PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Major Obrien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Arantes (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.

Obrien
vs
Arantes

153 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Major Obrien!
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, Felipe Arantes!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Obrien rushes Arantes and presses him up against the cage.

Obrien turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Arantes is looking to reverse the position.
Obrien controlling from side mount.

Obrien decides to stand up, so the ref orders Arantes to his feet.

Obrien closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Arantes to the mat! Arantes manages to get full guard.
Obrien would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Arantes is trying to keep Obrien in close.
Obrien knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Arantes on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arantes trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obrien not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Arantes throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Arantes has a closed guard, preventing Obrien from standing up.

Arantes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Obrien gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Obrien tries to stand but Arantes is controlling from the bottom.
Obrien trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Obrien has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Arantes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Obrien's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arantes trying to control but Obrien is working from the bottom.
Arantes looking to pass the guard.
Arantes trying to control but Obrien is working from the bottom.
Obrien could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Obrien is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Obrien content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Obrien wants to work for an arm triangle but Arantes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Arantes is trying to stand back up but Obrien is controlling him
Obrien really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Arantes is trying to control but can't.
Obrien content to control rather than advance.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A nice combination there by Arantes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arantes avoids a kick to the body.
Obrien is looking to chop away at Arantes's legs.
Obrien stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Obrien wants it to stay on the feet.
Arantes looks winded!
Arantes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Obrien pushes Arantes up against the cage in a clinch.

Obrien has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Arantes regains guard immediately.
Arantes wants to get back to his feet but Obrien is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arantes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Arantes trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Major Obrien dominated that round.
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.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Obrien.
Arantes shoots in looking for a takedown. Obrien tries to sprawl out of it but Arantes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Obrien manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Obrien looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Obrien tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Arantes.
Well, if Obrien is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Arantes wants to control but Obrien is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Obrien there.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ground and pound from Obrien.
Obrien stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Obrien tried to score with a low kick but Arantes checks it.
Arantes tries to close the distance and clinch but Obrien swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Arantes lands with a cross.

Obrien instigates a clinch.
Arantes tries for a takedown but Obrien manages to get underhooks.
Arantes is trying to break the clinch but Obrien has him pressed against the cage.
Arantes is breathing heavily.
Arantes fails to pull guard.
Major Obrien has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Arantes.
Arantes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A frustrated look appears on Arantes's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Obrien breaks from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Obrien rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Arantes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Arantes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Obrien.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Obrien landing strikes.
Obrien takes a little break here. Arantes wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Arantes regains half guard.
Arantes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Obrien scores with a couple of nice shots.
Obrien is taking a breather. Arantes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obrien is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Obrien sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Arantes wants to try and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Obrien takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Major Obrien dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Obrien gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Obrien jumps into guard, dragging Arantes to the mat.
Obrien wants to get back to his feet but Arantes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Arantes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Obrien controlling the position.
Arantes stops Obrien from standing up.
Arantes preventing the sweep.
Arantes distracts Obrien with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Obrien on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Obrien tries to get out of the position.
Arantes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Obrien is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arantes pushing down on Obrien's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Obrien manages to get to full guard.
Arantes looking to pass the guard.
Arantes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Major Obrien overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Arantes keeps trying to improve his position.
Obrien looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obrien wants to stand and escape but Arantes is having none of it.
Obrien has a closed guard, preventing Arantes from standing up.
Arantes trying to control but Obrien is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Felipe Arantes wasn't active enough on the ground.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Obrien works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Arantes is trying to control the position but Obrien postures up.
Arantes wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arantes is wriggling around but Obrien manages to pass to half guard.
Arantes is in trouble now - Obrien has advanced to mount!
Obrien controlling the position easily from mount.
Arantes is trying to stand but he's just given Obrien his back.
Obrien really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Arantes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arantes wants to escape the position.

Obrien is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Arantes won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Obrien off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Major Obrien!