PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Salam Abdulrahim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eustaquio Braga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdulrahim comes to the cage accompanied by Brand Nubian - Allah U Akbar. Braga has chosen Roberto Leal - Bate o Pé as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Abdulrahim
vs
Braga

165 cm
21
143 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
20
142 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Salam Abdulrahim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eustaquio Braga!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Braga tries to clinch there but Abdulrahim circles away.
Abdulrahim shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Braga pinned against the cage. Braga gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Braga dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Braga tries to clinch up

and Abdulrahim counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Abdulrahim wants to take a breather but Braga is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abdulrahim looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Salam Abdulrahim wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Braga is looking to clinch but Abdulrahim is avoiding it.
Braga closes the distance looking to clinch

and Abdulrahim counters by clinching up.

Abdulrahim manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Abdulrahim has his foot on Braga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Braga works his way back into a safe position though.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Abdulrahim managing to control the position.

Abdulrahim has his foot on Braga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Braga works his way back into a safe position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abdulrahim is trying to keep Braga in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Braga being controlled here momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Abdulrahim shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Abdulrahim seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Braga misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Braga lands with a nice combination. Abdulrahim backs away looking to recover.

Abdulrahim tries to sprawl but Braga drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Abdulrahim preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim is looking to improve his position.
Abdulrahim moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Abdulrahim looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salam Abdulrahim dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Abdulrahim misses with a takedown attempt
and Braga counters with a left and a right that stings Abdulrahim.

Abdulrahim shoots in and gets a takedown into Braga's guard.
Braga working a defensive guard here.

Abdulrahim drops back looking for a leg! Braga is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Braga manages to kick Abdulrahim off! Abdulrahim jumps back into Braga's guard.
Abdulrahim controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdulrahim slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Abdulrahim trying to control the position but Braga is working away.
Abdulrahim controlling the position from side mount.
Abdulrahim trying to control the position but Braga is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Salam Abdulrahim just wasn't active enough.
Braga stuffs the takedown attempt from Abdulrahim. Abdulrahim gets slowly back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Braga. Those never looked like landing.
Braga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Braga looks to score with a jab to the body but Abdulrahim is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim shoots in looking for a takedown. Braga tries to sprawl out of it but Abdulrahim keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Braga manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salam Abdulrahim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Braga looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Abdulrahim as Braga shoots in.
The fight stays on the outside here - Braga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Braga tries to bum rush Abdulrahim with a series of wild strikes but Abdulrahim uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Braga shoots in for a takedown but Abdulrahim shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Braga tries to clinch there but Abdulrahim circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Braga. No joy for Abdulrahim on that attempt.
Braga tries to clinch but Abdulrahim moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braga wants to clinch up but Abdulrahim keeps it at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Braga. No joy for Abdulrahim on that attempt.
Braga is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Braga wants to clinch.
Braga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abdulrahim manages to avoid it.
Braga misses with a jab, cross combination.
A nice combination there by Braga.

Braga gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Abdulrahim to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abdulrahim controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salam Abdulrahim dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Braga wants to clinch

and Abdulrahim counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Braga's guard now.
Abdulrahim sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Braga's guard.
Abdulrahim perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Abdulrahim seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Braga is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Salam Abdulrahim!
A very excited looking Salam Abdulrahim made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.