PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ze Minotauro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Minotauro might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Buckethead - jump man. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Minotauro
vs
Oliveira

185 cm
35
259 lbs
18 - 11 - 1

195 cm
24
280 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ze Minotauro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Oliveira!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliveira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Minotauro has his takedown stuffed
letting Oliveira counter with a right hand.
Minotauro works Oliveira's body with a nice hook.
Minotauro misses with a right hand
and Oliveira counters with a nice low kick that buckles Minotauro's knee momentarily.
Minotauro stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Minotauro wants it to stay on the feet.
Ze Minotauro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Minotauro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Minotauro throws a lazy body kick

and Oliveira counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Minotauro regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Oliveira.
Minotauro working a defensive guard here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Minotauro wants to sweep but no luck.
Oliveira has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Oliveira is working Minotauro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minotauro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Oliveira is one step ahead there.
Oliveira postures up in Minotauro's guard and throws a big left but Minotauro blocks it.
Minotauro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oliveira.
Oliveira with a flurry of punches that miss.
Oliveira trying to control but Minotauro is working from the bottom.
Oliveira tries to free his leg and advance position but Minotauro is retaining full guard.
Oliveira throwing strikes from guard but Minotauro blocks nicely.
Oliveira distracts Minotauro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Minotauro is controlling Oliveira's posture.
Minotauro looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Oliveira throwing strikes but missing.
Minotauro has Oliveira pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oliveira wants to control from the top but Minotauro keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ze Minotauro wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Minotauro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Oliveira throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to the body from Minotauro misses
and Oliveira counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro swings away with a body shot that misses
and Oliveira counters with a leg kick.
Minotauro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Minotauro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Oliveira throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Minotauro tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Oliveira is in Minotauro's guard.
Oliveira is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Oliveira accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Oliveira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Minotauro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oliveira.
Minotauro has momentary wrist control but Oliveira slips an elbow through the middle.
Oliveira throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Minotauro seems keen to control Oliveira's posture.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Oliveira landing some decent shots from guard.
Oliveira wants to control from the top but Minotauro keeps moving.
Oliveira stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Minotauro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Minotauro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oliveira working some strikes from top position.
Oliveira trying to control but Minotauro is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Minotauro misses with a leg kick.
Oliveira tries to clinch up
and Minotauro counters with a stiff right hand.
Oliveira moves in looking to clinch but Minotauro pushes him off.
Minotauro wants to land a leg kick but Oliveira is out of range.
Minotauro lunges at Oliveira with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Oliveira's hand.
Minotauro stuffs the takedown attempt from Oliveira. Oliveira gets slowly back to his feet.
Minotauro has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Oliveira.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oliveira instigates a clinch.
Minotauro lands with a right to the head.
Minotauro is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Oliveira is keeping busy.
Minotauro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Oliveira managing to block the knees to the body from Minotauro.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Minotauro.
Minotauro can't break the clinch.
Minotauro throws a head punch that misses.
A bit of stalling here from Minotauro.
Minotauro lands with a left to the head.
Minotauro taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Oliveira wants to break the clinch but can't.
Oliveira prevents a body shot from Minotauro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Oliveira breaks from the clinch.
Oliveira tries to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Oliveira tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Minotauro. Oliveira does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Minotauro. Oliveira does a little dance to reset his feet.
Donk. Oliveira catches Minotauro right on the button with a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Minotauro throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Oliveira wants to clinch but Minotauro slips to the side
and Minotauro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Oliveira looks to clinch
letting Minotauro counter with a right hand.
Minotauro stuffs the takedown attempt from Oliveira. Oliveira gets slowly back to his feet.
Oliveira connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira shoots for a double leg takedown but Minotauro sprawls well. He's pushed Oliveira's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ze Minotauro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Oliveira.
Minotauro thows a body shot but no joy.
Oliveira tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Minotauro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Minotauro tries a head kick but it misses.
Oliveira shoots in and drives through. Minotauro sprawls well.
Minotauro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Oliveira.
Minotauro throws the left hand but Oliveira avoids the punch easily.
Minotauro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Minotauro throws the left hand but Oliveira avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro throws out a powerful jab.
Minotauro misses with a left hand

and Oliveira counters with a takedown into side control.
Minotauro is not content to let Oliveira control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee asks Oliveira politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Oliveira prefers to stall for the moment though.
Oliveira working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Oliveira landing strikes.
Oliveira throws a strike aimed at the side of Minotauro's head but Minotauro avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oliveira cracks Minotauro with a big right hand but Minotauro just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Oliveira is looking to take a break and control but Minotauro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Oliveira cracks Minotauro with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Thiago Oliveira will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Oliveira fails to land the takedown.
Minotauro throws a sloppy head kick
and Oliveira counters with a left to the body.
Minotauro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Oliveira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Minotauro loads up on a big right hand but Oliveira slips the punch.
Ze Minotauro is winning the standup battle so far.
Minotauro will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Oliveira gets a clinch.
Oliveira is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Minotauro is defending well.
Minotauro gets through Oliveira's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Minotauro.
Minotauro can't find room to land a body shot as Oliveira controls the action.
Oliveira looking for a takedown.
Ze Minotauro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Oliveira.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minotauro is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Minotauro gets underhooks to prevent Oliveira's takedown attempt.
Minotauro avoiding damage.
Oliveira is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Minotauro gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Oliveira breaks from the clinch.
Oliveira wants to clinch up but Minotauro keeps it at a distance.
A big left from Minotauro misses.
Oliveira ducks under a wild hook from Minotauro.
Ze Minotauro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro misses with a wild body shot.
Oliveira turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Oliveira throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Minotauro's waist but Minotauro gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Oliveira off to one side.
Oliveira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Minotauro lands with a shot to the body.
Minotauro tries to land a leg kick but Oliveira saw it coming and moves away.
Minotauro lands with a thumping leg kick.
Minotauro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Oliveira wants to clinch up but Minotauro keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Minotauro.
Oliveira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Minotauro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Oliveira closes this distance looking for a takedown but Minotauro circles away.
Oliveira scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Minotauro has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Oliveira.
Oliveira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Oliveira lands a lovely overhand right.
Minotauro throws out a leg kick but Oliveira moves out of range and Minotauro only half commits.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Minotauro lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Oliveira has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Oliveira and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minotauro misses with a combination

so Oliveira counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Minotauro keeping full guard, as Oliveira tries to pass.
Oliveira throws a big elbow that misses.
Oliveira trying to control but Minotauro is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minotauro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oliveira cracks Minotauro with a solid left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thiago Oliveira.
I've got Oliveira winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Oliveira!
A victorious Thiago Oliveira thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.