PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barbados Slim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Slim
vs
Almeida

185 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

150 cm
29
210 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barbados Slim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mario Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida throws a poor cross that misses
and Slim counters with a nice uppercut.
Slim throws a jab but it's blocked by Almeida.
Almeida misses with an uppercut
enabling Slim to counter with a crisp jab.
Slim bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Almeida ducks under a wild hook from Slim.
Almeida shoots and misses
and Slim counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Almeida thinking.
Almeida misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Slim makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Almeida misses the body punch
and Slim counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Almeida walks into a stiff left hand from Slim.
The fighters circle momentarily. Slim darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida misses with an uppercut

and Slim counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Slim missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Almeida actively working from the bottom here.
Slim will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Slim missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Slim wants to control but Almeida is keeping him busy.
Almeida regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Slim.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Slim from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slim is looking to advance position but Almeida has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Slim regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slim pushes Almeida off looking to stand but Almeida dives back in and keeps control.

Slim looking for submissions off his back.
Almeida trying to control the pace.
Slim wants to get back to full guard.

Almeida is trying to work for a kimura but Slim is defending well.

Almeida is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Almeida wants to work for an arm triangle but Slim is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Almeida looks gassed!
Almeida prevents Slim from improving his position.
Slim moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Almeida engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Almeida trying to control the position from guard on top but Slim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Almeida stopping the sweep attempt from Slim.
Slim keeping full guard, as Almeida tries to pass.
Almeida won't allow Slim to sweep him here.
Slim keeping moving, preventing Almeida from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barbados Slim dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Slim scores with a takedown into Almeida's guard.
Slim trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slim working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Slim trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Slim with a flurry of punches that miss.
Almeida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Almeida working for a triangle but Slim defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slim is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Almeida throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Slim trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Slim has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Slim slips nicely into half guard.
Slim lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slim thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Almeida's head.

Slim is looking for a kimura but Almeida is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Slim to get the leverage.
Slim works his foot free and advances to mount.

Slim moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Almeida has worked his arm free - good work by Almeida!
Almeida dodges the ground and pound from Slim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slim looks up at the clock and then as Almeida takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Slim smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Almeida is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Slim off and has taken his back!
Well, with Almeida on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Slim is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Almeida is looking for the choke from the back position but Slim is controlling his hands well.
Almeida is breathing heavily.
Slim can't escape the position.
Slim looking very determined here, making life difficult for Almeida.
Slim manages to reverse the position and now he's in Almeida's guard. Nice work there by Slim.
Almeida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Slim trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Almeida looking for a guillotine here but Slim defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slim working some strikes from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Slim accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Slim is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Almeida is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Almeida has escaped and now he's on top!
Slim throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barbados Slim dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The fighters circle momentarily. Slim darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Slim throws a poor cross that misses

so Almeida counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Slim throwing short punches from the bottom.
Almeida wants to pass the guard but Slim is keeping the position.
Slim is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Almeida advances to half guard.
Almeida trying to control the action but Slim is working from the bottom.
Almeida is thwarting Slim's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slim is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Almeida trying to control from half guard but Slim is working away.

Almeida is looking for a kimura here.
Almeida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Slim moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Almeida passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mario Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Slim is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Slim gets back to full guard.
Slim wants to sweep but no luck.
Almeida trying to control but Slim is working from the bottom.
Barbados Slim overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Almeida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Slim is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Slim has gone for a leg lock! Almeida slips out almost immediately though and dives into Slim's guard.
Almeida wants to pass the guard but Slim is keeping the position.
Slim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Almeida is one step ahead there.
Slim keeping moving, preventing Almeida from controlling successfully.
Barbados Slim is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Slim looking for a sweep. Not yet Slim, not yet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Slim keeping moving, preventing Almeida from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mario Almeida was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Slim digs a good hook to Almeida's body.
Almeida takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Slim scores with a jab. Almeida acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Almeida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Slim 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barbados Slim!