PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Orazio Cassian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sunday Mba (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.

Cassian
vs
Mba

193 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the 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, Orazio Cassian!
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, Sunday Mba!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cassian misses with a head kick.
Cassian could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mba shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cassian as he avoids it easily.
Mba shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cassian eats them both and turns towards Mba to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mba moves in looking to clinch but Cassian pushes him off.

Cassian has managed to clinch.

Mba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mba misses with the combination.
Mba slaps away a takedown attempt from Cassian, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mba swats away the attempt to clinch by Cassian.
Cassian tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cassian slaps away a takedown attempt from Mba, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Orazio Cassian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sunday Mba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cassian's waist but Cassian gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mba off to one side.
Mba keeps the fight on the outside.
Mba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cassian throws a good cross that connects.
Mba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cassian is fending him off so far but Mba persists. Nope, Cassian circles away and we're back to standing.
Mba misses with a few strikes there.
Cassian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mba paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Cassian clinches up against the cage.
Cassian dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Mba is trying to break the clinch but Cassian has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Cassian's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mba misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cassian.
Cassian is looking to break free of the clinch but Mba has double underhooks.
Mba is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cassian is keeping busy.
Cassian tries to pull guard but Mba won't allow it.
Mba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cassian.
Cassian leaning his opponent against the cage.
Mba wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mba is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cassian is defending well for now.
Mba can't break the clinch.
Cassian tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cassian landing knees to the head.

It looks like Sunday Mba has been cut.
Cassian has Mba pressed against the cage.
Cassian looking for a takedown.

Mba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cassian tries a head kick but it misses.
Cassian scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cassian shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cassian is breathing heavily.
Mba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mba closes the distance and clinches up with Cassian, looking for a takedown. Mba pushes Cassian against the cage but Cassian circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cassian shoots in for a takedown but Mba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A left lands for Cassian.
Mba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cassian stuffs the takedown.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mba tries to land a front kick but Cassian steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mba throws a leg kick but Cassian checks it.
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 Orazio Cassian will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sunday Mba's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mba looks to land a body kick but Cassian moved away.
Cassian misses the shot to the body.
Cassian slaps away a takedown attempt from Mba, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cassian shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mba as he avoids it easily.
Mba throws a right hand that Cassian ducks under and follows up with a left that Cassian also avoids with ease.
Mba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cassian defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mba.
Mba tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cassian counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mba throws a head kick that misses.
Mba is breathing heavily.
A low kick from Mba is predictable there

and Cassian holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Cassian manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassian shoots in for a takedown but Mba shows good takedown defense.
Nice sprawl there from Cassian as Mba shoots in.
Orazio Cassian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sunday Mba.
Cassian shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mba defends it nicely.
Cassian stuffs the takedown.
Mba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sunday Mba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cassian tries for a takedown but Mba sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cassian defends it nicely.
Cassian has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cassian is looking to clinch but Mba is avoiding it.
Mba shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cassian as he avoids it easily.
Cassian moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cassian!
Cassian looks for a takedown but Mba sprawls well.
An inside leg kick lands from Mba.
Mba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cassian misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassian doesn't manage to clinch there - Mba circles away.

Mba moves into the clinch.
Cassian takes a shot to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Mba's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cassian manages to break the clinch.
Mba shoots in but no luck this time.
Mba displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cassian.
Cassian tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mba shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cassian as he jumps to the side.
Cassian shoots for a takedown but Mba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mba tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cassian misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Cassian has managed to clinch.
Cassian tries for a takedown but Mba manages to get underhooks.
Mba tries to land knees in the clinch but Cassian avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cassian jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mba walks away with a smile on his face. Cassian gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Mba gets a clinch.
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 Orazio Cassian will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sunday Mba's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mba pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mba has a takedown stuffed.
Mba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cassian circles away.
Cassian throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mba.
Cassian tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mba swivels and escapes.
Mba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cassian shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mba defends it nicely.
Mba fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Orazio Cassian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sunday Mba.
Mba is looking to land body kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mba misses with a wild combination.
Mba avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cassian avoids it really well and circles away.
Cassian tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cassian moves in looking to clinch but Mba pushes him off.
Cassian swinging wildly here.
Mba misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mba slaps away a takedown attempt from Cassian, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cassian is defended easily by Mba.
Cassian on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mba tries to clinch up.
Cassian throws a sloppy head kick and Mba moves out of range easily.

Mba moves into the clinch successfully.

Mba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cassian is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cassian's waist but Cassian gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mba off to one side.
Mba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cassian avoids it really well and circles away.
Cassian shoots in and drives through. Mba sprawls well.
Mba shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cassian as he jumps to the side.
Cassian changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mba tries to avoid it but Cassian manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mba to the ground. Mba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mba moves in looking to clinch but Cassian pushes him off.
Cassian slaps away a takedown attempt from Mba, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cassian tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mba swivels and escapes.
Mba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cassian circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cassian is defended easily by Mba.
Cassian will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mba shoots in for a takedown but Cassian shows good takedown defense.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cassian is defended easily by Mba.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cassian stuffs the takedown attempt from Mba. Mba gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sunday Mba.
Well Cassian 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Orazio Cassian!