PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wellingshton Paiva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chembakwu Azuibike (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.

Paiva
vs
Azuibike

187 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light 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, Wellingshton Paiva!
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, Chembakwu Azuibike!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azuibike tries to clinch up.
Azuibike defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Paiva.
Azuibike slaps away a takedown attempt from Paiva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Paiva wants to clinch up but Azuibike keeps it at a distance.
Paiva throws a head kick that misses
and Azuibike counters with a big head kick but Paiva shrugs it off.
Azuibike stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wellingshton Paiva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azuibike avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Azuibike throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Paiva shoots for a double leg takedown but Azuibike sprawls well. He's pushed Paiva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Azuibike throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paiva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azuibike doesn't manage to clinch there - Paiva circles away.
Azuibike avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Paiva wants to clinch up but Azuibike keeps it at a distance.
Paiva misses with a head kick.
Azuibike avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Paiva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Azuibike defends well and Paiva ends up having to push Azuibike into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Azuibike misses with a knee to the head.
Azuibike tries to land a knee to the head but Paiva blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azuibike misses with a knee strike.
Azuibike tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Azuibike tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Azuibike using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Paiva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Paiva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Azuibike smiles and moves away.
Paiva is looking to clinch but Azuibike is avoiding it.
Wellingshton Paiva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azuibike tries to close the distance and clinch but Paiva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Azuibike.
Azuibike tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Paiva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azuibike leaves Paiva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Azuibike closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Paiva's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Paiva working for a triangle but Azuibike defends it easily.

Azuibike gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Paiva is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azuibike dives in for a single leg takedown but Paiva sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Azuibike gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Paiva.

Azuibike breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Paiva gets tackled into the cage by Azuibike. Azuibike maintains the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paiva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Azuibike smiles and moves away.
Paiva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Azuibike swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paiva dives in and grabs Azuibike's left leg, looking for a takedown. Azuibike pushes down on Paiva's head and hops out.
The fight stays on the outside here - Azuibike looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Paiva shoots in but Azuibike avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice takedown defense from Azuibike. No joy for Paiva on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wellingshton Paiva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azuibike tries to clinch there but Paiva circles away.
Paiva blocks a head kick by Azuibike.

Azuibike instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paiva tries to throw a body punch but Azuibike avoids it by throwing Paiva back against the cage.
Azuibike looking to throw knees to the head but Paiva is blocking nicely.
Azuibike tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Azuibike throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Paiva blocks it with crossed arms.
Azuibike is trying to maintain a safe position but Paiva gets an underhook and turns Azuibike into the cage.
Paiva is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Azuibike has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Paiva after a bit of a struggle.
Paiva is trying to break the clinch but Azuibike has him pressed against the cage.
Azuibike is looking to break free of the clinch but Paiva has double underhooks.
Azuibike tries a knee to the head but Paiva blocks it.

Paiva gets control of Azuibike's arms and successfully pulls guard. Paiva will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Azuibike gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Azuibike throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Paiva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paiva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Paiva thows a left - swing and a miss!
Azuibike dives in for a single leg takedown but Paiva sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Paiva jumps guard and drags Azuibike to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Paiva looking to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Paiva is working an open guard so Azuibike takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azuibike has a takedown stuffed.
A looping hook to the body misses from Paiva. Azuibike does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azuibike scores with a head kick. Paiva tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Paiva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Azuibike counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Paiva is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Azuibike shoots in looking for a takedown. Paiva tries to sprawl out of it but Azuibike keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Paiva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Paiva moves in looking to clinch but Azuibike pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Azuibike closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Paiva did well to prevent Azuibike getting side control.

Azuibike postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Paiva to stand up.
Paiva takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Azuibike fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paiva throws a body punch but Azuibike moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chembakwu Azuibike showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Azuibike fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Paiva shoots in for a takedown but Azuibike shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Azuibike darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Paiva moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paiva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Paiva isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Azuibike stacks Paiva on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Azuibike!

Azuibike decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azuibike tries to clinch
and Paiva connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Paiva tries to clinch but Azuibike moves out of range.
Paiva pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Paiva throws a right and a left that Azuibike avoids nicely.
Paiva swats away the attempt to clinch by Azuibike.
Azuibike tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Paiva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azuibike scores with a head kick.
Paiva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Azuibike but Azuibike pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paiva keeps the fight on the outside.
Paiva dives in and grabs Azuibike's left leg, looking for a takedown. Azuibike pushes down on Paiva's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wellingshton Paiva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azuibike tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Paiva blocks a head kick by Azuibike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paiva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Azuibike manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Paiva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Azuibike paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paiva waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Azuibike.
Paiva closes the distance and clinches up with Azuibike, looking for a takedown. Paiva pushes Azuibike against the cage but Azuibike circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Azuibike tries to close the distance and clinch but Paiva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Azuibike shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Paiva shoots for a takedown but Azuibike saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chembakwu Azuibike comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Azuibike has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chembakwu Azuibike!