PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcelio Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azad Naja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Garcia
vs
Naja

184 cm
24
185 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

185 cm
29
175 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcelio Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Azad Naja!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Naja closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Garcia trying to control but Naja postures up.
Naja trying to mount his opponent but Garcia defends it.
Naja is looking to take a break and control but Garcia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Garcia punching from the bottom.
Garcia controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Naja seems to be looking for submissions.
Garcia has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Naja seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Garcia does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia wants to control but Naja is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Naja working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Garcia's thigh. Garcia counters though and makes it back to full guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garcia looking for a guillotine here but Naja defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Garcia is on top in guard.
Naja looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Garcia puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Garcia controlling the pace.
Garcia prevents Naja from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Garcia controlling the action here.
Naja tries to get to full guard but Garcia has control of the leg.
Naja is pressing down on Garcia's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naja looking for a sweep. Not yet Naja, not yet.
Garcia controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Marcelio Garcia.
Garcia fails with the takedown

and Naja counters with a nice double leg into side control. Garcia won't be happy with that.
Garcia is looking to reverse the position.
Naja working the head with strikes.
Naja tries to move into full mount but can't pass Garcia's legs.

Naja working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Garcia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naja is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Naja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Garcia is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Naja frees his head nicely. Oh but Garcia has switched to an armbar! Naja is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Marcelio Garcia!