice leg kick.
Iberico misses with a takedown

and Pagodinho counters with a takedown into side control.
Pagodinho is chipping away with strikes.
Iberico prevents Pagodinho from moving into mount.
Pagodinho working the ground and pound.
Pagodinho prevents Iberico from escaping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iberico bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Iberico fails with the takedown
and Pagodinho counters with a one-two to the body.
Zeca Pagodinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Iberico.
Iberico tries for a takedown but Pagodinho circles away easily

and Pagodinho counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Iberico kicks Pagodinho off and gets to his feet.
Pagodinho lands a leg kick that knocks Iberico off balance momentarily.
Iberico doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pagodinho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pagodinho shoots in looking for a takedown. Iberico tries to sprawl out of it but Pagodinho keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Iberico manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Pagodinho tries to sprawl but Iberico drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pagodinho wants to improve his position but Iberico is controlling well.
Iberico missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Iberico missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Iberico throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Iberico thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Pagodinho to regain full guard.
Pagodinho bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Iberico's guard.
Pagodinho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pagodinho wants to control from the top but Iberico keeps moving.
Iberico wants to stand up but Pagodinho is controlling him.
Pagodinho wants to pass the guard but Iberico is keeping the position.
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.
Iberico is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Iberico looking for a sweep. Not yet Iberico, not yet.
Pagodinho will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Iberico with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pagodinho counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Iberico has his takedown stuffed

and Pagodinho counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Iberico!
Iberico is trying desperately to improve position.
Pagodinho tries to control but Iberico wriggling away.
Iberico is in all sorts of trouble here.
Iberico tries to hold on but Pagodinho pushes him away.
Zeca Pagodinho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iberico wants to try and get back to his feet.
Iberico is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Iberico slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Iberico wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Iberico wants to stand back up but Pagodinho manages to pass into side control.
Iberico tries to bench press Pagodinho off him but Pagodinho keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeca Pagodinho dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pagodinho fails with a takedown attempt.

Iberico darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Iberico is pressing down on Pagodinho's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pagodinho is holding on for now.
Iberico is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Iberico throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pagodinho trying to control but Iberico postures up.
Pagodinho on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Iberico not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagodinho trying to control from the bottom.
Iberico wants to free his trapped foot but Pagodinho is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ground and pound from Iberico.
Iberico with the ground and pound but Pagodinho uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Iberico working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Iberico loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Iberico postures up and lands a big shot to Pagodinho's brow.
Pagodinho preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pagodinho has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Pagodinho tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Iberico cracks Pagodinho with a solid left hand.
Iberico postures up and lands a big shot to Pagodinho's brow.
Iberico stops Pagodinho from standing up.
Pagodinho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pagodinho trying to keep a closed guard but Iberico is proving a slippery customer.
Pagodinho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Iberico lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Iberico accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pagodinho wants to stand and escape but Iberico is having none of it.
Iberico works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Iberico is looking to stall here but Pagodinho recovers full guard.
Iberico tries to free his leg and advance position but Pagodinho is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iberico prevents Pagodinho from getting back to his feet.
Iberico wants to pass the guard but Pagodinho is keeping the position.
Iberico working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pagodinho's head.
Pagodinho bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Iberico's guard.
Pagodinho prevents Iberico from getting back to his feet.
Iberico looking to control.
Iberico is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pagodinho is controlling him.
Pagodinho would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four 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.
Pagodinho slips nicely into half guard.
Pagodinho throwing shots but Iberico is blocking nicely.
Iberico scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Pagodinho manages to mount him!
Pagodinho tries to control but Iberico wriggling away.
Iberico is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Iberico really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pagodinho trying to control but Iberico is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Iberico comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pagodinho 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeca Pagodinho!