PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tim Conner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Loureiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Conner comes to the cage accompanied by The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider. Loureiro has chosen Angra - Acid Rain as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Conner
vs
Loureiro

186 cm
21
182 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
186 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim Conner!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Loureiro!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Conner falls off balance throwing a combination
and Loureiro counters with a nice uppercut.
Conner tries to work over Loureiro's front leg with a kick but Loureiro checks it.
Loureiro lands a jab to the nose.
Conner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Loureiro.
Conner throws a head kick that misses
and Loureiro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Loureiro swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Conner counters with a straight right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Conner misses the target.
Conner throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Loureiro stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Conner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Loureiro counters with a stiff right hand.
Loureiro lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Loureiro is out of range.
Tim Conner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Conner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Loureiro.
Conner thuds a left hand into Loureiro's body.
Conner falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Loureiro counter with a right hand.
Loureiro connects with a body shot that sends Conner's belly button to the back.
Conner misses the shot to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Conner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner throws a poor cross that misses

and Loureiro counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Conner wants to get back to full guard.
Conner keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Loureiro trying to control the action but Conner is working from the bottom.

Loureiro wants to work for an arm triangle but Conner is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Conner is trying to get back to full guard.
Conner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Loureiro is working away from the top position though.
Loureiro is pressing down on Conner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Conner is holding on for now.
Loureiro uses his free foot to push down on Conner's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Conner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loureiro with shots to the head and body - Conner looks very uncomfortable down there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Conner keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Loureiro working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Conner tries to lock up and control but Loureiro gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Loureiro is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Conner can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Loureiro thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Loureiro trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Conner avoids a series of strikes thrown by Loureiro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Conner wants to hold on but Loureiro pushes him away.

Conner defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Loureiro.
Loureiro controlling his opponent.

Loureiro working for a guillotine from mount but Conner is in no mood to give up.
Loureiro misses with a head shot.
Conner can't escape the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Conner wants to hold on but Loureiro pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Conner shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Loureiro doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Conner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Loureiro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Conner manages to avoid it.
Conner slips a jab from Loureiro.
Conner just misses with a punch to the body.
Conner misses with a jab to the body
and Loureiro counters with a good low kick that Conner was not able to check.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Conner is predictable there
and Loureiro counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Conner thinking.
Conner misses with a low kick as Loureiro jumps back.
Loureiro throws a leg kick
and Conner counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner clobbers Loureiro with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Conner falls off balance throwing a combination
and Loureiro counters with a nice low kick that buckles Conner's knee momentarily.
Loureiro misses with a shot to the body
enabling Conner to counter with a crisp jab.
Conner misses the body punch

and Loureiro counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Conner keeping hold of Loureiro's head, controlling as best he can.
Conner is looking to improve his position.

Conner is defending against the submission attempts here by Loureiro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Loureiro is working for a submission of some sort.
Conner wants to control but Loureiro is keeping busy.
Conner is looking to improve his position.
Loureiro wants to take a breather but Conner is having none of it.
Loureiro sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Loureiro.
Conner is looking for a sweep. Loureiro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Loureiro is looking for a kimura but Conner is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Loureiro to get the leverage.
Conner is looking to escape.
Loureiro trying to control the action but Conner is working from the bottom.

Conner is defending against the submission attempts here by Loureiro.
Conner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Conner trying to control but Loureiro postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Loureiro is keen to just control but Conner is a slippery customer.
Loureiro stops Conner from getting back to his feet.
Conner wants to get back to full guard.
Loureiro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Conner defending well though.
Conner tries to get to full guard but Loureiro has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Conner trying to control here.

Loureiro 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.
Conner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Loureiro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Loureiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Loureiro wants to clinch.
Jab, jab by Conner - just one landing.
Conner throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Loureiro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Conner misses with a leg kick.
Conner throws a series of strikes that have Loureiro backpedaling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Conner tries to score with a low kick but Loureiro moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loureiro misses with a body punch
and Conner counters with a head kick.
Conner misses with a combination

and Loureiro holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Loureiro putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Conner in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Loureiro breaks from the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Loureiro checks a leg kick.
Conner falls off balance throwing a combination

so Loureiro counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Loureiro wants to pass the guard but Conner is keeping the position.
Loureiro wants to control from the top but Conner keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loureiro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Conner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Loureiro won't allow Conner to sweep him here.
Conner controlling Loureiro's posture.
Loureiro is pushing down on Conner's leg trying to pass to half guard. Conner is fighting to maintain full guard but Loureiro has managed to sneak the leg through.

