PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Banda Aquatio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Catani (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.

Aquatio
vs
Catani

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Banda Aquatio!
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, Giovanni Catani!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Catani throws a sloppy head kick and Aquatio moves out of range easily.
Catani fails to land the takedown.

Catani drives through and clinches with Aquatio against the cage.
Aquatio tries to pull guard but Catani forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Catani is trying to pull guard but Aquatio turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Catani is trying to pull guard but Aquatio has him pressed against the cage.
Banda Aquatio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovanni Catani.

Aquatio has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Catani uses from the top position.
Catani controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Catani being controlled here momentarily.
Aquatio is trying to keep Catani in close.
Aquatio pulls Catani in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banda Aquatio has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Catani.
Aquatio shoots in for a takedown but Catani shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Catani shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Aquatio sprawls well. Aquatio wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Catani gets slowly back to his feet.
Catani works over Aquatio's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Banda Aquatio has been cut.
Aquatio tries to clinch but Catani is having none of it.

Catani forces Aquatio back against the cage and clinches.
Catani stalls.
Aquatio wants to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aquatio keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Catani's efforts to push away.
Aquatio is trying to pull guard but Catani turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Aquatio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Catani gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Catani wants to get back to striking at distance but Aquatio won't allow it.
Aquatio is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Catani to keep the fight standing.
Catani gets underhooks to prevent Aquatio's takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Catani tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Aquatio has Catani pressed against the cage, preventing Catani from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aquatio goes for a takedown attempt but Catani pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A head kick misses from Aquatio.
Aquatio throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice sprawl there from Aquatio as Catani shoots in.
Aquatio misses with a wild combination.
Aquatio is trying hard to land a takedown here. Catani sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aquatio is breathing heavily.
Catani shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Aquatio sprawls well. Aquatio wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Catani gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Aquatio as Catani shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aquatio gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Catani to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Aquatio looking for a sweep. Not yet Aquatio, not yet.
Aquatio is trying to keep Catani in close.
Catani wants to control from the top but Aquatio keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Aquatio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Catani is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Catani dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Banda Aquatio's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Aquatio tries to clinch there but Catani circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Catani.
Horrible takedown by Aquatio or perhaps it was just good defense by Catani which made him look bad.
Aquatio stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aquatio wants it to stay on the feet.
Catani shoots in but no luck this time.
Banda Aquatio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovanni Catani.
A head kick by Catani misses

and Aquatio moves into the clinch.
Catani is looking for a takedown.

Aquatio breaks from the clinch.
Catani dives in and grabs Aquatio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aquatio pushes down on Catani's head and hops out.
Catani is breathing heavily.
Catani has a takedown stuffed.
Aquatio checks a low kick from Catani.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aquatio gets a clinch.
Aquatio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Catani avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Catani pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aquatio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Aquatio decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Catani, up you get!
Catani chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Aquatio can pounce on him.
Aquatio shoots in for a takedown but Catani shows good takedown defense.
Aquatio will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Aquatio shoots in and drives through. Catani sprawls well.

Aquatio has Catani up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Catani tries for a takedown but Aquatio manages to get underhooks.

Aquatio has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Catani uses from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Catani trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Catani engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Aquatio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Catani pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aquatio is keeping the position for now.

Aquatio looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catani passes Aquatio's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Catani throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Catani is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Aquatio sees it coming and defends easily.
Aquatio trying to hold on to Catani's head to control him but Catani postures up.
Catani prevents Aquatio from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Catani throwing shots but Aquatio is blocking nicely.
Catani content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Aquatio is trying to maintain the position but Catani is very close to passing his half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Catani attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aquatio stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aquatio wants it to stay on the feet.
Catani fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Banda Aquatio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Banda Aquatio's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Aquatio, right into the meat.
Aquatio is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aquatio pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Catani back to the cage. Aquatio follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Aquatio closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Aquatio manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Aquatio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Catani doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Catani manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Catani looking to pass the guard.
Catani is working Aquatio 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.

Aquatio is working an open guard so Catani takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Catani tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aquatio doesn't manage to clinch there - Catani circles away.
Catani lands a jab to Aquatio's midsection.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aquatio.
Aquatio throws a sloppy head kick and Catani moves out of range easily.
Aquatio shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Catani as he avoids it easily.
Banda Aquatio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aquatio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Catani.
Aquatio tries to clinch up
and Catani counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aquatio checks the leg kick.
Catani shoots in looking for a takedown but Aquatio manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Catani's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Aquatio takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Aquatio takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Catani fails with a takedown attempt.
Banda Aquatio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovanni Catani.
Aquatio shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Catani defends it nicely.
Catani fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aquatio throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
No luck for Catani with that takedown attempt.
Banda Aquatio is winning the standup battle so far.
Aquatio fails with a takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Catani looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aquatio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Catani.
Aquatio fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aquatio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Catani avoids it really well and circles away.
Aquatio takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Aquatio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Catani, pushing him back against the cage.

Aquatio pulls Catani into guard.

Catani stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aquatio tries to clinch but Catani is having none of it.
Aquatio tries to clinch there but Catani circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Catani looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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 Banda Aquatio.
I think Aquatio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Giovanni Catani!