PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gustavo Moraes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Fatu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Moraes
vs
Fatu

200 cm
23
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
21
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Moraes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joshua Fatu!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moraes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fatu swivels and escapes.

Moraes gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Moraes keeping moving, preventing Fatu from controlling successfully.
Fatu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fatu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fatu trying to control but Moraes is working from the bottom.
Fatu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Fatu throws an elbow that misses. Moraes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fatu's guard. Nice move by Moraes!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Moraes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fatu for as long as he can get away with.

Fatu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Moraes stays in close to Fatu's body and controls the position.
Fatu doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gustavo Moraes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Fatu drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Fatu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Moraes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Moraes is breathing heavily.
Fatu is trying to maintain the position but Moraes is very close to passing his half guard.
Moraes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fatu tries to roll over but Moraes keeps him under control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Moraes slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fatu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Moraes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Moraes's back!
Moraes controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Will Fatu go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Moraes tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moraes is looking to improve his position but Fatu isn't that keen on the idea.
Fatu wants to control the pace but Moraes is squirming around nicely.
Moraes regains half guard.
Fatu prevents Moraes from standing back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fatu trying to control the action but Moraes is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fatu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Moraes was covering up waiting for the punch and Fatu finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Moraes keeping moving, preventing Fatu from controlling successfully.
Fatu tries to stand but Moraes is controlling from the bottom.
Joshua Fatu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fatu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes wants to sweep here but Fatu controlling him for the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Fatu wants to stand but Moraes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joshua Fatu hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Moraes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fatu tries to clinch but Moraes moves out of range.

Moraes gets caught flat footed, as Fatu shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Moraes keeping moving, preventing Fatu from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Moraes uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Fatu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Moraes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fatu tries to close the distance and clinch but Moraes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Fatu dives in and scores a takedown into Moraes's guard.
Moraes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fatu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moraes keeping moving, preventing Fatu from controlling successfully.

Moraes manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Fatu rushes Moraes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Fatu's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Fatu has Moraes pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Fatu pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Moraes tumbling to the mat - Fatu dives into Moraes's guard.
Fatu trying to control but Moraes is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moraes wants to get back to his feet but Fatu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Moraes keeping full guard, as Fatu tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Joshua Fatu wasn't active enough on the ground.
Moraes fails with the takedown

and Fatu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Fatu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Moraes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Fatu tries to clinch but Moraes moves out of range.

Fatu shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Moraes napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fatu trying to control the action but Moraes is working from the bottom.

Moraes explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Moraes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fatu as he avoids it easily.

Fatu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatu cracks Moraes with a big elbow.

Fatu is trying to get an arm triangle but Moraes is defending well.
The strikes coming from Fatu are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Fatu scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Moraes to see if he's OK.
Fatu working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fatu decides to stand back up. Fatu steps back and let's Moraes get back to his feet.
Fatu scores with a nice head shot.

Moraes tries to sprawl but Fatu drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fatu stops Moraes from getting back to his feet.
Fatu wants to control but Moraes is keeping him busy.
Fatu tries to pass to full mount but Moraes defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joshua Fatu.

Fatu gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Moraes stays in close to Fatu's body and controls the position.
Moraes tries to free his leg and advance position but Fatu is retaining full guard.
Moraes trying to control but Fatu is working from the bottom.
Moraes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gustavo Moraes.

Fatu feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moraes is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Moraes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fatu is controlling him.
Joshua Fatu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moraes wants to control the position but Fatu says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Fatu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fatu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Fatu!