PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ameliano Cassemiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Zodiac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ameliano Cassemiro had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 172.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Steve Zodiac has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ameliano Cassemiro's chin.

Cassemiro
vs
Zodiac

176 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
21
176 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ameliano Cassemiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Zodiac!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zodiac shoots in and bounces Cassemiro off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Cassemiro is rocked!
Cassemiro bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zodiac's guard.
Oh Cassemiro is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zodiac wants to stand but Cassemiro is controlling the position.
Cassemiro seems to have got his legs back now.

Cassemiro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cassemiro wants to control from the top but Zodiac keeps moving.

Zodiac working for a triangle but Cassemiro defends it easily.
Cassemiro advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zodiac is looking to regain half guard here but Cassemiro keeps moving and retains side control.
Zodiac stops Cassemiro from passing to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cassemiro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cassemiro swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zodiac.
Cassemiro jabs Zodiac right on the nose. Zodiac blinks but takes it well.
Zodiac tries to clinch but Cassemiro is having none of it.

Cassemiro scores a takedown into full mount!
Zodiac is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cassemiro looking to secure an arm triangle but Zodiac defends it well.
Cassemiro looking to ground and pound but Zodiac is blocking nicely.
Cassemiro is breathing heavily.
Zodiac slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Zodiac wants to improve his position but Cassemiro is controlling well.
Cassemiro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zodiac knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cassemiro uses his free foot to push down on Zodiac's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Zodiac.
Zodiac tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cassemiro is working for a guillotine from mount but Zodiac frees his head quite easily.
Zodiac regains half guard.
Zodiac is refusing to be controlled, as Cassemiro sits in half guard.
Zodiac avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cassemiro.

Zodiac looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zodiac is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zodiac wants to get back to his feet.
Cassemiro is pressing down on Zodiac's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zodiac is holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zodiac is looking to control Cassemiro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zodiac avoid being mounted?
Zodiac regains full guard. Nicely done.

Zodiac is looking for a triangle but Cassemiro pushes his legs off easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cassemiro throws a right hand that Zodiac ducks under and follows up with a left that Zodiac also avoids with ease.
Ameliano Cassemiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cassemiro gets a takedown into half guard.
Zodiac is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zodiac tries to clinch but Cassemiro moves out of range.
Cassemiro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cassemiro misses with a wild body shot.
Cassemiro missing with a left hand there. Zodiac was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cassemiro misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Zodiac. No joy for Cassemiro on that attempt.
Zodiac wants to clinch up but Cassemiro keeps it at a distance.
Zodiac wants to clinch.
Cassemiro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zodiac tries to close the distance and clinch but Cassemiro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Zodiac drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zodiac tries to advance to mount but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassemiro has control of an arm but Zodiac manages to advance to Zodiac's back!
Cassemiro is covering up but some of the strikes from Zodiac are getting through and doing damage.

Zodiac is looking for the choke from the back position but Cassemiro is controlling his hands well.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Zodiac's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Zodiac cracks Cassemiro with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Cassemiro from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Cassemiro prevents Zodiac from getting a body triangle.
Cassemiro finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
Zodiac lands a big shot there that rocks Cassemiro but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cassemiro can't escape the position.
Cassemiro manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Zodiac is pressing down on Cassemiro's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cassemiro is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cassemiro makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cassemiro.

Zodiac is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Zodiac trying to control the position from guard on top but Cassemiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cassemiro has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zodiac is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cassemiro.
Cassemiro is looking for a sweep.
Zodiac working away.
Cassemiro regains half guard.
Cassemiro slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cassemiro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cassemiro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zodiac!
Zodiac really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cassemiro. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Cassemiro is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Zodiac has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cassemiro is trying to take his opponent's back.
Cassemiro throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Zodiac because Cassemiro loaded up on that one.
Cassemiro looking to control and managing it successfully.

Cassemiro working for a submission but Zodiac is keeping him at bay.
Zodiac is wriggling around trying to escape.
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 Ameliano Cassemiro will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A solid body kick from Zodiac.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zodiac looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cassemiro tries to bum rush Zodiac with a series of wild strikes but Zodiac uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zodiac uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cassemiro.
Cassemiro misses with a takedown attempt
and Zodiac counters with a solid body kick.
Zodiac with a hook.
Cassemiro doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zodiac holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cassemiro tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zodiac just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ameliano Cassemiro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zodiac looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cassemiro fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Cassemiro pulls guard effortlessly.
Zodiac distracts Cassemiro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zodiac trying to control the position from guard on top but Cassemiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cassemiro has his foot on Zodiac's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zodiac works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zodiac trying to control but Cassemiro is working from the bottom.

Cassemiro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zodiac can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zodiac trying to control but Cassemiro is working from the bottom.
Cassemiro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cassemiro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zodiac manages to get himself to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zodiac is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zodiac accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Cassemiro is looking for a triangle but Zodiac pushes his legs off easily.
Zodiac would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zodiac wants to control from the top but Cassemiro keeps moving.
Cassemiro seems keen to control Zodiac's posture.

Cassemiro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cassemiro managing to control the position.
Cassemiro tries to strike from the bottom.
Steve Zodiac has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassemiro trying to control the position.
Zodiac wants to stand but Cassemiro is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cassemiro keeping full guard, as Zodiac tries to pass.

Cassemiro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zodiac can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zodiac stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Zodiac tries a head kick but it misses.
Cassemiro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zodiac is fending him off so far but Cassemiro persists. Nope, Zodiac circles away and we're back to standing.

Cassemiro looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Zodiac!

Cassemiro is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zodiac can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Cassemiro misses with a head shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cassemiro thowing shots but they're missing.
Zodiac is squirming around, avoiding Cassemiro's attempts to control the action.

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 Ameliano Cassemiro.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cassemiro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ameliano Cassemiro!