PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matheus Moraes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Henriques (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson Henriques told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Moraes
vs
Henriques

188 cm
19
196 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Moraes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Henriques!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moraes looks to land a combination but Henriques avoids it well.
Moraes throws a nice outside leg kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Henriques.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Moraes is looking for a sweep.
Moraes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henriques on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Moraes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Moraes is looking to regain half guard here but Henriques keeps moving and retains side control.

Henriques is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Moraes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Henriques looks winded!
Moraes is trying to get back to half guard.

Henriques looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Moraes is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes is trying to control Henriques's posture but Henriques avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Henriques is trying to get an arm triangle but Moraes is defending well.
Moraes can't do much from the bottom here.
Moraes is looking to regain half guard here but Henriques keeps moving and retains side control.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Henriques tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Henriques has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moraes isn't going anywhere.
Moraes can't do much from the bottom here.
Moraes stops Henriques from passing to mount.

Henriques is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Moraes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Moraes wants to control but Henriques postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moraes is looking for a sweep.
Moraes wants to control but Henriques postures up.

Henriques is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Moraes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Moraes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Moraes gets back to half guard.

Moraes actively working from the bottom here.

Moraes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Henriques pulls his head out easily.
Moraes wants to control but Henriques is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henriques is working for a submission of some sort.

Henriques is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Moraes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Henriques seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Moraes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Henriques pulls his head out easily.

Henriques is working for a submission of some sort.
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 Matheus Moraes will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Moraes with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A low kick from Henriques is predictable there
and Moraes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Moraes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Moraes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Henriques.
Moraes is looking to clinch but Henriques is avoiding it.
Henriques avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Anderson Henriques seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henriques is breathing heavily.

Moraes gets caught flat footed, as Henriques shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Henriques drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Moraes dives on top into guard.
Moraes stopping the sweep attempt from Henriques.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moraes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Moraes tries to free his leg and advance position but Henriques is retaining full guard.
Moraes won't allow Henriques to sweep him here.
Moraes is pushing down on Henriques's leg trying to pass to half guard. Henriques is fighting to maintain full guard but Moraes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Henriques is staying active underneath Moraes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Moraes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Henriques is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Henriques looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Henriques is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moraes is looking to take a break and control but Henriques is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henriques is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Moraes is trying to control. Henriques wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Moraes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Henriques looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Moraes is looking to take a break and control but Henriques is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matheus Moraes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matheus Moraes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Jab by Moraes.

Moraes moves into the clinch.

Henriques lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Moraes gets back to full guard.

Moraes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Henriques is aware though and is defending well.
Moraes is trying to keep Henriques in close.

Henriques drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Moraes manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Henriques has Moraes in his guard.
Moraes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moraes trying to control the position from guard on top but Henriques is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Henriques looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Moraes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

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

Matheus Moraes dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Good leg kick by Moraes there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Matheus Moraes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moraes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Moraes lands with an uppercut that bounces Henriques off the cage and back into range.
Henriques tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Moraes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Henriques's sensitive parts.
The fight stays on the outside here - Moraes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Moraes is looking to clinch but Henriques is avoiding it.
Moraes scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Henriques tries to keep at a distance but Moraes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Moraes taking a breather.
Henriques takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes stalling in the clinch.
Moraes jumps guard but Henriques stands there with Moraes around his waist. Moraes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Moraes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Henriques walks away with a smile on his face. Moraes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Moraes tries to clinch there but Henriques circles away.
Moraes tries to clinch up.

Henriques looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Moraes!
Moraes struggling a bit here.
Moraes is looking to reverse the position.
Moraes is working hard here to advance position.
Matheus Moraes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moraes wants to control but Henriques postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Henriques is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Moraes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Henriques thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Henriques goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Moraes rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Henriques's guard! Nice work there by Moraes!
Moraes wants to control from the top but Henriques keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henriques has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Moraes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Moraes stands and throws Henriques's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Moraes is looking to take a break and control but Henriques is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henriques tries to bench press Moraes off him but Moraes keeps the position.

Moraes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Henriques tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Henriques trying to remain calm as Moraes controls from the top position.
Henriques is not content to let Moraes control the position.
Anderson Henriques has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henriques is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matheus Moraes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Moraes 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matheus Moraes!