PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jason Spezza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafinha Capoeira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Spezza
vs
Capoeira

178 cm
24
162 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

178 cm
28
168 lbs
16 - 9 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry
Fury Nutrition Inc.

GRAND Royal Wear

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Spezza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafinha Capoeira!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A thudding body kick lands there by Spezza!
Capoeira is looking to clinch.
Capoeira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spezza swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spezza circles away from the clinch attempt.
Capoeira misses with a wild body shot.
Spezza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Capoeira wants to clinch up but Spezza keeps it at a distance.
Spezza misses the jab.
Spezza lands with an overhand left.
Spezza thows a body shot but no joy.

Spezza gets tackled into the cage by Capoeira. Capoeira maintains the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Capoeira.
Spezza prevents a body shot from Capoeira.
Capoeira crunches a lovely knee into Spezza's ribcage.
Spezza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Capoeira tries a knee to the head but Spezza blocks it.
Capoeira tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spezza manages to break the clinch.
Capoeira is looking to clinch but Spezza is avoiding it.
Spezza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Capoeira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spezza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Capoeira tries to clinch but Spezza is having none of it.
Capoeira tries to clinch up but Spezza circles away and keeps his distance.
Spezza misses with an uppercut
and Capoeira counters with a left and a right that stings Spezza.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Capoeira checks a leg kick.
We've been hearing reports that Spezza has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Capoeira closes the distance and pushes Spezza back into the cage.
Capoeira putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Spezza in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Spezza blocking some punches.
Capoeira tries a knee to the head but Spezza blocks it.
Spezza jumps guard but Capoeira turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Capoeira lands a body shot.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Capoeira.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Capoeira can't find room to land a body shot as Spezza controls the action.
Spezza effectively controlling the action here.
Spezza's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Capoeira creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A short left from Capoeira.
Capoeira keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Spezza's efforts to push away.
Capoeira misses with some punches.

Spezza jumps guard and drags Capoeira to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Capoeira wants to stand but Spezza is controlling his posture from full guard.

Spezza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spezza wants to sweep but no luck.
Spezza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Spezza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Spezza working a defensive guard here.

Capoeira stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Capoeira 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.
Capoeira tries to clinch up but Spezza circles away and keeps his distance.
Spezza connects with a jab.
Capoeira tries to close the distance and clinch but Spezza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Capoeira wants to clinch up but Spezza keeps it at a distance.
Capoeira moves in looking to clinch but Spezza pushes him off.
Capoeira throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Capoeira tries to clinch up but Spezza circles away and keeps his distance.
Spezza paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Capoeira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Spezza pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Capoeira tries to close the distance and clinch but Spezza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafinha Capoeira dominated that 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.

Capoeira wants to clinch up but Spezza keeps it at a distance.
Spezza loads up on a big right hand but Capoeira slips the punch.
Capoeira steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spezza.
Spezza scores with a sloppy right hand. Capoeira should have avoided that one.
Spezza scores with a hook.

Capoeira takes the fight into the clinch.
Capoeira is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spezza is defending well for now.
Capoeira throws an elbow that misses.
Capoeira is pressed up against the cage. Spezza has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Capoeira down to the mat. Capoeira avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Capoeira clinches up with Spezza and pushes him back against the cage.
Spezza has had enough of the clinch but Capoeira keeps him there for the moment.
Capoeira lands an elbow just above Spezza 's eye.
Spezza wants to stall.
Capoeira digs a right hand into Spezza's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Spezza's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spezza blocks a body shot from Capoeira.
Capoeira misses with an elbow over the top.
Capoeira unloads a knee to the mid-section. Spezza lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Capoeira trying to land knees to the body.
Rafinha Capoeira seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Capoeira missing with knees to the body.

