PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mister Theilulaia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pep El Marino (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.

Theilulaia
vs
El Marino

182 cm
24
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mister Theilulaia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pep El Marino!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Theilulaia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

El Marino darts in and clinches Theilulaia up against the cage.
Theilulaia is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
El Marino tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Theilulaia smiles and moves away.
Theilulaia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Theilulaia enables El Marino to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Theilulaia manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Theilulaia has control of El Marino's left arm, preventing El Marino from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as El Marino accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Theilulaia keeping full guard, as El Marino tries to pass.
Theilulaia is trying to control the position but El Marino postures up.
El Marino is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Marino wants to control from the top but Theilulaia keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mister Theilulaia wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Theilulaia tries to clinch but El Marino moves out of range.

El Marino dives in and scores a takedown into Theilulaia's guard.
Theilulaia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Theilulaia wants to control the position but El Marino says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
El Marino tries to pass the half guard into mount. Theilulaia knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Theilulaia is trying to get back to full guard.
El Marino content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Theilulaia blocking the ground and pound attempt from El Marino.

El Marino stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Theilulaia fails in his attempt to clinch.

Theilulaia gets caught flat footed, as El Marino shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
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!
Theilulaia can't keep his opponent in guard - El Marino advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
El Marino landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
El Marino throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Theilulaia makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Theilulaia is breathing heavily.

El Marino dives in and scores a takedown into Theilulaia's guard.
El Marino is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Theilulaia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
El Marino distracts Theilulaia with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

El Marino gets to his feet. Theilulaia looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

El Marino fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Theilulaia to the ground. El Marino is now in Theilulaia's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Theilulaia is working an open guard so El Marino takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
El Marino throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Theilulaia.
Theilulaia tries to clinch there but El Marino circles away.
Theilulaia fails with an attempt to clinch.

El Marino closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Theilulaia did well to prevent El Marino getting side control.
El Marino working the head and body with strikes.
El Marino trying to pass the guard but Theilulaia defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Theilulaia is looking for a sweep. El Marino is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
El Marino has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
El Marino stops Theilulaia from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pep El Marino 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.

Theilulaia dodges the punch combination from El Marino.
Theilulaia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Theilulaia is looking to clinch.
Theilulaia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
El Marino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Theilulaia tries to sprawl but El Marino drives through with a takedown into half guard.
El Marino is thwarting Theilulaia's attempts to control the position.
El Marino sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Marino wants to lay and pray for a moment but Theilulaia keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Pep El Marino.
Theilulaia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Theilulaia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Theilulaia wants to clinch up but El Marino keeps it at a distance.
El Marino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Theilulaia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Theilulaia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Theilulaia avoids a punch combination nicely.
El Marino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Theilulaia wants to clinch up but El Marino keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Marino looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Theilulaia enables El Marino to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Theilulaia manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Theilulaia trying to control the position.
Theilulaia is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because El Marino is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Theilulaia looking for a sweep. Not yet Theilulaia, not yet.
El Marino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Theilulaia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Theilulaia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

El Marino pushes Theilulaia off and gets back to his feet.
Theilulaia moves in looking to clinch but El Marino pushes him off.

Theilulaia gets caught flat footed, as El Marino shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Theilulaia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
El Marino sitting in guard, not really doing much.
El Marino cracks Theilulaia with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Marino content to stall in guard here.

El Marino gets to his feet - Theilulaia follows without any prompting.
El Marino fails with an attempt to clinch.
El Marino shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Theilulaia pinned against the cage. Theilulaia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Theilulaia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. El Marino manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Theilulaia moves into the clinch.
El Marino takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Theilulaia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pep El Marino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! 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.

Theilulaia takes the fight into the clinch.

El Marino gets control of Theilulaia's arms and successfully pulls guard. El Marino will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

El Marino wriggles free and stands up.
Theilulaia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Theilulaia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Theilulaia wants to clinch.

El Marino drives through with a takedown into Theilulaia's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
El Marino trying to control the position from guard on top but Theilulaia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Theilulaia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst El Marino is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

El Marino drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Theilulaia dives on top into guard.

El Marino is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Theilulaia trying to stand up but can't free himself from El Marino's guard.
Theilulaia stopping the sweep attempt from El Marino.
Theilulaia wants to stand and escape but instead El Marino has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Marino engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
El Marino wants to control from the top but Theilulaia keeps moving.
El Marino seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Pep El Marino has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Theilulaia swats away the attempt to clinch by El Marino.

Excellent takedown into side control there by El Marino.
Theilulaia tries to bench press El Marino off him but El Marino keeps the position.
El Marino takes a little break here. Theilulaia wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
El Marino works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

El Marino is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Theilulaia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
El Marino cracks Theilulaia with a big right hand but Theilulaia just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
A lull in the action here as El Marino stalls from top position.

El Marino stands up and we're back to a striking position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

El Marino drives through with a takedown into Theilulaia's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pep El Marino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got El Marino 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Pep El Marino!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Pep El Marino!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Pep El Marino!

Pep El Marino wins by unanimous decision!