Loureiro is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Conner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rafael Loureiro has got the better of the ground game so far.

Loureiro is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Conner has managed to free his arm - good work.
Conner is concentrating on defense, preventing Loureiro from advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner wants to improve his position but Loureiro is controlling well.
Conner won't allow Loureiro to pass to mount.
Loureiro is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Conner!
Conner is looking to get to half guard.
Loureiro looking to control but Conner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Loureiro thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Conner avoids a series of strikes thrown by Loureiro.
Loureiro throws some wild stikes that Conner manages to avoid easily.
Loureiro lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner tries to reverse the position but Loureiro maintains control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Loureiro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Loureiro thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Conner really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Loureiro is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Conner has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Loureiro with good strikes from the mount here!
Loureiro misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Loureiro content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Loureiro really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Loureiro moves out of range of the leg kick from Conner.
A low kick from Loureiro is predictable there
and Conner counters with a straight right hand.
Loureiro jabs Conner to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Conner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conner moves out of range of the leg kick from Loureiro.
Loureiro swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Conner counters with a straight right hand.
Conner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Loureiro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Conner misses with a lunging right hand

and Loureiro moves into the clinch.

Loureiro jumps guard.
Conner trying to control but Loureiro is working from the bottom.
Conner stopping the sweep attempt from Loureiro.
Loureiro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Conner slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Loureiro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner stopping the sweep attempt from Loureiro.
Conner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Loureiro swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Loureiro has his foot on Conner's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Conner works his way back into a safe position though.
Conner trying to control but Loureiro is working from the bottom.
Loureiro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Conner wants to control but Loureiro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Loureiro wants to control but Conner is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loureiro is stalling here. Conner is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Loureiro seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Conner has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Loureiro manages to work his way to half guard, despite Conner's best efforts.
Loureiro wants to control but Conner is keeping busy.
Conner looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Loureiro wants to improve his position but Conner is controlling well.
Loureiro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Loureiro is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Conner has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Loureiro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner trying to control but Loureiro is having none of it.
Loureiro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Conner trying to control but Loureiro is having none of it.
Loureiro is desperately trying to improve his position but Conner has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Loureiro wants to hold on but Conner pushes him away.
Loureiro is trying to escape the mount.
Conner tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Tim Conner will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Loureiro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Conner.
Loureiro avoids the head kick by Conner.
Conner swings for the body but Loureiro moves out of range.
Conner swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Loureiro counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Conner throws a predictable looking body shot
and Loureiro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conner shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Conner misses with a hook
and Loureiro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Conner throws a lazy head kick
letting Loureiro counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner throws a looping overhand right but Loureiro ducks down to avoid it.
Loureiro moves in looking to clinch but Conner pushes him off.
Conner avoids the body shot from Loureiro.
Loureiro tries to clinch up.
Loureiro is trying hard to land a takedown here. Conner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Conner lands a two punch combo.
Loureiro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Conner as he jumps to the side.
Loureiro is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Loureiro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tim Conner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Loureiro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loureiro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Conner swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Loureiro.
Conner lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Conner bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Loureiro's head.
Loureiro fails with the takedown.
Conner misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Loureiro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Conner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Conner throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Loureiro's head.
Conner scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Loureiro doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tim Conner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Conner throws a head kick but Loureiro moves out of range.
Conner takes a swing at Loureiro's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Loureiro is able to avoid easily.
Loureiro fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Loureiro darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Loureiro avoids the body shot from Conner.
Rafael Loureiro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Loureiro throws a head kick that misses
and Conner counters with a series of strikes. Loureiro will be more careful next time no doubt.
Conner throws a left and a right that both miss
and Loureiro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Conner connects with a looping right hand.
Conner scores with a jab.
Loureiro showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Conner.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Conner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Loureiro 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 47:48
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 47:49
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Loureiro!
Rafael Loureiro is the new welterweight champion!