PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Julio Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Sobral
vs
Calzaghe

181 cm
25
168 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

185 cm
35
158 lbs
23 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Granite chin

CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Sobral!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Calzaghe!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sobral has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sobral wants a takedown.

Calzaghe tightens his grip and picks Sobral up, before dumping him to the ground. Sobral manages to land in guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Calzaghe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sobral is keeping the position for now.
Calzaghe wants to control from the top but Sobral keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobral controls Calzaghe momentarily but Calzaghe frees himself.
Sobral looking for a sweep. Not yet Sobral, not yet.
Calzaghe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sobral controls Calzaghe momentarily but Calzaghe frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sobral is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws a series of punches but Sobral moves out of range.

Calzaghe pushes Sobral up against the cage in a clinch.
Sobral is looking to break free of the clinch but Calzaghe has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe wants a takedown.
Calzaghe is trying to drag Sobral to the mat but Sobral just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sobral wants a takedown but no success here.

Calzaghe works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Sobral working for a triangle but Calzaghe defends it easily.
Sobral wants to stand but Calzaghe is controlling the position.
Calzaghe is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Sobral working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Calzaghe has passed into half guard!
Sobral throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe slips a nice elbow through Sobral's hands, connecting with Sobral's forehead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Calzaghe thows a huge punch but Sobral dodges it nicely.
Calzaghe is pressing down on Sobral's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sobral is holding on for now.
Sobral moves into full guard.

Sobral escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Calzaghe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sobral is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sobral tries to strike from the bottom.
Calzaghe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sobral is keeping the position for now.

Sobral working for a triangle but Calzaghe defends it easily.
Calzaghe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is in close to Sobral's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sobral not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Calzaghe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sobral trying to control the position.
Sobral keeping moving, preventing Calzaghe from controlling successfully.
Sobral avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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

Sobral escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Calzaghe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sobral has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Calzaghe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is working Sobral over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sobral can't keep his opponent in guard - Calzaghe advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sobral trying to control but Calzaghe postures up.

Calzaghe is working for a kimura but Sobral is defending it quite comfortably.
Calzaghe winds up and cracks Sobral with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sobral trying to control from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Calzaghe seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Sobral has recovered full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Calzaghe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Calzaghe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Calzaghe misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circle momentarily. Calzaghe darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sobral fails with a takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Sobral. Those never looked like landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sobral is defended easily by Calzaghe.
Sobral misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Calzaghe.

Sobral drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sobral advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Calzaghe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Calzaghe on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Calzaghe is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sobral's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sobral's back!

Calzaghe is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Calzaghe tries to keep control of the position but Sobral is staying busy.
Sobral looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Sobral is really stuck here.
Sobral breaks Calzaghe's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Calzaghe is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sobral looking to pass the guard.
Sobral has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Calzaghe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sobral can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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!

Calzaghe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sobral gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sobral looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Calzaghe wants to get back to his feet but Sobral is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Calzaghe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sobral gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Calzaghe keeping moving, preventing Sobral from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Calzaghe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Calzaghe keeping moving, preventing Sobral from controlling successfully.
Calzaghe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sobral is one step ahead there.
Sobral trying to control the position from guard on top but Calzaghe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Calzaghe wants to sweep but no luck.
Calzaghe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sobral is sitting in close to Calzaghe's body. Calzaghe has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Sobral is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Sobral is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Calzaghe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Joe Calzaghe!
Joe Calzaghe is the new lightweight champion!
Joe Calzaghe decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.