PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michel Ford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickson Arantes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rickson Arantes will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ford
vs
Arantes

210 cm
19
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

160 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michel Ford!
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, Rickson Arantes!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arantes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ford has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Arantes.
Ford throws a body punch but Arantes moves out of range.
Ford on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Arantes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ford sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Arantes circles away from the clinch attempt.

Arantes instigates a clinch.
Ford is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arantes is defending well for now.
Ford is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Arantes to keep the fight standing.

Ford gets control of Arantes's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ford will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Arantes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ford has a closed guard, preventing Arantes from standing up.
Arantes trying to control the position from guard on top but Ford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford managing to control the position.
Arantes trying to control the position from guard on top but Ford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Arantes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ford, pushing him back against the cage.
Arantes tries to pull guard but Ford holds him up against the cage and eventually Arantes drops back down to his feet.
Michel Ford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Arantes.

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

Arantes takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ford tries a knee to the head but Arantes blocks it.

Ford decides to pull guard.

Ford has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Arantes is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Ford pulls Arantes into guard.
Ford wants to sweep but no luck.

Ford uses the cage to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Arantes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Arantes is looking to stand up but Ford won't let him.
Arantes looks winded!
Ford is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Arantes has eaten all the pies!
Arantes preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arantes content to stall in guard here.
Ford pulls Arantes in close to prevent any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Michel Ford has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ford tries to clinch up.
Ford throws a nice looking combination but Arantes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ford defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Arantes.
Rickson Arantes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arantes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ford moves into range and clinches up with Arantes.

Ford gets control of Arantes's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ford will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ford controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arantes wanted to stand there but Ford had control of the position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ford manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Ford jumps guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ford manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ford.

Ford decides to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Ford dominated that round.
That's time! Ford's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ford gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Arantes avoiding damage as Ford throws knees to the body.
Arantes jumps guard but Ford stands there with Arantes around his waist. Arantes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Ford jumps guard.
Ford lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Arantes!
Arantes tries to hold on but Ford postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Arantes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ford landing punches.
Arantes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Arantes flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ford get's back to his feet.
Arantes is breathing heavily.

Ford clinches with his opponent.
Arantes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ford to keep the fight standing.

Ford successfully pulls guard.
Ford keeping moving, preventing Arantes from controlling successfully.
Arantes is looking to stand up but Ford won't let him.
Ford seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ford keeping moving, preventing Arantes from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rickson Arantes wasn't active enough on the ground.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Arantes.
Michel Ford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Arantes.

Arantes tries to keep at a distance but Ford has taken the fight into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Ford.

Ford has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Arantes uses from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ford pulls Arantes in close to prevent any damage.
Ford will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ford looking for a sweep. Not yet Ford, not yet.
Ford has control of Arantes's left arm, preventing Arantes from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ford bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Arantes's guard.
Ford trying to control the position from guard on top but Arantes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ford makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ford's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Ford drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ford jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ford stands and steps away. Arantes gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Ford closes the distance and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ford.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arantes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Ford successfully pulls guard.
Ford wants to sweep but no luck.
Ford is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ford bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Arantes's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arantes keeping moving, preventing Ford from controlling successfully.
Arantes wants to control the position but Ford says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ford decides to return to a standing position.
Ford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ford misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Ford dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ford fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arantes manages to avoid it.
Arantes connects with an inside leg kick.
Ford leaves Arantes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Arantes tries to keep at a distance but Ford has taken the fight into the clinch.
Arantes takes a shot to the head.
Arantes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ford is keeping busy.
Ford softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Arantes is trying to push Ford away but Ford has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ford changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Arantes fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arantes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ford moves away.
Arantes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ford blocks a head kick by Arantes.

Arantes gets a clinch.

Ford drags the fight down to the ground.
Arantes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ford works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ford looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ford manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Arantes manages to get himself to full guard.
Ford would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Arantes throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ford uses it to pass to side control.

Ford wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Arantes, who protects the arm well.

Ford is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Arantes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arantes is trying to control Ford's posture but Ford avoids it.
Arantes is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Ford tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ford has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ford is putting a hurting on Arantes here, landing some big shots from side control.

Ford in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Arantes is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Michel Ford!