Spezza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Spezza fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Capoeira looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Spezza connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Capoeira's hands.
Capoeira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Capoeira moves out of range as Spezza strikes.
Spezza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Spezza moves out of range of the body kick from Capoeira.
Capoeira takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spezza keeps the fight on the outside.
Capoeira tries to close the distance and clinch but Spezza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Capoeira clinches with his opponent.
Spezza takes an elbow to the temple.
Capoeira working aggressively here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spezza wants to break free but Capoeira has control.
Spezza scores with a hook to the body.
Capoeira is working Spezza over against the cage.
Spezza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Capoeira keeps control of Spezza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Capoeira tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spezza's elbow.
Spezza is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Capoeira gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Capoeira landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Spezza avoids the elbow strike from Capoeira, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spezza tries to pull guard but Capoeira forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Spezza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Capoeira tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spezza avoids it.
Capoeira landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Capoeira misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Spezza breaks from the clinch.

Spezza tries to keep at a distance but Capoeira has taken the fight into the clinch.
Spezza looking for a takedown.
Spezza blocks an elbow strike.
Capoeira lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Capoeira lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Spezza backwards.
Capoeira with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Capoeira with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice elbow from Capoeira.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spezza jumps guard but Capoeira turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Spezza is trying to trip Capoeira. He has hold of a leg but Capoeira is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Spezza persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
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!
Spezza prevents Capoeira from getting back to his feet.
Spezza looking to sit in guard and control but Capoeira gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Capoeira won't allow Spezza to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spezza has a closed guard, preventing Capoeira from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafinha Capoeira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Capoeira is looking to clinch but Spezza is avoiding it.
Spezza throws a lazy right hand but Capoeira sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Capoeira takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Capoeira darts in trying to clinch
enabling Spezza to counter with a crisp jab.
Jason Spezza is winning the standup battle so far.
Capoeira tries to clinch but Spezza moves out of range.
Rafinha Capoeira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Capoeira walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Spezza circles away from the clinch attempt.
Capoeira doesn't manage to clinch there - Spezza circles away.

Capoeira fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Spezza, pushing him back against the cage.
Spezza blocks the elbow strike.
Capoeira tries to work over Spezza's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Capoeira.
Capoeira looking to throw knees to the head but Spezza is blocking nicely.
Capoeira missing with knees to the body.
Capoeira tries a body shot but Spezza blocks it.
Capoeira tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spezza's elbow.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Capoeira obliges.
Capoeira missing with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Capoeira.
Capoeira trying to land knees to the body.
Capoeira struggles to land a body shot inside as Spezza controls his hands.
Capoeira is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spezza is defending well for now.
Spezza blocks a body shot from Capoeira.
Capoeira misses with a hook to the ribs.
Capoeira lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capoeira throws a knee to the head but misses.
Capoeira misses with a body punch.
Capoeira lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Capoeira lands a nice knee to the body.
Capoeira working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Capoeira.
Capoeira tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Capoeira doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Capoeira tries a body shot but Spezza blocks it.
Capoeira misses with a hook to the ribs.
Capoeira unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Capoeira misses with a knee to the head.
Spezza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Capoeira scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capoeira tries to throw a body punch but Spezza avoids it by throwing Capoeira back against the cage.
Spezza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Capoeira tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Capoeira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Capoeira misses with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Capoeira scores with a nice short uppercut.
Capoeira lands an elbow that stopped Spezza in his tracks for a moment.
Capoeira tries a body shot but Spezza blocks it.
Capoeira stops a takedown attempt from Spezza.
Spezza working aggressively here.
Spezza is looking for a takedown.
Good body shot from Spezza.
Capoeira makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Capoeira landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Capoeira.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spezza takes an elbow to the temple.
Capoeira creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Spezza wants to get back to striking at distance but Capoeira won't allow it.
Capoeira struggles to land a body shot inside as Spezza controls his hands.
Capoeira tries a knee to the head but Spezza blocks it.
Capoeira utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Capoeira using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Spezza has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Spezza is trying to pull guard but Capoeira turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jason Spezza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Spezza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Capoeira tries to land knees in the clinch but Spezza avoids the damage to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Capoeira looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Capoeira misses with a body punch.
Capoeira goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafinha Capoeira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Capoeira winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafinha Capoeira!
Rafinha Capoeira seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.