PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luquinha Piva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Kazashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kazashi's choice of entrance music: Enter The Ninja. Luquinha Piva has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Piva
vs
Kazashi

200 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luquinha Piva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Kazashi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Piva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kazashi leaning against his opponent.
Piva tries to circle away but Kazashi has him pinned against the cage.
Kazashi has Piva pressed against the cage, preventing Piva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kazashi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Piva after a bit of a struggle.
Kazashi wants a takedown but no success here.
Kazashi looks gassed!
Piva stops a takedown attempt from Kazashi.
Luquinha Piva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Kazashi.
Piva working hard to break the clinch.
Kazashi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Piva pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Piva successfully pulls guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Piva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kazashi stops Piva from standing up.
Kazashi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Piva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kazashi trying to control but Piva is working from the bottom.
Piva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

We're going to have a standup here because Luquinha Piva wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kazashi dodges the punch combination from Piva.

Piva rushes Kazashi and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piva can't break the clinch.
Piva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Kazashi breaks from the clinch.
Kazashi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Luquinha Piva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Piva jabs at Kazashi's body.

Piva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Piva presses Kazashi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Piva wants to break free but Kazashi has control.
Piva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kazashi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Piva can't break the clinch.
Kazashi is looking to break free of the clinch but Piva has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piva prevents Kazashi from breaking the clinch.
Piva prevents the takedown attempt.
Piva is trying to push Kazashi away but Kazashi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Piva is looking to break free of the clinch but Kazashi has double underhooks.
Piva is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kazashi is defending well for now.
Piva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kazashi.
Piva is looking to break free of the clinch but Kazashi has double underhooks.
Piva is trying to force a seperation but Kazashi has the dominant position.
Piva is trying to push Kazashi away but Kazashi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kazashi wants a takedown.
Piva wants to break free but Kazashi has control.
Piva lands a left hand.
Piva taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kazashi has him pressed against the cage.
Piva stalling in the clinch but Kazashi improves position.

Kazashi has Piva pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kazashi pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Piva tumbling to the mat - Kazashi dives into Piva's guard.
Piva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luquinha Piva dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Piva's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Piva duly obliges.
Piva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Piva rushes Kazashi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Piva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Piva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kazashi.

Piva jumps guard.
Kazashi won't allow Piva to get back to his feet.
Piva trying to keep a closed guard but Kazashi is proving a slippery customer.
Kazashi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kazashi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piva is trying to control the position but Kazashi postures up.

Luquinha Piva has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Piva has Kazashi up against the cage in a clinch.
Piva tries to circle away but Kazashi has him pinned against the cage.

Kazashi has picked Piva up - he's going for a ride! Kazashi dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Piva trying to control but Kazashi postures up.
Kazashi prevents Piva from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piva wants to get back to his feet.
Piva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kazashi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kazashi's back!
Kazashi staying busy and making it hard for Piva to control.
Piva is really struggling to control Kazashi but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazashi rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Piva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Luquinha Piva just wasn't active enough.
Kazashi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Piva drops Kazashi with a beautiful combination! Kazashi stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Piva is looking for the KO!

Kazashi is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A punch combination from Piva misses.
Kazashi is still on wobbly legs! Can Piva finish him?

Piva moves into the clinch.

Piva manages to break the clinch.
Piva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Piva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Piva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Piva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piva misses with a double jab.
Piva misses with a jab, cross combination.
Piva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Piva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Piva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Piva swinging wildly here.
Piva misses with the combination.
Piva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Piva misses.
Piva misses with a series of wild punches.

Piva moves into the clinch.
Piva wants to break free but Kazashi has control.

Piva pulls guard.
Piva wants to stand but Kazashi is controlling the position.
Piva has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Piva wants to stand up but Kazashi is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Piva is on top in guard.
Piva scoring with some ground and pound.

Piva stands and steps away. Kazashi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Piva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kazashi circles away quickly and effectively.
Piva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Piva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kazashi.
Piva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Piva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kazashi can do to turn this around?
Piva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Piva misses with a wild combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Piva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Piva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Piva pulls guard.
Piva wants to stand up but Kazashi is controlling him.

Piva pushes Kazashi off and gets back to his feet.
Luquinha Piva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Piva misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luquinha Piva dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Danga de danga de dang - Piva scores with a four punch combination!
Piva throws a nice looking combination but Kazashi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kazashi shoots for a double leg takedown but Piva sprawls well. He's pushed Kazashi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Piva throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Piva moves into the clinch successfully.
Piva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kazashi wants to take the fight to the mat but Piva manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Piva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Piva is trying to force a seperation but Kazashi has the dominant position.
Piva presses Kazashi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kazashi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kazashi gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Piva regains guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Piva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kazashi is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piva is trying to keep Kazashi in close.
Piva wants to stand but Kazashi is controlling the position.
Piva trying to keep a closed guard but Kazashi is proving a slippery customer.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Luquinha Piva wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Piva has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piva is trying to break free.
Piva gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kazashi.
Luquinha Piva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Kazashi.
Piva unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Kazashi! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Piva is unloading with more strikes now! Kazashi drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Luquinha Piva!