PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manual Todd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armando Faso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Todd
vs
Faso

183 cm
24
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manual Todd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Armando Faso!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Faso fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Todd sprawls well initially but Faso persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Todd wants to control but Faso is keeping busy.
Faso uses his free foot to push down on Todd's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Todd.
Faso controlling his opponent.
Faso working the ground and pound effectively.
Faso trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Faso working for a guillotine from mount but Todd is in no mood to give up.
Faso looking to control but Todd is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd tries to buck Faso off but Faso takes his back!
Faso tries to keep control of the position but Todd is staying busy.

Faso has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Todd has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Faso is not going to allow Todd to sit and survive in this position.
I really don't envy Todd right now.
Todd trying to control the hands but Faso won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Todd is working hard here to advance position.
Faso wants to control but Todd is keeping busy.
Todd can't escape the position.

Todd showing good submission defense here.
Todd is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faso is landing with strikes. Todd can't take much more of this.
Todd wants to escape the position.
Faso not allowing Todd to control his hands.
Todd is in bad spot here.
Todd turns into Faso and is now in his guard.
Todd is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Faso utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Faso trying to control the position.
Todd throwing strikes from guard but Faso blocks nicely.
Faso trying to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armando Faso dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Todd avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Faso scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Todd wants to get back to full guard but Faso has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Todd's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Faso wants to control but Todd is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Todd is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Faso off and has taken his back!

Todd has got his arm under Faso's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Faso has spun round into Todd's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd controlling Faso's posture.
Todd keeping moving, preventing Faso from controlling successfully.
Todd looking for a sweep. Not yet Todd, not yet.
Faso forces his way into half guard.
Todd is looking for a sweep. Faso is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Faso is taking a breather. Todd says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Faso prevents Todd from improving his position.
Faso with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Faso is looking to take a break and control but Todd is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Todd is trying to get back to full guard.
Todd keeping hold of Faso's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Todd keeps working.
Well, if Faso is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Armando Faso has got the better of the ground game so far.

Faso wants to work for an arm triangle but Todd is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Todd tries to get to full guard but Faso has control of the leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Faso rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Todd moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Todd fails with a takedown attempt.

Faso feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Faso is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Todd has his hands on Faso's head, controlling the position.
Faso looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armando Faso 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. This is the final round!

Faso tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Todd paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Todd looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Faso is fending him off so far but Todd persists. Nope, Faso circles away and we're back to standing.

Faso bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Todd is looking to regain half guard here but Faso keeps moving and retains side control.
Faso trying to control the action but Todd is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Todd can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faso wants to control but Todd is keeping him busy.
Todd can't do much from the bottom here.
Todd tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Faso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Todd keeps working.
Todd tries to bench press Faso off him but Faso keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Faso in side control, just content to control the action for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A low kick from Faso misses

and Todd counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Todd there.
Todd missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Faso is looking to control Todd's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Faso avoid being mounted?
Todd thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Faso's head.
Todd throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Todd thows a huge punch but Faso dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd with the ground and pound but Faso uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Todd is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Faso is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Faso has escaped and now he's on top!

Faso controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Todd is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Faso is fighting to break Todd's control of his arms but Todd is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Faso closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Todd's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armando Faso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Faso 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armando Faso!