PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Sevgili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fox
vs
Sevgili

175 cm
21
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Syndicate Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Fox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fernando Sevgili!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Donatello Bradman and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Sevgili.

Sevgili shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sevgili stops Fox from getting back to his feet.
Fox trying to hold on to Sevgili's head to control him but Sevgili postures up.
Fox tries to get to full guard but Sevgili has control of the leg.
Sevgili not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fox wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sevgili stalling away here and it's allowed Fox to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Sevgili forces his way into half guard.
Sevgili trying to control the action but Fox is working from the bottom.

Sevgili is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sevgili is keen to just control but Fox is a slippery customer.
Fox trying to control but Sevgili postures up.
Sevgili is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Fox reverses the position - he's now on top in Sevgili's guard.
Sevgili wants to stand up but Fox is controlling him.
Fox missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox throwing strikes but missing.

Sevgili escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fox gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fox preventing the sweep.
Fox missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fox throwing strikes but missing.
Fox loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Sevgili had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fox defends it easily.
Fox wants to control from the top but Sevgili keeps moving.
Fox is really struggling to control Sevgili but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fox throwing strikes from guard but Sevgili blocks nicely.
Fox has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fox in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sevgili utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fox trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fox with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fox in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fox throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sevgili works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fox loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fox missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fox won't allow Sevgili to get back to his feet.
Fox is looking to work some ground and pound but Sevgili has wrist control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sevgili seems keen to control Fox's posture.
Fox throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rafael Fox will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fox throws a head kick that misses.
Fox wants to clinch.
Sevgili fails to land the takedown.
Fox fails to land with a series of punches.
Fox keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sevgili is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fox sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rafael Fox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Sevgili.
Fox defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sevgili.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sevgili.
Fox shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sevgili sprawls well. Sevgili wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fox gets slowly back to his feet.
Sevgili is breathing heavily.
Fox throws a low kick but Sevgili moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox scores with a jab to the head.

Fox lands a big head kick that sends Sevgili tumbling to the mat! Fox takes a step backwards and waves Sevgili back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Sevgili is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sevgili misses with a body kick.
Sevgili is still on wobbly legs! Can Fox finish him?
Sevgili circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sevgili seems to have recovered his senses.
Sevgili blocks a head kick by Fox.
Fox fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sevgili shoots in and drives through. Fox sprawls well.
Fox tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sevgili sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fox somewhat.
Sevgili takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Sevgili moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sevgili uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fox.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fox is defended easily by Sevgili.
Fox throws the kick towards the body but Sevgili avoids it.
Fox fails with the takedown.
Fox throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sevgili takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sevgili checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rafael Fox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sevgili tries to close the distance and clinch but Fox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fox misses the shot to the body.
That kick from Fox tenderised Sevgili's leg. Sevgili is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sevgili leaves Fox with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rafael Fox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sevgili. That's going to slow Fox down.
Fox scores with a decent looking hook.
Fox shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sevgili defends it nicely.
Sevgili stuffs the takedown.
Fox tries to clinch up but Sevgili circles away and keeps his distance.
Sevgili looks for a takedown but Fox sprawls well.
Sevgili scores with a punch to the head.
Fox tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sevgili manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fox throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Fox closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fox working over Sevgili with some ground and pound. Sevgili looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sevgili wants to control but Fox is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fox slips a nice elbow through Sevgili's hands, connecting with Sevgili's forehead.
Fox thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sevgili's head.

Fox seems to be working for a kimura but Sevgili defends the submission attempt.

Fox is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sevgili has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fox thows a huge punch but Sevgili dodges it nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fox is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Fox wants to work for an arm triangle but Sevgili is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Fox dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Fox swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sevgili swinging wildly here.
Sevgili fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sevgili is defended easily by Fox.
Fox fails to land with a series of punches.
Fox misses with a jab to the body

and Sevgili moves into the clinch.
Fox tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Fox gets control of Sevgili's arms and successfully pulls guard. Fox will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Fox tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sevgili wants to control from the top but Fox keeps moving.
Sevgili takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sevgili throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fox works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fox wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Sevgili is now in half guard.

Sevgili is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sevgili looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fox gets back to full guard.
Fox trying to control the position.
Sevgili wants to control from the top but Fox keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Fernando Sevgili was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sevgili misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rafael Fox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Sevgili.
Fox tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sevgili manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rafael Fox is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sevgili scores with a jab. Fox acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Fox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fox throws a nice outside leg kick.
Fox tried to score with a low kick but Sevgili checks it.
Fox looks to score with a jab to the body but Sevgili is just out of range.
Fox tries to land a front kick but Sevgili steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rafael Fox is winning the standup battle so far.
Fox throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Fox thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sevgili shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fox wants to improve his position but Sevgili is controlling well.
Fox is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sevgili's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sevgili's back!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Fox.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fox trying to control.
Fernando Sevgili has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fox looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

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 Rafael Fox.
Well Fox 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Fox!