PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Medina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Medina
vs
Oliveira

222 cm
20
151 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

177 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pablo Medina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafael Oliveira!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Medina goes for a double leg but Oliveira avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Oliveira continues to drive forward.
Medina really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Oliveira has picked Medina up - he's going for a ride! Oliveira dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Oliveira decides to stand and escape the position.

Oliveira shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Medina is trying to defend but Oliveira finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Oliveira throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Medina trying to control but Oliveira postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Medina tries to kick Oliveira off but Oliveira keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Oliveira seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Oliveira is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Oliveira is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Medina is just riding it out for now. Oliveira eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Oliveira is controlling the pace.
Medina is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira works his way into side control.
Oliveira fails to land a wild elbow strike.
A lull in the action here as Oliveira stalls from top position.
Medina dodges the ground and pound from Oliveira.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The ground and pound from Oliveira seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Medina tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Oliveira keeps control of the position easily here as Medina tries to buck him off.

Medina preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Oliveira.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Medina is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Oliveira dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Oliveira fakes the leg kick and cracks Medina in the body.
Medina moves out of range as Oliveira throws a body kick.

Oliveira throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Medina tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Oliveira is in Medina's guard.
Oliveira engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Oliveira trying to control the position from guard on top but Medina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliveira's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Oliveira trying to control the position from guard on top but Medina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Medina will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Oliveira trying to control but Medina is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Medina chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Oliveira can pounce on him.
Medina shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Oliveira as he jumps to the side.

Oliveira is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Medina's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Oliveira decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A head kick misses from Oliveira.

Oliveira gets a clinch.

Oliveira breaks from the clinch.
Medina shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Oliveira sprawls well. Oliveira wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Medina gets slowly back to his feet.
Medina fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Oliveira avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Medina. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Oliveira shoots in and bounces Medina off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira controls from within his opponent's guard.
Oliveira passes Medina's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Oliveira works his way into side control.
Medina tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Oliveira decides to stand back up. Oliveira steps back and let's Medina get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Oliveira takes the fight into the clinch.

Oliveira gets a trip takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Oliveira 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Medina gets caught napping as Oliveira dives in and scores a takedown. Medina manages to retain guard.
Oliveira trying to control the position from guard on top but Medina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oliveira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Medina is keeping the position for now.
Oliveira throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Oliveira showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliveira forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Oliveira thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Oliveira misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Oliveira throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Oliveira is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Medina is surviving well by controlling Oliveira's body position as best he can.
Medina avoids a series of strikes thrown by Oliveira.
Oliveira has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira controlling the pace for now.
Oliveira throws some wild stikes that Medina manages to avoid easily.
Oliveira tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Oliveira unloads with some shots from mount but Medina bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medina blocking the ground and pound.

Oliveira looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Medina is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Oliveira goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Medina turns into him and now he's in Oliveira's guard.
Oliveira trying to control the position here.
Oliveira manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Medina manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Oliveira is continuing to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Oliveira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Oliveira 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 George Francis scores the fight 25:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 25:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 25:30

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