PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Cunha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsu Lion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cunha has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Cunha
vs
Lion

180 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Cunha!
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, Katsu Lion!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunha leaves Lion with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lion shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lion changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cunha tries to avoid it but Lion manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cunha to the ground. Cunha escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fernando Cunha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Lion.
Cunha tries to clinch there but Lion circles away.
Cunha is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lion sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Lion drives through with a takedown into Cunha's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lion is looking to work some ground and pound but Cunha has wrist control.
Lion scoring with some ground and pound.
Cunha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lion.
Lion with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lion with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lion gets to his feet - Cunha follows without any prompting.
Cunha throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lion.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lion is defended easily by Cunha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lion closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cunha circles away.
Lion shoots in for a takedown but Cunha shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lion looks winded!
A head kick misses from Cunha.

Lion closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lion wants to control but Cunha is keeping him busy.
Cunha is trying to get back to his feet.
Cunha is trying to get back to half guard.

Lion tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lion swings around for an armbar but Cunha sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Lion's guard.
Lion has a closed guard, preventing Cunha from standing up.
Lion wants to get back to his feet but Cunha is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Lion has his feet on Cunha's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lion shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cunha but Cunha pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cunha shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lion as he avoids it easily.
Lion shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice takedown defense from Lion. No joy for Cunha on that attempt.
Cunha tries to close the distance and clinch but Lion swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lion looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Lion shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cunha is trying to defend but Lion finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lion is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lion wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cunha keeps working.
Cunha moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cunha wants to stand but Lion is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lion wants to control from the top but Cunha keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsu Lion dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cunha fails with the takedown

and Lion counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lion.
Lion throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cunha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lion content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lion missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lion postures up and lands a big shot to Cunha's brow.
Lion is looking to work some ground and pound but Cunha has wrist control.
Cunha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lion trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lion throws a big elbow that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lion thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cunha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lion scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunha keeping moving, preventing Lion from controlling successfully.
Lion trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lion trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lion 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.
Cunha has momentary wrist control but Lion slips an elbow through the middle.
Lion is looking to work some ground and pound but Cunha has wrist control.
Lion slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Lion drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cunha looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cunha looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cunha!
Cunha trying to control the position but Lion is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cunha decides to stand back up. Cunha steps back and let's Lion get back to his feet.
Fernando Cunha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lion fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Cunha as Lion shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lion fails with a takedown attempt.
Fernando Cunha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Lion.
Lion fails with the takedown.

Cunha closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Lion's guard.
Katsu Lion has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cunha pushing down on Lion's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cunha passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cunha trying to control but Lion is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cunha looking to secure an arm triangle but Lion defends it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lion is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsu Lion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lion has a takedown stuffed.

Cunha gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lion to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cunha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lion preventing the sweep.
Lion trying to control but Cunha is working from the bottom.
Lion scoring with punches to the head and body.

Lion drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cunha manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lion has Cunha in his guard.
Cunha wants to control from the top but Lion keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fernando Cunha.
Cunha fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lion avoids it really well and circles away.
Cunha shoots for a takedown but Lion saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

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.
Lion will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cunha throws a head kick but Lion moves out of range.
Lion looks for a takedown but Cunha sprawls well.
Fernando Cunha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Lion.
Cunha stuffs the takedown.

Lion shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cunha's guard.
Lion postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Lion postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cunha is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lion, into his guard.
Cunha is looking to stand up but Lion won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunha throwing strikes from guard but Lion blocks nicely.
Cunha stands and throws Lion's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lion bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Lion shoots in looking for a takedown. Cunha tries to sprawl out of it but Lion keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cunha manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lion shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cunha as he avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cunha fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Katsu Lion comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lion 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katsu Lion!