PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Arona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timmy Tebow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Arona
vs
Tebow

180 cm
23
192 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

182 cm
26
192 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Arona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Timmy Tebow!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arona shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tebow eats them both and turns towards Arona to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Arona lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tebow takes a step back to recover.
Ricardo Arona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arona throws a leg kick which misses Tebow's front leg but catches the back leg as Tebow tries to avoid it.
Arona lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tebow takes a kick to the side of the head.
Arona misses with a body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arona will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tebow throws a body punch but Arona moves out of range.
Arona tries to bum rush Tebow with a series of wild strikes but Tebow uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tebow throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arona throws a solid leg kick but Tebow takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Arona.
Nice body kick from Arona.
Arona throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arona scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tebow misses the shot to the body.
Arona looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Arona displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Arona misses with a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Tebow.
Arona swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Arona throws a series of punches but Tebow moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Arona.
Arona looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Arona throws a series of punches but Tebow moves out of range.
Arona throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Arona checks the leg kick nicely there.

Tebow closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tebow lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Arona throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tebow trying to control the position from guard on top but Arona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Tebow got a little sloppy there for a moment and Arona has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tebow has managed to get both his arms back between Arona's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arona throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tebow wants to pass the guard but Arona is keeping the position.
Tebow's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Arona working for a triangle but Tebow defends it easily.
Tebow trying to control but Arona is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tebow accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tebow wants to pass the guard but Arona is keeping the position.
Tebow trying to control the position from guard on top but Arona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arona is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tebow is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tebow chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Arona dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Arona with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Arona misses with a series of wild punches.
Arona fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tebow is out of range.

Arona gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tebow looking to sit in guard and control but Arona gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tebow looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tebow has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Arona 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 Tebow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tebow is looking to reverse the position.
Arona wants to stand but Tebow has his arm trapped.
You can see the frustration on Tebow's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tebow looking for a sweep but Arona has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tebow is looking to improve his position but Arona isn't that keen on the idea.
Tebow wants to control but Arona is having none of it.

Arona moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Tebow has worked his arm free - good work by Tebow!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tebow is looking to regain half guard here but Arona keeps moving and retains side control.
Arona wants to stand but Tebow is controlling his arm.
Tebow is trying to improve his position.
Tebow tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Arona presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tebow is looking to improve his position but Arona isn't that keen on the idea.
Tebow is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tebow tries to reverse the position but Arona maintains control.
Tebow is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timmy Tebow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tebow takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Arona throws a right and a left that Tebow avoids nicely.
No joy there for Arona, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Arona misses with a two punch combination.
Arona throws a wild body kick that Tebow sees coming a mile off.
Arona throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tebow ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arona moves away.
Tebow misses with a straight left.
Tebow throws a body punch but Arona moves out of range.
Arona goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Arona checks a leg kick.
Tebow takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Arona fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tebow has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arona rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tebow moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tebow misses with a wild body shot.
Tebow throws a body punch but Arona moves out of range.
Arona throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tebow is trying hard to land a takedown here. Arona sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tebow slips a jab and a cross from Arona.
Arona misses with a series of wild punches.
Arona feints and then cracks Tebow's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tebow down.
Arona works over Tebow's head and body with a nice combination.
Ricardo Arona is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arona misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arona throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tebow showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arona.
Tebow throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Arona throws the left hand but Tebow avoids the punch easily.
Tebow throws a chopping leg kick but Arona manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Arona tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tebow misses with a body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Tebow shoots in and bounces Arona off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tebow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arona is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arona is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Arona goes for a takedown attempt but Tebow pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ricardo Arona is winning the standup battle so far.

Tebow looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Tebow is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tebow trying to mount his opponent but Arona defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tebow wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arona keeps working.
Tebow wants to free his trapped foot but Arona is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Tebow is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arona is looking to improve his position.

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 Ricardo Arona.
I think Arona 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Arona!
Our winner, Ricardo Arona, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.