PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Filho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Mariucci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Filho
vs
Mariucci

172 cm
23
191 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

2KMMA Ultimate Nutrition 144 Quality

2KMMA Ultimate Nutrition 144 Quality
Convicted

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paulo Filho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Mariucci!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mariucci bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Mariucci gets caught flat footed, as Filho shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mariucci controls Filho momentarily but Filho frees himself.
Filho trying to control the position from guard on top but Mariucci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mariucci is looking to stand up but Filho isn't so interested in that idea.
Mariucci is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Filho is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mariucci wants to stand up but Filho is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mariucci pushes Filho off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Filho ducks right into an uppercut from Mariucci.

Filho shoots in and bounces Mariucci off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Filho is stalling in the full guard.
Filho prevents Mariucci from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mariucci looking to control but Filho passes into half guard.
Filho content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mariucci pushes Filho off but Filho dives into side control.
Filho in side control, throwing shots but Mariucci defends.
Mariucci is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariucci is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Filho decides to stand back up. Filho steps back and let's Mariucci get back to his feet.
Mariucci misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mariucci jabs Filho right on the nose. Filho blinks but takes it well.
Filho looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Mariucci shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mariucci showed some decent athleticism there.
Mariucci tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Filho.
Filho won't allow Mariucci to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mariucci not doing much here.
Mariucci is trying to control the action in half guard but Filho is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mariucci wants to stand but Filho has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Mariucci is stalling here. Filho is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Mariucci seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Filho has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Mariucci trying to control but Filho flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mariucci turns into Filho and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paulo Filho will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mariucci scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Mariucci tries to clinch there but Filho circles away.
Nice uppercut there from Mariucci.
Filho tries for a takedown but Mariucci circles away easily
and Mariucci counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mariucci tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Filho paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Filho changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mariucci looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Filho trying to control the action but Mariucci is working from the bottom.
Mariucci is trying to control Filho's posture but Filho avoids it.
Filho controls the position from side control.
Filho trying to control the position but Mariucci is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariucci wants to get back to his feet.
Filho trying to control the action but Mariucci is working from the bottom.
Mariucci is looking to reverse the position.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Filho shoots for a double leg takedown but Mariucci sprawls well. He's pushed Filho's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Filho fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Filho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mariucci lands a glancing blow to the side of Filho's head.
Mariucci throws a head kick but Filho moves out of range.
No luck for Filho with that takedown attempt.
Filho tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mariucci swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mariucci wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mariucci scores with a crisp jab that stopped Filho in his tracks.
Mariucci fails with the takedown

and Filho counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Filho throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Filho is looking to stand up but Mariucci won't let him.
Mariucci controls Filho momentarily but Filho frees himself.
Mariucci being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filho prevents Mariucci from getting back to his feet.
Mariucci is trying to control the position but Filho postures up.
Filho throwing strikes but missing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mariucci is looking to clinch.
Filho takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mariucci is looking to clinch.

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.
Mariucci shoots in looking for a takedown. Filho tries to sprawl out of it but Mariucci keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Filho manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mariucci closes the distance looking to clinch

and Filho counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Filho.
Mariucci wants to hit a switch here but Filho passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Mariucci there!
Filho is trying to control here but Mariucci has managed to regain half guard.
Mariucci is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Filho is controlling the pace.
Mariucci wants to control but Filho is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Filho dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mariucci cracks a nice hook into Filho's ribs.
Filho takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Mariucci tries for a takedown but Filho circles away easily

so Filho counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mariucci is trying to control the position but Filho postures up.

Mariucci kicks Filho off and gets to his feet.
Mariucci tries to clinch but Filho moves away

and Filho counters with a shoot takedown. Mariucci fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Filho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mariucci is keeping the position for now.
Filho stops Mariucci from standing up.
Mariucci takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mariucci being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariucci trying to control the position.
Filho prevents Mariucci from getting back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Filho shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mariucci's guard.
Mariucci working a defensive guard but Filho passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Filho decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Filho circles away from the clinch attempt

and Filho decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mariucci's guard.
Mariucci wants to stand and escape but Filho is having none of it.
Filho wants to control from the top but Mariucci keeps moving.
Mariucci looking to control.

Filho avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mariucci trying to control the position.
Michael Mariucci has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filho stands up from Mariucci's guard - Filho perhaps looking for a knockout.
Filho avoids a punch combination nicely.
Paulo Filho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Filho misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mariucci tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Filho counters with a shoot takedown. Mariucci fights it but they end up in guard.

Mariucci pushes Filho off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mariucci tries to clinch

and Filho counters with a single leg into guard. Mariucci didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mariucci can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Filho controls the pace.
Mariucci is looking to stand back up but Filho counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mariucci.
Mariucci is trying to stand up here but Filho is controlling him well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mariucci wants to control but Filho is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Filho stands up from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Filho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Filho, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Filho!