PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Brainson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Orlando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Brainson
vs
Orlando

190 cm
24
175 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
184 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)
GR Design - Elegance and Comfort (Made in Italy)

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Brainson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paulo Orlando!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Orlando tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Brainson counters with a single leg into guard. Orlando didn't expect that.

Brainson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Orlando dives on top into guard.
Brainson 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.
Brainson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Orlando engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Brainson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Brainson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Orlando's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlando keeping moving, preventing Brainson from controlling successfully.
Brainson 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.

Brainson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Brainson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Orlando keeping moving, preventing Brainson from controlling successfully.

Brainson drops back looking for a leg! Orlando is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Orlando manages to kick Brainson off! Brainson jumps back into Orlando's guard.
Brainson stands and throws Orlando's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brainson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Brainson is trying to get an arm triangle but Orlando is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Brainson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Brainson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brainson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Brainson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Brainson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Brainson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Orlando has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlando is not content to let Brainson control the position.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Brainson tries for a kimura but Orlando is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Orlando is looking to clinch but Brainson is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brainson shoots in but Orlando avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Brainson shoots for a takedown but Orlando saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlando shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Brainson eats them both and turns towards Orlando to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Steve Brainson has been cut.
Brainson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Brainson with a poor takedown
and Orlando counters with a three punch combo that has Brainson backing up. Brainson nods at Orlando to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Brainson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Orlando tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Brainson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brainson has Orlando up against the cage in a clinch.
Brainson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Brainson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Orlando gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Orlando tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Brainson is trying to drag Orlando to the mat but Orlando just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Orlando connects with a nasty looking knee right to Brainson's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orlando misses with a knee strike.
Orlando misses with a knee strike.
Orlando misses with a knee strike.
Orlando trying to land knees to the body.
Orlando prevents the takedown attempt.
Brainson is trying to drag Orlando to the mat but Orlando just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A knee to the head by Orlando.
Orlando tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Orlando misses with a knee strike.
Brainson blocks an elbow strike from Orlando.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlando tries to land a knee to the head but Brainson blocks with his arms.
Orlando misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Brainson.
Orlando is breathing heavily.
Brainson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Orlando fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Brainson shoots and misses
and Orlando counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Orlando tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brainson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Orlando stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Orlando wants it to stay on the feet.
Brainson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Orlando counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Orlando showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Brainson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Brainson tries for a takedown but Orlando circles away easily
and Orlando counters with a head kick.
Orlando closes the distance looking to clinch

and Brainson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brainson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Brainson has hold of Orlando's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Orlando tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Brainson cranks the arm and Orlando screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Orlando, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Steve Brainson!
Steve Brainson is the new welterweight champion!