PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Romulo Barral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abiodun Havilah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barral
vs
Havilah

178 cm
30
184 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

185 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Romulo Barral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Abiodun Havilah !
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Barral or perhaps it was just good defense by Havilah , which made it look bad.
Barral fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Havilah avoids it really well and circles away.
Havilah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barral was well out of range. Poor timing from Havilah .
Barral is looking for a counter combo.
Barral looks for a takedown but Havilah sprawls well.
Barral has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Facebreaker Academy - Striking in the buildup to the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Romulo Barral. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barral shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Havilah as he avoids it easily.
Barral shoots in and drives through. Havilah sprawls well.
Barral looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Havilah is fending him off so far but Barral persists. Nope, Havilah circles away and we're back to standing.

Havilah closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Havilah - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Havilah displaying some good clinch control by pressing Barral up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barral has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Havilah after a bit of a struggle.
Havilah connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barral's face.
Havilah connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Havilah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barral has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Havilah told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Barral is trying to force a seperation but Havilah has the dominant position.

Havilah drags the fight down to the ground.

Barral drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Havilah manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Barral has Havilah in his guard.

Havilah really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barral. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Barral had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Havilah defends it easily.
Barral looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Barral looking for a guillotine here but Havilah defends easily.
Barral is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Havilah got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barral has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Havilah has managed to get both his arms back between Barral's legs - danger averted.

Barral is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Havilah frees his head nicely. Oh but Barral has switched to an armbar! Havilah is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Romulo Barral!