PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Gustavo Silva Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Case Needham (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.

Gustavo Silva Oliveira
vs
Needham

151 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luiz Gustavo Silva Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Case Needham!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva Oliveira gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silva Oliveira is looking to break free of the clinch but Needham has double underhooks.
Silva Oliveira is trying to force a seperation but Needham has the dominant position.

Needham breaks from the clinch.
Needham throws a left and a right that both miss
and Silva Oliveira makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Needham.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva Oliveira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Needham dives in and grabs Silva Oliveira's left leg, looking for a takedown. Silva Oliveira pushes down on Needham's head and hops out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Needham.
Silva Oliveira shoots in looking for a takedown. Needham tries to sprawl out of it but Silva Oliveira keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Needham manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva Oliveira could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Silva Oliveira tries to clinch up.
Silva Oliveira tries to clinch but Needham moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Needham tries to clinch there but Silva Oliveira circles away.
Silva Oliveira closes the distance and clinches up with Needham, looking for a takedown. Silva Oliveira pushes Needham against the cage but Needham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva Oliveira looks to land a body kick but Needham moved away.
Silva Oliveira tries to clinch up.
Needham fails with the takedown.
Luiz Gustavo Silva Oliveira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Case Needham.
Silva Oliveira misses with an attempted mid kick.
Silva Oliveira tries to clinch there but Needham circles away.
Silva Oliveira steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Needham. That one must have hurt.

Needham moves into range and clinches up with Silva Oliveira.

Needham breaks the clinch.
Needham tries to close the distance and clinch but Silva Oliveira swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Needham is defended easily by Silva Oliveira.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Needham moves out of range of the leg kick from Silva Oliveira.
Needham avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silva Oliveira shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Needham sprawls well. Needham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva Oliveira gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva Oliveira moves to clinch but Needham breaks away
and Silva Oliveira takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Needham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Some bone on bone action there as Needham checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Needham has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva Oliveira tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Needham swivels and escapes.
Needham shoots in for a takedown but Silva Oliveira shows good takedown defense.
Needham slips a jab and a cross from Silva Oliveira.
Silva Oliveira fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Needham thows a body shot but no joy.
Needham is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Silva Oliveira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Silva Oliveira is breathing heavily.
Silva Oliveira throws a right and a left that Needham avoids nicely.
Needham thows a body shot but no joy.
Needham throws a combination. Silva Oliveira tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Silva Oliveira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Needham moves into the clinch.
Silva Oliveira wants a takedown but no success here.
Needham taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Needham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Needham misses with a two punch combination.
Silva Oliveira scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Silva Oliveira thuds his right hand into Needham's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Needham tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Silva Oliveira misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Case Needham will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Needham shoots in but Silva Oliveira avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Silva Oliveira shoots in and drives through. Needham sprawls well.

Needham darts in and clinches Silva Oliveira up against the cage.
Needham jumps guard but Silva Oliveira stands there with Needham around his waist. Needham gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Needham is trying to drag Silva Oliveira to the mat but Silva Oliveira just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Luiz Gustavo Silva Oliveira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Case Needham.

Needham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Needham drives through and clinches with Silva Oliveira against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Needham takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Needham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva Oliveira misses with a wild body shot.

Silva Oliveira closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Silva Oliveira jumps guard but Needham stands there with Silva Oliveira around his waist. Silva Oliveira gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Needham wants to take the fight to the mat but Silva Oliveira manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Needham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silva Oliveira digs a good hook to Needham's body.
Needham shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva Oliveira pinned against the cage. Silva Oliveira gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Needham is breathing heavily.
Needham shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva Oliveira as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Needham stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva Oliveira. Silva Oliveira gets slowly back to his feet.
Needham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silva Oliveira tries to avoid it but Needham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silva Oliveira to the ground. Silva Oliveira escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silva Oliveira has a takedown stuffed.
Needham avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silva Oliveira shoots in looking for a takedown. Needham tries to sprawl out of it but Silva Oliveira keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Needham manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Silva Oliveira tries to clinch up
enabling Needham to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Needham shoots in for a double leg but Silva Oliveira sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva Oliveira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Luiz Gustavo Silva Oliveira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silva Oliveira throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Luiz Gustavo Silva Oliveira is winning the standup battle so far.
Needham circles away from the clinch attempt
and Needham counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Needham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Silva Oliveira closes the distance and clinches.
Needham is stalling here.
Needham wants to take the fight to the mat but Silva Oliveira manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Needham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva Oliveira pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silva Oliveira wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Needham has him pressed against the cage.
Needham is trying to push Silva Oliveira away but Silva Oliveira has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Needham is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Silva Oliveira gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A left hand lands to the body for Silva Oliveira.
Needham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Silva Oliveira tries to land knees in the clinch but Needham avoids the damage to the body.
Needham keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Silva Oliveira's efforts to push away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Needham is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Needham gets underhooks to prevent Silva Oliveira's takedown attempt.
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 Luiz Gustavo Silva Oliveira will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Needham doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva Oliveira circles away.
Silva Oliveira throws a sloppy head kick and Needham moves out of range easily.
Silva Oliveira tries to score a power double leg takedown but Needham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Silva Oliveira somewhat.

Needham drives through and clinches with Silva Oliveira against the cage.

Needham breaks the clinch.
Needham tries to clinch there but Silva Oliveira circles away.
Needham shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva Oliveira as he jumps to the side.

Silva Oliveira moves into range and clinches up with Needham.
Needham tries to pull guard but Silva Oliveira forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva Oliveira working hard to break the clinch.
Silva Oliveira is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Needham is defending well.
Needham blocks an elbow strike.
Silva Oliveira wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luiz Gustavo Silva Oliveira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva Oliveira is looking to take this one to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Needham tries for a takedown. No joy.
Silva Oliveira has had enough of the clinch but Needham keeps him there for the moment.
Needham tries to pull guard but Silva Oliveira won't allow it.

Needham pulls guard.

Needham looking for a guillotine here but Silva Oliveira defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Needham 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva Oliveira postures up.
Silva Oliveira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva Oliveira passes Needham's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Needham is looking to get back to full guard here but Silva Oliveira has managed to pass to side control instead.
Silva Oliveira takes a little break here. Needham wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Silva Oliveira has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Needham trying his best to control but Silva Oliveira has mounted him.

Silva Oliveira is working for a guillotine from mount but Needham frees his head quite easily.
Silva Oliveira manages to capitalize on a mistake by Needham to take his back!
Silva Oliveira is riding his opponent, not letting Needham buck him off.
Needham tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva Oliveira is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Needham closes the distance and clinches up with Silva Oliveira, looking for a takedown. Needham pushes Silva Oliveira against the cage but Silva Oliveira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Silva Oliveira shoots in and drives through. Needham sprawls well.
Silva Oliveira misses with a telegraphed body shot

so Needham counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Needham is looking to stand up but Silva Oliveira won't let him.
Needham won't allow Silva Oliveira to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Needham stops Silva Oliveira from standing up.
Silva Oliveira working a defensive guard but Needham passes into half guard.
Silva Oliveira tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Needham manages to move to mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Case Needham.
I think Needham has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 George Francis scores the fight for Case Needham!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Case Needham!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Case Needham!

Case Needham wins by unanimous decision!