PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mickey O Neil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gaspar Saroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

O Neil
vs
Saroa

187 cm
38
177 lbs
29 - 24 - 1

170 cm
31
185 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey O Neil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gaspar Saroa!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saroa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
O Neil is staying active underneath Saroa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Saroa trying to pass the guard but O Neil defending well.
Saroa wants to lay and pray for a moment but O Neil keeps working.
O Neil is positioning himself well to prevent Saroa advancing to mount.
Saroa is looking to stall here but O Neil recovers full guard.
Saroa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
O Neil tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saroa looking to pass the guard.
O Neil looking to control.
Saroa wants to control from the top but O Neil keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saroa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says O Neil as he avoids it easily.
Saroa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
O Neil lands a jab to Saroa's midsection.
Saroa dodges the punch combination from O Neil.
Saroa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saroa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
O Neil has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Saroa tries to advance to mount but can't.
Saroa taking a break here but O Neil is having none of it and regains half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Saroa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

O Neil is defending against the submission attempts here by Saroa.
Saroa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Saroa.
Saroa trying to mount his opponent but O Neil defends it.
Saroa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Saroa is pressing down on O Neil's thigh, looking to free his foot. O Neil is holding on for now.
O Neil blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saroa.
O Neil works his way to full guard. Good work.
Saroa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
O Neil 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.
O Neil keeping moving, preventing Saroa from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saroa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saroa throws a big elbow that misses.
Saroa wants to control from the top but O Neil keeps moving.
O Neil is adopting a defensive guard.
O Neil will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Saroa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saroa sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but O Neil is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaspar Saroa 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.

O Neil connects with a looping right hand.
Saroa closes the distance and clinches up with O Neil, looking for a takedown. Saroa pushes O Neil against the cage but O Neil circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
O Neil connects with a body shot that sends Saroa's belly button to the back.
O Neil lands with an overhand left.
Saroa has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
O Neil fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Saroa shoots for a double leg takedown but O Neil sprawls well. He's pushed Saroa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saroa with a lazy takedown attempt
and O Neil counters with a stiff right hand.
Mickey O Neil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gaspar Saroa.
O Neil throws out a powerful jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Saroa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has O Neil pinned against the cage. O Neil gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Saroa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
O Neil fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Saroa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
O Neil throws a combination. Saroa tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
O Neil with a hook.
O Neil stuns Saroa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
O Neil scores with a shot to the body.
O Neil tests Saroa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Saroa shoots in looking for a takedown but O Neil manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saroa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil connects with a jab.
Horrible takedown by Saroa or perhaps it was just good defense by O Neil which made him look bad.
A punch lands to the side of Saroa 's head but he takes it in his stride.
O Neil connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Saroa's hands.
Gaspar Saroa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saroa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
O Neil slaps away a takedown attempt from Saroa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saroa takes a jab right on the kisser.
Saroa misses with a takedown attempt
and O Neil counters with a straight right hand.
Nice uppercut lands for O Neil. That snapped Saroa's head back.
Saroa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with O Neil but O Neil pushes him off and we're back to square one.
O Neil thuds a left hand into Saroa's body.
Saroa is breathing heavily.
Saroa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saroa takes one on the button.
Saroa misses with a wild body shot.
Mickey O Neil is winning the standup battle so far.
Saroa is on the wrong end of a nice combination from O Neil.
O Neil lands a body shot.
O Neil fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Saroa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Neil scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
O Neil scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Saroa fails with a takedown attempt.
O Neil lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Saroa at a distance.
Saroa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. O Neil defends it nicely.
O Neil lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
O Neil jabs Saroa right on the nose. Saroa blinks but takes it well.
O Neil lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Saroa at a distance.
Saroa takes one to the side of the head.
Saroa takes one to the chin there.
A shot to the liver by O Neil. Beautiful body shot.
O Neil bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Saroa's head.
O Neil lands an overhand right.
O Neil connects with a crisp jab.
O Neil throws a body punch but Saroa moves out of range.
Mickey O Neil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saroa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Saroa shoots in looking for a takedown. O Neil tries to sprawl out of it but Saroa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. O Neil manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
O Neil scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Saroa has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
O Neil scores with a nice right hand.
Saroa drops his hands momentarily and O Neil takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
O Neil connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
O Neil connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
O Neil uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saroa.
O Neil will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
O Neil cracks Saroa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Saroa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Neil was well out of range. Poor timing from Saroa.
Saroa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Saroa moves forwards but O Neil connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horrible takedown by Saroa or perhaps it was just good defense by O Neil which made him look bad.
O Neil leaves Saroa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saroa throws out a loose jab but O Neil uses good head movement to avoid it.
O Neil fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nice takedown defense from O Neil. No joy for Saroa on that attempt.
O Neil scores with a shot to the body.
Saroa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and O Neil counters with a stiff right hand.
O Neil scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Saroa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Saroa fails with a takedown attempt.
Saroa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
O Neil throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
O Neil cracks Saroa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saroa shoots in and drives through. O Neil sprawls well.
O Neil scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Saroa tries to score a power double leg takedown but O Neil sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Saroa somewhat.
Saroa gets cracked there but stands up to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey O Neil dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

O Neil lands a nice looking body shot.
O Neil lands with a nice body punch.
O Neil defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saroa.
O Neil tests Saroa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Saroa fails with a takedown attempt.
Saroa is trying hard to land a takedown here. O Neil sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mickey O Neil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gaspar Saroa.
O Neil with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Saroa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Saroa closes the distance and clinches up with O Neil, looking for a takedown. Saroa pushes O Neil against the cage but O Neil circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A left and a right from O Neil both land. Nice combination.
Saroa walks into a left hand.
Saroa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Saroa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saroa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saroa takes a jab right on the kisser.
O Neil scores with a nice right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saroa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil scores with a body shot.
O Neil bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
O Neil throws a right and a left that both miss.
A shot to the liver by O Neil. Beautiful body shot.
O Neil fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Saroa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
O Neil connects with the punch.
Saroa shoots in but O Neil avoids the takedown attempt easily.
O Neil looks to land a body kick but Saroa moved away.
O Neil lands a lovely overhand right.
O Neil cracks Saroa with a good jab.
O Neil connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Saroa moves out of range as O Neil throws a body kick.
Saroa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
O Neil with a jab.
O Neil cracks Saroa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Saroa is rocked!
O Neil is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saroa can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saroa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Saroa is still on wobbly legs! Can O Neil finish him?
Saroa gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! O Neil gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Saroa is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mickey O Neil!
Our winner, Mickey O Neil, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.