PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rowan Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lae Praye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Atkinson comes to the cage accompanied by deep in the water . Praye has chosen Carry That Weight as his entrance music. Rowan Atkinson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Atkinson
vs
Praye

180 cm
22
163 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

157 cm
30
163 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rowan Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lae Praye!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Praye fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Atkinson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Praye connects with a looping right hand.
Atkinson misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters circling - Praye throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Atkinson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Praye but Praye pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Atkinson blocks a leg kick.
Atkinson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Praye.
Praye throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Praye looks to land a right hand but Atkinson moved out of range.
Praye misses with an uppercut. Atkinson saw that one coming.
Atkinson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Praye.
Praye swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Praye is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Atkinson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson looks for a takedown but Praye sprawls well.
Praye throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Atkinson.
Atkinson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Praye.

Atkinson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Praye manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Atkinson tries to free his leg and advance position but Praye is retaining full guard.
Praye is trying to keep Atkinson in close.

Praye pushes Atkinson off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Praye connects with a good right hand that stumbles Atkinson. Atkinson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Atkinson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Praye.
Praye jabs Atkinson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Praye throws a low kick but it's checked well by Atkinson.
No joy there for Praye, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Atkinson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Praye throws a head kick that misses

and Atkinson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Praye wants to sweep here but Atkinson controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praye wants to stand and escape but Atkinson is having none of it.
Praye looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Praye uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Atkinson dodges the punch combination from Praye.
Atkinson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Praye pinned against the cage. Praye gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rowan Atkinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Atkinson takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson dodges the punch combination from Praye.
Lae Praye is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Praye goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
No joy there for Praye, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Praye scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
That kick from Praye tenderised Atkinson's leg. Atkinson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Praye misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Atkinson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some wild striking there from Praye.
Praye tried to score with a low kick but Atkinson checks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lae Praye 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.

Praye misses with a few strikes there.
Nice sprawl there from Praye as Atkinson shoots in.
Atkinson blocks a jab.
Praye misses with a wild body shot.

Praye gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Atkinson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Praye looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Praye trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Praye 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.
Praye is looking to sweep but instead, Atkinson has passed into half guard.
Praye is looking to improve his position.
Atkinson is thwarting Praye's attempts to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Praye can do anything to dispel that myth.
Praye wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Praye works his way to full guard. Good work.
Praye wants to stand and escape but Atkinson is having none of it.
Praye working a defensive guard but Atkinson manages to pass into side control anyway.
Praye is trying to improve his position.
Praye is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Atkinson asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praye bucks up and tries to throw Atkinson off but instead Atkinson has got his back!
Atkinson lands a shot to the body.
Atkinson lands punches and elbows.
Atkinson throwing damaging strikes from the back! Praye could be in trouble here!
Atkinson scores with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Praye trying to control the hands but Atkinson breaks the grip.
Praye wants to get back to his feet.
Praye turns into Atkinson and is now in his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Praye controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Praye trying to control the position from guard on top but Atkinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atkinson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rowan Atkinson will probably get the nod.
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. And we move into the final round!

Praye misses with a low kick.
Lae Praye seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Praye looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fighters circle momentarily. Praye darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Atkinson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Praye's waist but Praye gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Atkinson off to one side.
Atkinson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Praye throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lae Praye is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Praye just misses with a punch to the body.
Lae Praye seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Atkinson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rowan Atkinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Atkinson moves out of range of the strikes.
Praye misses with a series of wild punches.
Praye misses with a hook. Atkinson ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Praye looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Atkinson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Praye swivels and escapes.
Atkinson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Praye misses with a wild combination.
Atkinson checks a leg kick nicely.
Atkinson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Praye lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Praye lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Praye misses with a body shot.
Praye throws a series of punches but Atkinson avoids them all with ease.
Atkinson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Praye sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Atkinson somewhat.

Atkinson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Praye's guard.
Atkinson is pushing down on Praye's leg trying to pass to half guard. Praye is fighting to maintain full guard but Atkinson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Praye is looking to improve his position.
Praye tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Atkinson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praye is in a horrible position here. Atkinson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Praye is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson with shots to the head and body - Praye looks very uncomfortable down there.
Praye working to try and regain half guard.
Atkinson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atkinson landing strikes, looking to finish!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rowan Atkinson.
I think Atkinson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rowan Atkinson!