PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Saraiva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and How Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Long's choice of entrance music: The Anthem by Onra. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Saraiva
vs
Long

185 cm
26
220 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

191 cm
25
214 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Red Hand Clothing

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 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gabriel Saraiva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, How Long!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Long looks to score with a jab to the body but Saraiva is just out of range.
Saraiva misses the jab.
That kick from Saraiva tenderised Long's leg. Long is trying to keep his angry face on.
Long takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like How Long has been cut.
Saraiva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saraiva. Long does a little dance to reset his feet.
Long throws a right and a left that Saraiva avoids nicely.
A good leg kick by Saraiva.
Saraiva thows a body kick. Long tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Saraiva throws a sloppy head kick

and Long counters with a single leg into guard. Saraiva didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Long wants to control from the top but Saraiva keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraiva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Long controls the pace.
Long won't allow Saraiva to sweep him here.
Long is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. How Long hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Saraiva has Long up against the cage in a clinch.
Long lands a nice shot to the body.
Long lands a shot to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Saraiva just misses with a elbow thrown towards Long's brow.
Long slowing the pace effectively.
Long avoids a wild elbow strike from Saraiva.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Long lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Long lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Long controlling the action here for a moment.
Long avoiding damage as Saraiva throws knees to the body.
Long digs a right hand into Saraiva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Saraiva's gas tank.
Long digs a right hand underneath Saraiva's ribcage. Saraiva let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A shot in the inside from Long.
Long is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Long lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Long is trying to maintain a safe position but Saraiva gets an underhook and turns Long into the cage.
Saraiva has a couple of punches blocked by Long.
Long is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Nice body punch from Long - that landed with a thud.
Saraiva throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Long to work.
Saraiva throws an elbow but it misses.
Come on Long - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Long pushes Saraiva back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Saraiva swings wildly with an uppercut but Long uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saraiva looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Long tries to throw a body punch but Saraiva avoids it by throwing Long back against the cage.
Long blocks the elbow strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Long.
Saraiva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saraiva throws a head punch that misses.
Long softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Long is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Saraiva is defending well.
A nice left hand lands by Saraiva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saraiva takes a shot to the head.
Long throws a punch but it's blocked by Saraiva.
Long stalling.
Saraiva lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Long on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saraiva prevents a body shot from Long.
Long lands a left hand that snaps the head of Saraiva backwards.
Long lands a hook that snaps the head of Saraiva backwards.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Long misses with a punch to the body.
Long blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Long wants a takedown but no success here.
Saraiva lands a body punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short left from Saraiva.
Saraiva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Long is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Saraiva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gabriel Saraiva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of How Long.
Saraiva lands a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

How Long dominated that round.
The cut man is working on How Long's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Saraiva scores with a kick to the body.

Saraiva gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Long on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Saraiva as Long tries to tie him up.
Long on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Long.
Long lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Long misses with a punch on the inside.
Long misses with a punch on the inside.
Long throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Saraivas head.
Long lands with a right to the head.
Long scores with a shoulder strike.
Long throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Saraivas head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saraiva pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Saraiva misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long trying to control the position but instead, Saraiva has worked for underhooks and has pushed Long into the cage.
Long tries to work over Saraiva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saraiva throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
How Long seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Saraiva throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Long blocks an elbow strike.
Saraiva misses with a hook from the clinch.
Long's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Long lands a body punch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Long.
Saraiva working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Long presses Saraiva against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Saraiva throws an elbow but it misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saraiva misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saraiva swings wildly with an uppercut but Long uses good head movement to avoid it.
Long softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Saraiva blocks an uppercut.
Long controlling the action here for a moment.
Saraiva misses with a hook to the ribs.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Long takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Long receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Long lands a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Long misses with a body punch.
Saraiva creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Saraiva prevents the takedown attempt.
Come on Long - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Long pushes Saraiva back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Long turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Long controls the position from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saraiva wants to control but Long postures up.
Saraiva is looking for a sweep.
Saraiva being controlled for a moment.

Long goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Saraiva rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Long's guard! Nice work there by Saraiva!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saraiva trying to control but Long is working from the bottom.
Long wants to sweep but no luck.
Saraiva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gabriel Saraiva wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Saraiva throws a series of punches but Long moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Saraiva has closed the distance and engaged Long in a clinch.
Long throws a punch but it's blocked by Saraiva.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

How Long showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on How Long's cut.
That's time! Saraiva's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Saraiva scores with a punch to the head.
Saraiva listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Saraiva throws a head kick but Long moves out of range.
Long pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saraiva takes a swing at Long's ribcage but misses.
Saraiva misses with a hook

and Long counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Long.
Long takes an elbow to the forehead.
Long is looking to control Saraiva's arms but Saraiva gets an underhook and turns him. Now Long has his back to the cage.
Saraiva misses with a hook from the clinch.
Long takes an elbow to the temple.
Long is leaning against Saraiva and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Saraiva working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Long misses with a punch to the body.
Saraiva lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Saraiva breaks from the clinch.
Saraiva throws a head kick but Long moves out of range.
Saraiva looks to land a left hand but Long moved out of range nicely.
Long misses with a wild body shot.
Saraiva on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Saraiva gets tackled into the cage by Long. Long maintains the clinch.
A short uppercut from Long.
Long misses with a body punch.
Long lands an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Long.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Long has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Saraiva clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Long misses with a punch to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Long looking for the choke but no joy.
Long lands strikes to the head.
How Long has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Long's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Saraiva is covering up but some of the strikes from Long are getting through and doing damage.
Long somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Long misses with a punch to the head.
Long has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Long punches Saraiva on the ear.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long is riding his opponent, not letting Saraiva buck him off.

Saraiva is having to fend off submission attempts from Long, who is looking to sink in the choke. Long doesn't have the hooks in though and Saraiva manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Long holds on and takes a little breather.
Long looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Long looking to control.
Saraiva trying to control but Long is working from the bottom.
Gabriel Saraiva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saraiva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Long is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Saraiva throws an elbow that misses. Long uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saraiva's guard. Nice move by Long!
Long looking to sit in guard and control but Saraiva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Saraiva postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Long is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
How Long is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Saraiva preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
How Long comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Long 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... How Long!
How Long really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Red Hand Clothing logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.