PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Minotauro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wagner Cavalcante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diego Minotauro could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Wagner Cavalcante's chin.

Minotauro
vs
Cavalcante

197 cm
25
206 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
28
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Minotauro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wagner Cavalcante!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cavalcante walks into a jab.

Minotauro gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Minotauro turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Cavalcante is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Minotauro off and has taken his back!
Minotauro trying to control the hands but Cavalcante breaks the grip.
Minotauro covering up well under a series of strikes from Cavalcante.

Minotauro is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Minotauro is really stuck here.

Cavalcante is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Minotauro knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Minotauro for a finish.
Minotauro is in bad spot here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cavalcante working for a choke but Minotauro is defending well.
Minotauro tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Minotauro gets back to half guard.
Cavalcante throws a strike but Minotauro avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Minotauro pulls Cavalcante in close to prevent any damage.
Cavalcante wants to stand but Minotauro is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Minotauro pulls Cavalcante in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cavalcante in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Minotauro wants to sweep but no luck.
Minotauro knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cavalcante on the ground.
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!
Minotauro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Minotauro.

Minotauro rushes Cavalcante and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Minotauro tightens his grip and picks Cavalcante up, before dumping him to the ground. Cavalcante manages to land in guard.
Minotauro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Minotauro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Minotauro advances to half guard.

Cavalcante is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Minotauro pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Minotauro is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Minotauro is looking to pass Cavalcante's guard but actually Cavalcante recovers to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro trying to control the position from guard on top but Cavalcante is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cavalcante is looking to stand up but Minotauro isn't so interested in that idea.
Minotauro tries to free his leg and advance position but Cavalcante is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cavalcante is looking for a triangle but Minotauro pushes his legs off easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Minotauro pushing down on Cavalcante's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Minotauro dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cavalcante tries to sprawl but Minotauro drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Minotauro is looking to pass Cavalcante's guard but actually Cavalcante recovers to full guard.
Cavalcante keeping moving, preventing Minotauro from controlling successfully.
Cavalcante throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cavalcante will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Minotauro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Cavalcante had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Minotauro defends it easily.

Cavalcante throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minotauro trying to control the position from guard on top but Cavalcante is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Minotauro is really struggling to control Cavalcante but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Cavalcante has an active guard here but Minotauro has managed to pass into half guard.
Still in half guard, Minotauro seems content to control.
Minotauro wants to free his trapped foot but Cavalcante is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cavalcante wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cavalcante actively working from the bottom here.
Cavalcante is breathing heavily.
Minotauro wants to pass the guard but Cavalcante is defending well.
Minotauro is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Minotauro missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Minotauro is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Minotauro misses with a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Minotauro working for a guillotine from mount but Cavalcante is in no mood to give up.
Diego Minotauro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Minotauro lands a heavy elbow.
Cavalcante is desperately trying to improve his position but Minotauro has a good base and remains in mount.
Minotauro thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Cavalcante is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

Minotauro is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Cavalcante to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Cavalcante shrugs it off.
Minotauro controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro punching from mount but Cavalcante doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Minotauro misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Cavalcante tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cavalcante is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Cavalcante blocking the ground and pound.
Minotauro throws some wild stikes that Cavalcante manages to avoid easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Minotauro controlling from the full mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cavalcante wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Minotauro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Minotauro dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cavalcante gets caught napping as Minotauro dives in and scores a takedown. Cavalcante manages to retain guard.

Minotauro got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cavalcante has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Minotauro has managed to get both his arms back between Cavalcante's legs - danger averted.
Cavalcante throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Minotauro drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cavalcante manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Minotauro has Cavalcante in his guard.
Minotauro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cavalcante has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Minotauro is proving hard to escape from.
Cavalcante is looking to work some ground and pound but Minotauro has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minotauro is pulling down on Cavalcante's head to control his posture.
Minotauro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cavalcante manages to get himself to full guard.
Minotauro throws an elbow that misses. Cavalcante uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Minotauro's guard. Nice move by Cavalcante!
Minotauro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cavalcante is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minotauro throwing shots but Cavalcante is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cavalcante knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Minotauro content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cavalcante wants to improve his position but Minotauro is controlling well.
Minotauro trying to control from half guard but Cavalcante is working away.
Minotauro moves nicely into side control.
Minotauro trying to control the action but Cavalcante is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Minotauro crashes against the mat.
Minotauro is staying tight to Cavalcante's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Minotauro wants to control but Cavalcante is keeping him busy.
Minotauro takes a little break here. Cavalcante wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Minotauro postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cavalcante is working to avoid the ground and pound but Minotauro connects with a decent elbow.
Minotauro in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Cavalcante is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Minotauro asserts his dominance and retains side control.
An elbow from Minotauro crashes against the mat.
Minotauro blocks the strikes from Cavalcante.
Cavalcante throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
An elbow from Minotauro crashes against the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Minotauro content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Wagner Cavalcante has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diego Minotauro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Minotauro'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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Minotauro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Minotauro 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Minotauro!