PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Miranda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Junior
vs
Miranda

150 cm
19
156 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Junior!
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, Rafael Miranda!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Miranda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Junior's half guard.
Junior avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Miranda.
Junior is breathing heavily.
Miranda controlling the pace.
Junior really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Junior blocking the ground and pound attempt from Miranda.
Miranda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Junior's head.
Miranda passes the guard and advances to mount!
Miranda controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda throwing strikes here but Junior is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miranda lands a big shot there that rocks Junior but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Miranda misses with a head shot.
Miranda controlling the pace for now.
Junior definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Miranda thowing shots but they're missing.
Miranda controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda misses with a head shot.
Miranda unloads with some shots from mount but Junior bucks and avoids them well.
Junior is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Miranda tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Miranda scoring with strikes but Junior is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda dominating with strikes here.
Junior wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Miranda.
Miranda looking to ground and pound but Junior is blocking nicely.
Miranda controlling from the full mount.
Miranda sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Miranda 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.

Miranda bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rafael Miranda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miranda misses with the ground and pound.
Junior takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Junior parries the strikes from Miranda easily there. Miranda is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Junior to escape.
Miranda is chipping away with strikes.
Miranda misses with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Junior is trying to escape the position but Miranda is controlling the position.
Miranda lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Junior down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Miranda lands a nice forearm strike.
Miranda looks up at the clock and then as Junior takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Miranda smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Miranda staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Miranda.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda cracks Junior with a big right hand but Junior just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Miranda throws an elbow but Junior slips to the side and avoids it well.
Junior takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Miranda stands up.

Miranda gets a double leg takedown into Junior's guard.
Miranda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Junior being controlled here, momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miranda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

Miranda decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Miranda seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Miranda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Miranda drives through with a takedown into guard.
Junior can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Miranda controls the pace.
Miranda throwing strikes but missing.
Miranda postures up in Junior's guard and throws a big left but Junior blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Miranda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Miranda lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Miranda seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Miranda throws a big elbow that misses.
Miranda slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Miranda tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rafael Miranda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Miranda is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Junior's shoulder. That is not cool.
Miranda scoring with punches from side control.
Miranda is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Junior's shoulder. That is not cool.
Miranda is working Junior over with some ground and pound from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Miranda controls the position from side control.
Junior is trying to control Miranda's posture but Miranda avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda misses with the ground and pound.

Miranda decides to stand back up.

Miranda closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Miranda frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Miranda controlling his opponent.
Miranda in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Junior knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Miranda on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miranda throwing strikes here but Junior is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Paulo Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miranda pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Miranda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Miranda has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 24:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 24:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Miranda!