PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raimundo Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Persecutioned (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Persecutioned has chosen Aristocrat - Money, cars and castles as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Johny Persecutioned will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Sobral
vs
Persecutioned

180 cm
27
202 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

191 cm
22
218 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raimundo Sobral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johny Persecutioned!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Persecutioned uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sobral.
Persecutioned staying out of range there.
Persecutioned has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sobral is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Persecutioned tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Persecutioned tries to close the distance and clinch but Sobral swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A swing and a miss from Sobral.
Persecutioned tries to clinch up but Sobral circles away and keeps his distance.
Sobral throws a jab but it's blocked by Persecutioned.
Persecutioned tries to clinch but Sobral is having none of it.

Persecutioned rushes Sobral and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sobral tries to break the clinch but Persecutioned is controlling the position.
Sobral letting Persecutioned take a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Persecutioned working aggressively here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sobral goes for a takedown attempt but Persecutioned pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobral tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A hook to the body from Persecutioned.
Sobral is trying to push Persecutioned away but Persecutioned has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Persecutioned controlling the action here for a moment.
Persecutioned can't find room to land a body shot as Sobral controls the action.
Persecutioned throws a punch but it's blocked by Sobral.
Sobral tries to circle away but Persecutioned has him pinned against the cage.
Persecutioned's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Persecutioned lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sobral has clasped his hands together around Persecutioned's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sobral is trying to get an arm triangle but Persecutioned is defending well.
Sobral trying to control the action but Persecutioned is working from the bottom.
Sobral tries to advance to mount but can't.
Persecutioned is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Persecutioned's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persecutioned tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sobral wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Persecutioned prevents Sobral from moving into mount.

Sobral stands up.
A jab from Sobral does it's job there.
Johny Persecutioned is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sobral throws a leg kick
and Persecutioned counters with a straight right hand.
Sobral throws a head kick that Persecutioned semi-blocks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobral throws a body kick that misses.

Sobral gets tackled into the cage by Persecutioned. Persecutioned maintains the clinch.
Persecutioned tries to stall but Sobral uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Sobral escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sobral swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sobral throws a jab but it's blocked by Persecutioned.
Sobral misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sobral throws a push kick but Persecutioned slaps the foot to one side.
Persecutioned swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sobral connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Persecutioned fails with an attempt to clinch.
Persecutioned is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Persecutioned rushes Sobral and presses him up against the cage.
Persecutioned lands a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimundo Sobral dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sobral sizes up Persecutioned with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Jab by Persecutioned.

Persecutioned gets a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Sobral fails to land.
Sobral wants to get back to striking at distance but Persecutioned won't allow it.
Persecutioned is working Sobral over against the cage.
Persecutioned lands a hook that snaps the head of Sobral backwards.

Sobral pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Persecutioned has closed the distance and engaged Sobral in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Persecutioned.
Persecutioned lands an uppercut.
Persecutioned pressing his opponent against the cage.
Persecutioned is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sobral is defending well for now.
Sobral is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Persecutioned pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobral tries to throw a body punch but Persecutioned avoids it by throwing Sobral back against the cage.
Sobral is trying to force a seperation but Persecutioned has the dominant position.
Persecutioned scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sobral is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Persecutioned misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Persecutioned tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sobral wants to get back to striking at distance but Persecutioned won't allow it.

Sobral breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Persecutioned throws a hook to the side of Sobral's head but Sobral sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Raimundo Sobral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Persecutioned uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sobral.
Persecutioned tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Persecutioned on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Raimundo Sobral is winning the standup battle so far.
Sobral throws a right and a left that both miss.
Persecutioned tries to clinch but Sobral is having none of it.
Persecutioned scores with a hook to the body. Sobral takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Persecutioned tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sobral swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sobral swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Sobral drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Persecutioned tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sobral pushes down on Persecutioned's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Persecutioned is staying active underneath Sobral, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sobral tries to pass the half guard into mount. Persecutioned knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Persecutioned is trying to control but Sobral passes into side control!
Sobral creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Persecutioned sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Sobral thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Sobral wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Persecutioned, who protects the arm well.
Raimundo Sobral overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persecutioned is looking for a sweep.
Persecutioned wants to control but Sobral postures up.
Persecutioned is not content to let Sobral control the position.
Persecutioned prevents Sobral from moving into mount.
Sobral moves into full mount!
Persecutioned can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sobral wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Persecutioned is squirming around, avoiding Sobral's attempts to control the action.
Persecutioned is working to get back to half guard.

Sobral gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Persecutioned moves into the clinch successfully.
Persecutioned stalling in the clinch but Sobral improves position.
Persecutioned misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sobral is trying to break the clinch but Persecutioned has him pressed against the cage.
Sobral tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sobral is trying to force a seperation but Persecutioned has the dominant position.
Sobral is trying to break the clinch but Persecutioned has him pressed against the cage.
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 Raimundo Sobral will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sobral dives in for a single leg takedown but Persecutioned sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Persecutioned closes the distance and clinches.
Sobral tries to circle away but Persecutioned has him pinned against the cage.
Persecutioned goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Sobral breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Persecutioned ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Persecutioned clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Persecutioned is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Persecutioned lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Persecutioned.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Persecutioned as Sobral tries to tie him up.
Persecutioned misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Persecutioned lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sobral backwards.
Persecutioned tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sobral's elbow.
Persecutioned dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sobral has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Persecutioned avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raimundo Sobral. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Persecutioned prevents Sobral from breaking the clinch.
Sobral tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sobral wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sobral misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A hook to the body from Persecutioned.
Persecutioned goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sobral wants to get back to striking at distance but Persecutioned won't allow it.
Persecutioned lands a shot to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Persecutioned.
Persecutioned prevents a body shot from Sobral.
Raimundo Sobral is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Persecutioned works on Sobral's body with a couple of short punches.
A hook to the body from Persecutioned.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Persecutioned slows down the pace here.
Sobral letting Persecutioned take a breather here.
Persecutioned lands a shot to the body.
Persecutioned struggles to land a body shot inside as Sobral controls his hands.
Johny Persecutioned has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Persecutioned struggles to land a body shot inside as Sobral controls his hands.
Persecutioned throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sobrals head.
Persecutioned doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Persecutioned misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobral goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Persecutioned goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Persecutioned stalls.
Persecutioned lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short uppercut from Persecutioned.
Persecutioned misses with a body punch.
Persecutioned lands with a light punch inside.
Persecutioned is stalling here.
Persecutioned misses with a punch to the body.
Persecutioned is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobral tries to break the clinch but Persecutioned is controlling the position.
A short body shot lands from Sobral as the two fighters clinch.
Persecutioned misses with the head strike.
Sobral is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Persecutioned is defending well.
Persecutioned lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Persecutioned leaning his opponent against the cage.
Persecutioned scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Persecutioned misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johny Persecutioned comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sobral 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raimundo Sobral!
Raimundo Sobral thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Johny Persecutioned stepped up to the mic, saying 'I l-l-losses.. Immm n-n-ot hap-py now, b-b-ut conrrgracts to to mm-my opponnnent Mr.Blaze and his ma-ma-managem-nt'.