PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacques Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jacques Gabriel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Almeida
vs
Gabriel

191 cm
28
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

182 cm
26
200 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Alpha Male

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Almeida!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jacques Gabriel!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gabriel throws an off balance right hand
and Almeida counters with a three punch combo that has Gabriel backing up. Gabriel nods at Almeida to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Almeida.
Gabriel misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Almeida counters with a two punch combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gabriel. Almeida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jacques Gabriel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gabriel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Almeida moves away.
A big left from Gabriel misses.
Gabriel throws the left hand but Almeida avoids the punch easily.
Gabriel looks to score with a jab to the body but Almeida is just out of range.
Gabriel misses with a looping right.
Gabriel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Almeida counters with a two punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gabriel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Gabriel misses the target.
Almeida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Almeida manages to avoid it.
Gabriel goes for a double leg but Almeida avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Almeida continues to drive forward.
Gabriel is looking to control Almeida's arms but Almeida gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gabriel has his back to the cage.
Almeida keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gabriel's efforts to push away.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Almeida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Almeida is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gabriel gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gabriel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gabriel is trying to pull guard but Almeida turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Almeida has hold of one of Gabriel's legs. Gabriel is fighting the takedown attempt but Almeida gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida wants to control from the top but Gabriel keeps moving.
Gabriel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Almeida manages to get himself to full guard.
Gabriel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Almeida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Gabriel from controlling successfully.
Gabriel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gabriel looking to pass the guard.
Gabriel postures up.
Gabriel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Almeida swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gabriel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Almeida has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gabriel has managed to get both his arms back between Almeida's legs - danger averted.
Gabriel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gabriel trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almeida can't keep his opponent in guard - Gabriel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Almeida slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Almeida looking for a sweep. Not yet Almeida, not yet.
Almeida is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Almeida is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Gabriel from controlling successfully.
Gabriel wants to pass the guard but Almeida is keeping the position.
Gabriel trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gabriel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Almeida.
Gabriel dives in and grabs Almeida's left leg, looking for a takedown. Almeida pushes down on Gabriel's head and hops out.
Rafael Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacques Gabriel.
Almeida ducks under a wild hook from Gabriel.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almeida throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gabriel's waist but Gabriel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Almeida off to one side.
Gabriel misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Almeida counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Almeida stands up and waves to Gabriel to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Almeida dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gabriel misses with a looping left.
Almeida darts in looking for a takedown but Gabriel gets double underhooks and turns Almeida into the cage.
Almeida is looking to take this one to the mat.

Gabriel lands a takedown into guard.
Gabriel tries to free his leg and advance position but Almeida is retaining full guard.
Almeida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gabriel is one step ahead there.
Almeida working a defensive guard here.
Gabriel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Almeida looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida trying to keep a closed guard but Gabriel is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Gabriel from controlling successfully.

Almeida looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gabriel passes into half guard.
Gabriel is looking to advance position but Almeida won't allow it.
Gabriel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gabriel moves nicely into side control.
Almeida is trying to control Gabriel's posture but Gabriel avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Almeida is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Gabriel sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Almeida is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Almeida sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Almeida is not content to let Gabriel control the position.
Almeida trying to control from the bottom.
Gabriel wants to pass to mount but Almeida is defending the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Almeida manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almeida is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Gabriel from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Almeida looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rafael Almeida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Almeida throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gabriel throws a strike but Almeida rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Almeida passes Gabriel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Almeida is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gabriel tries to roll over but Almeida keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gabriel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gabriel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Almeida's guard.
Gabriel won't allow Almeida to sweep him here.
Gabriel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Almeida stops Gabriel from passing to mount.
Almeida struggling a bit here.
Gabriel advances nicely into full mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee warns Almeida that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gabriel tries to control but Almeida wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacques Gabriel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gabriel misses the jab.
Almeida avoids the body shot from Gabriel.
Gabriel misses with an uppercut
and Almeida counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gabriel misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Almeida counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gabriel misses with a hook. Almeida ducked under it nicely.
Gabriel misses the shot to the body.
Gabriel misses with a hook

and Almeida holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Almeida has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gabriel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Gabriel's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Almeida has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gabriel clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Almeida keeps control of the position as Gabriel tries to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida is controlling the position but Gabriel somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Almeida prevents Gabriel from improving his position.
Almeida is keen to just control but Gabriel is a slippery customer.
Almeida is thwarting Gabriel's attempts to control the position.
Almeida passes to full mount!
Gabriel tries to control the position but Almeida now has his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel is in bad spot here.

Gabriel preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Almeida.

Gabriel fending off the submission attempt from Almeida.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gabriel tries to roll but Almeida sticks to his back.
Almeida trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Gabriel wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida is trying to stick to Gabriel's back but Gabriel is turning into Almeida. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Almeida's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gabriel.
Almeida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gabriel is one step ahead there.

Almeida had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gabriel defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gabriel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Almeida is keeping the position for now.
Gabriel pushing down on Almeida's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Gabriel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Almeida looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel stalling away here and it's allowed Almeida to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gabriel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Almeida controls Gabriel momentarily but Gabriel frees himself.
Gabriel landing with the ground and pound.
Gabriel forces his way into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almeida regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gabriel.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Almeida has momentary wrist control but Gabriel slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Rafael Almeida did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gabriel throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Almeida to counter with a crisp jab.
Almeida avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Almeida shoots in and bounces Gabriel off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gabriel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Almeida is looking for a sweep. Gabriel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gabriel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Almeida defends it well.
Gabriel is thwarting Almeida's attempts to control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gabriel in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel wants to pass to mount but Almeida is defending the position.

Gabriel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gabriel stops Almeida from getting back to his feet.
Gabriel trying to pass the guard but Almeida defending well.
Gabriel wants to control but Almeida is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel tries to pass the half guard into mount. Almeida knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gabriel throwing shots but Almeida is blocking nicely.

Almeida looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gabriel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Almeida does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gabriel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Almeida is trying to stand back up but Gabriel is controlling him
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Gabriel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Almeida's head.
Gabriel wants to control but Almeida is keeping him busy.
Gabriel wants to pass the guard but Almeida is defending well.
Gabriel is keen to just control but Almeida is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gabriel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Almeida keeps working.
Gabriel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Almeida defending well though.
Almeida is looking to escape.
Almeida has hold of Gabriel's hands but Gabriel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Gabriel seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Almeida has recovered full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gabriel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gabriel works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel is looking to pass Almeida's guard but actually Almeida recovers to full guard.
Almeida manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Gabriel tries to improve his position but Almeida has taken his back! Almeida has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Gabriel tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Almeida pushes Gabriel away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rafael Almeida!
Rafael Almeida is the new middleweight champion!