PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Don Geronimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Sotomayor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Geronimo kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is "War," by Edwin Starr. Sotomayor has chosen Enter Sandman - Metallica as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Geronimo
vs
Sotomayor

178 cm
30
189 lbs
16 - 9 - 1

191 cm
24
199 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Geronimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Sotomayor!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Geronimo looks for a takedown but Sotomayor sprawls well.
Sotomayor looks for a takedown but Geronimo sprawls well.
Sotomayor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Geronimo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Geronimo leaves Sotomayor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Don Geronimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Sotomayor.
Geronimo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sotomayor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Geronimo somewhat.
Bruno Sotomayor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sotomayor shoots in for a takedown but Geronimo shows good takedown defense.
Sotomayor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Geronimo counters with a takedown into side control.
Sotomayor prevents Geronimo from moving into mount.
Sotomayor tries to bench press Geronimo off him but Geronimo keeps the position.
Sotomayor is being controlled here.
Sotomayor wants to control but Geronimo postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotomayor regains half guard.
Geronimo wants to pass the guard but Sotomayor is defending well.
Sotomayor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sotomayor looking for a guillotine here but Geronimo defends easily.
Sotomayor looks gassed!
Geronimo content to stall in guard here.

Geronimo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Geronimo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sotomayor working for submissions but it's allowed Geronimo to get to half guard.

Sotomayor actively working from the bottom here.
Still in half guard, Geronimo seems content to control.

Sotomayor looking for submissions off his back.
Geronimo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotomayor wants to control but Geronimo passes into side.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sotomayor prevents Geronimo from moving into mount.
Geronimo has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Sotomayor!
Geronimo controlling the pace for now.
Sotomayor working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Geronimo controlling the position easily from mount.
Geronimo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Geronimo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sotomayor is looking to escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Don Geronimo.
Sotomayor with a lazy takedown attempt

and Geronimo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sotomayor's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Geronimo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Geronimo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sotomayor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Geronimo.

Geronimo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Geronimo lands in his opponent's guard.

Sotomayor is looking for a triangle here but Geronimo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Geronimo is looking to take a break and control but Sotomayor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sotomayor tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Geronimo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sotomayor is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Geronimo slows the pace down.
Geronimo has control of an arm but Sotomayor manages to advance to Geronimo's back!
Geronimo wants to control his opponent's hands but Sotomayor gets his hands free.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Sotomayor. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Geronimo breaks Sotomayor's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Geronimo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Sotomayor looking for a guillotine here but Geronimo defends easily.
Geronimo wants to pass the guard but Sotomayor is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Geronimo stopping the sweep attempt from Sotomayor.
Geronimo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sotomayor is keeping the position for now.
Geronimo pushes down on Sotomayor's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sotomayor tries to get to full guard but Geronimo has control of the leg.
Geronimo controlling the action here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sotomayor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sotomayor looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Geronimo pushes past his half guard into mount!
Sotomayor is trying to escape the mount.
Geronimo controlling from the full mount.
Sotomayor is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sotomayor is breathing heavily.
Geronimo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Geronimo looking to control but Sotomayor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Geronimo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Don Geronimo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Geronimo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Geronimo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Geronimo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A nice inside leg kick there by Geronimo. That's going to slow Sotomayor down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice takedown defense from Sotomayor. No joy for Geronimo on that attempt.
Don Geronimo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sotomayor has a takedown stuffed.
Sotomayor shoots in for a takedown but Geronimo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Geronimo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Geronimo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sotomayor to the mat! Sotomayor manages to get full guard.
Geronimo controlling from the top position.
Geronimo trying to control but Sotomayor is working from the bottom.
Geronimo tries to free his leg and advance position but Sotomayor is retaining full guard.
Geronimo wants to control from the top but Sotomayor keeps moving.
Geronimo passes Sotomayor's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sotomayor looking for submissions off his back.
Geronimo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotomayor is trying to control but can't.
Don Geronimo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sotomayor wants to sweep but Geronimo has passed to side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sotomayor is trying to control Geronimo's posture but Geronimo avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Geronimo wants to control but Sotomayor is keeping him busy.
Sotomayor tries to bench press Geronimo off him but Geronimo keeps the position.
Sotomayor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Geronimo slows the pace down.
Sotomayor tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Geronimo looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotomayor really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Geronimo controlling from mount.

Geronimo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sotomayor is surviving well by controlling Geronimo's body position as best he can.
Sotomayor is trying desperately to improve position.
Don Geronimo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotomayor tries to lock up and control but Geronimo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Geronimo controlling from mount.
Sotomayor is wriggling around trying to escape.
Geronimo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Geronimo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Bruno Sotomayor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Geronimo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sotomayor for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Geronimo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Geronimo 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Geronimo!