PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thanh Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonardo Asenciao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonardo Asenciao is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Davis
vs
Asenciao

151 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

172 cm
25
166 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thanh Davis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leonardo Asenciao!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Asenciao has Davis up against the cage in a clinch.

Davis ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Davis no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Asenciao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Davis is keeping the position for now.
Asenciao controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Davis keeping full guard, as Asenciao tries to pass.
Asenciao is looking to stand up but Davis won't let him.
Asenciao stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Davis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Davis really is a fat lump.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Asenciao accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asenciao trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Asenciao would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Davis wants to stand up but Asenciao is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Asenciao forces Davis back against the cage and clinches.

Asenciao breaks the clinch.
Asenciao throws a leg kick but Davis checks it.
Davis is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Asenciao.

It looks like Thanh Davis has been cut.
Davis blocks a head kick by Asenciao.

Davis takes the fight into the clinch.

Asenciao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leonardo Asenciao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asenciao wants to clinch but Davis slips to the side
and Davis counters with a left to the body.
Asenciao wants to clinch.

Asenciao bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Asenciao decides to stand up, so the ref orders Davis to his feet.
Asenciao fails with an attempt to clinch.

Asenciao pushes Davis up against the cage in a clinch.
Davis tries to break free but Asenciao pushes him back against the cage.

Asenciao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Asenciao closes the distance looking to clinch
and Davis counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis wants to clinch.
Davis checks a low kick from Asenciao.
Asenciao darts in trying to clinch
and Davis counters with a nice body shot.
Davis swings for the body but Asenciao moves out of range.
Asenciao tries to clinch

and Davis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Asenciao gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Asenciao seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Davis has recovered full guard.

Davis uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Asenciao wants to clinch up but Davis keeps it at a distance.
Asenciao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Davis lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Asenciao at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis circles away from the clinch attempt

and Davis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Asenciao dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thanh Davis's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Asenciao misses with a head kick.
Davis takes a kick to the side of the head.
Asenciao closes the distance but Davis moves to the side

and Davis counters by clinching up.
Davis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Davis tries to pull guard but Asenciao forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Asenciao is trying to trip Davis. He has hold of a leg but Davis is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Asenciao persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Asenciao wants to pass the guard but Davis is keeping the position.
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!
Asenciao passes into half guard.
Asenciao is looking to advance position but Davis won't allow it.
Davis regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Asenciao.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asenciao looking to pass the guard.
Asenciao throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Asenciao wants to pass the guard but Davis is keeping the position.
Asenciao trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
Davis controls Asenciao momentarily but Asenciao frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asenciao wants to control from the top but Davis keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Leonardo Asenciao.
Davis swats away the attempt to clinch by Asenciao.
Davis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Asenciao defends it nicely.
Asenciao tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Davis counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Asenciao moves in looking to clinch but Davis pushes him off.
Leonardo Asenciao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Asenciao scores with a three punch combo!
Asenciao tries to close the distance and clinch up but Davis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Asenciao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davis paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Asenciao at a distance.
Asenciao is looking to clinch but Davis is avoiding it.
Asenciao tries to close the distance and clinch but Davis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Asenciao closes the distance but Davis moves to the side
and Davis counters with a left to the body.
Davis circles away from the clinch attempt
and Davis counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Decent striking displayed by Davis there.
A punch lands to the side of Davis 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Asenciao keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Asenciao tries to clinch but Davis is having none of it.
Asenciao is looking to clinch but Davis is avoiding it.

Asenciao dives in and scores a takedown into Davis's guard.
Asenciao is breathing heavily.
Asenciao has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Davis is proving hard to escape from.
Davis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Asenciao wants to pass the guard but Davis is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis controls Asenciao momentarily but Asenciao frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Asenciao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thanh Davis's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Davis wants to clinch.
Asenciao wants to clinch
and Davis counters with a series of strikes. Asenciao will be more careful next time no doubt.
Davis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Asenciao misses with the body kick

and Davis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Davis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Davis tries to score a body lock takedown but Asenciao shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Davis jumps guard and drags Asenciao to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Leonardo Asenciao has got the better of the ground game so far.
Asenciao wants to stand but Davis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Asenciao trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis keeping moving, preventing Asenciao from controlling successfully.
Asenciao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Davis is keeping the position for now.
Asenciao tries to stand but Davis is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Davis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Davis is on top in guard.
Davis wants to control from the top but Asenciao keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asenciao is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Asenciao closes the distance but Davis moves to the side

and Davis counters with a takedown into side control.

Davis decides to stand back up. Davis steps back and let's Asenciao get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asenciao misses with a wild combination.
Asenciao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Asenciao tries a head kick but it misses.
Asenciao tries to clinch but Davis moves away
and Davis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Asenciao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Asenciao throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Davis tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Asenciao is in Davis's guard.
Asenciao has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Davis is proving hard to escape from.
Davis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Asenciao is looking to advance position but Davis has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Davis throwing strikes here but Asenciao is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asenciao is trying desperately to improve position.
Davis looking to control and managing it successfully.
Asenciao is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Davis is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Asenciao can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis looking to ground and pound but Asenciao is blocking nicely.
Thanh Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonardo Asenciao is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Davis thowing shots but they're missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thanh Davis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Asenciao has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Asenciao!
Leonardo Asenciao took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Eu gostaria de dizer muito obrigado ao meu gerente Sr. Dan Hazlehurst para me conseguir essa luta. Mais importante, os fãs - Eu amo este país!'.