PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Morato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Zapelini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Morato
vs
Zapelini

178 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Big Bear Nutrition 160Q

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tomas Morato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Zapelini!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zapelini moves into the clinch.

Zapelini breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zapelini doesn't manage to clinch there - Morato circles away.
Morato misses with the combination.
Zapelini throws a counter combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zapelini looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Morato appears to be looking for a big counter.

Oooooh!!! Zapelini has knocked Morato down with a huge combo! Zapelini steps away and waves a wobbly Morato back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Tomas Morato has been cut.
Morato tries to clinch but Zapelini moves out of range.
Zapelini will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morato swats away the attempt to clinch by Zapelini.
Morato seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rafael Zapelini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morato circles away from the clinch attempt.
Morato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zapelini tries to clinch up.
Zapelini is looking to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Zapelini. No joy for Morato on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morato defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zapelini.
Zapelini leaves Morato with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morato. Zapelini does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zapelini is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Morato changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Zapelini has taken the fight to the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Zapelini is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tomas Morato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Zapelini.
Zapelini lands with a right to the head.
Zapelini is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Zapelini.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini lands a good knee to the midsection. Morato won't want to take too many of those.
Zapelini unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zapelini is looking to break free of the clinch but Morato has double underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Morato trying to stall but Zapelini improves his position.

Zapelini manages to break the clinch.
Morato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zapelini manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zapelini fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Morato avoids it really well and circles away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Morato.
Morato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Morato throws a body punch but Zapelini moves out of range.

Morato closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zapelini to the mat! Zapelini manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Morato's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morato drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Morato jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zapelini is wriggling around but Morato manages to pass to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morato is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Morato trying to control the action but Zapelini is working from the bottom.
Morato is controlling the pace.
It looks like Morato is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Morato stops Zapelini from getting back to his feet.
It looks like Morato is going to stand back up.
Morato with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Morato stops Zapelini from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zapelini tries to clinch there but Morato circles away.

Morato fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Zapelini to the ground. Morato is now in Zapelini's guard.
Zapelini wants to get back to his feet but Morato is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zapelini wants to get back to his feet but Morato passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rafael Zapelini will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tomas Morato's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Morato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Morato shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zapelini is trying to defend but Morato finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Morato is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zapelini is just riding it out for now. Morato eventually gives up the hold.
Zapelini is trying to stand back up but Morato is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zapelini is not content to let Morato control the position.
Morato tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Zapelini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapelini looks like he's trying to stand up.
Zapelini is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Morato seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zapelini does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zapelini is trying to stand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Morato closes the distance and clinches up with Zapelini, looking for a takedown. Morato pushes Zapelini against the cage but Zapelini circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Morato misses with a double jab.
Zapelini throws a head kick that Morato semi-blocks.
Zapelini scores with a jab. Morato acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zapelini tries to clinch there but Morato circles away.
Zapelini fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zapelini lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zapelini looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Morato throws a quick counter head kick but Zapelini was just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zapelini tries to clinch but Morato moves out of range.
As Zapelini tries to get set, Morato tries to push him back and clinch up but Zapelini manages to avoid the attempt.

Morato closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Morato lands in his opponent's guard.
Morato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zapelini swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Morato controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Morato wants to control from the top but Zapelini keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zapelini kicks Morato off and gets to his feet.

Morato shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Morato wants to control but Zapelini is keeping him busy.
Zapelini is trying to stand.

Morato wants to work for an arm triangle but Zapelini is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Morato scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morato wants to control but Zapelini is keeping him busy.
Zapelini tries to kick Morato off but Morato keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zapelini rushes Morato and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zapelini lands with a light punch inside.
Zapelini is trying to break the clinch but Morato is controlling him.
Zapelini is looking to control Morato's arms but Morato gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zapelini has his back to the cage.
Morato is trying to push Zapelini away but Zapelini has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The referee calls for Zapelini to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zapelini is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Morato is keeping busy.

Zapelini breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tomas Morato will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tomas Morato's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Morato keeps the fight on the outside.
Zapelini doesn't manage to clinch there - Morato circles away.
Morato lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Zapelini with a hook.
Zapelini connects with a high kick.
Zapelini tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Morato manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zapelini tries to clinch there but Morato circles away.
Zapelini tries to clinch up.

Zapelini gets a clinch.
Morato tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zapelini just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zapelini is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Morato missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morato jumps guard but Zapelini turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Zapelini successfully pulls guard.
Zapelini wants to stand up but Morato is controlling him.
Morato is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morato wants to stand but Zapelini has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zapelini wants to stand but Morato is controlling the position.
Zapelini wants to get back to his feet but Morato passes into half guard.
Zapelini wants to get back to his feet.
Morato seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zapelini does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Morato wants to pass the guard but Zapelini is defending well.
Morato is working hard here to advance position.
Morato trying to control the action but Zapelini is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Zapelini as Morato shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomas Morato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Morato throws a head kick but Zapelini moves out of range.
Zapelini is looking to clinch but Morato is avoiding it.
Morato displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zapelini.
Zapelini doesn't manage to clinch there - Morato circles away.
Morato tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Zapelini manages to circle out of the way.
Morato looks to score with a jab to the body but Zapelini is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini darts in looking for a takedown but Morato gets double underhooks and turns Zapelini into the cage.
Morato tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Zapelini manages to circle out of the way.
Zapelini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morato moves to clinch but Zapelini breaks away
and Zapelini counters with an outside leg kick.
Zapelini tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morato wants to clinch.

Morato fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zapelini sprawls well initially but Morato persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Morato looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Zapelini is looking to escape.
Zapelini is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Morato scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tomas Morato overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morato is taking a breather. Zapelini 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.
Morato prevents Zapelini from standing back up.
Morato sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Zapelini is looking to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zapelini moves into the clinch.

Zapelini pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zapelini tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morato swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Morato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zapelini avoids it really well and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tomas Morato.
I think Morato has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomas Morato!