PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Acevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomaz Khalifa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomaz Khalifa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Acevedo
vs
Khalifa

156 cm
18
346 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
278 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jason Acevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thomaz Khalifa!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Khalifa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Acevedo wants to control but Khalifa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Khalifa prevents Acevedo from improving his position.
Acevedo gets full guard.
Khalifa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Acevedo looking to control.
Khalifa is fighting to break Acevedo's control of his arms but Acevedo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Acevedo is looking for a triangle but Khalifa pushes his legs off easily.
Acevedo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khalifa manages to get himself to full guard.

Khalifa has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Acevedo has passed into side control.
Acevedo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Khalifa is avoiding damage well.
Khalifa is looking to regain half guard here but Acevedo keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Acevedo trying to control the action but Khalifa is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acevedo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Acevedo really is a fat lump.
Acevedo misses with the ground and pound.
Acevedo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Khalifa tries to bench press Acevedo off him but Acevedo keeps the position.
Acevedo wants to control but Khalifa is keeping him busy.
Acevedo misses with the ground and pound.
Khalifa on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Acevedo lands a few punches from side control.
Khalifa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The strikes coming from Acevedo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Khalifa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Acevedo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Khalifa looks winded!
Acevedo working the ground and pound.
Acevedo cracks Khalifa with a big right hand but Khalifa just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Acevedo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Khalifa is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Khalifa dodges the ground and pound from Acevedo.
Khalifa has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Acevedo trying to control the action but Khalifa is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Khalifa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Acevedo scores with punches from side control.
Khalifa is trying to improve his position.
Acevedo creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Khalifa sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Khalifa tries to bench press Acevedo off him but Acevedo keeps the position.
Acevedo is working Khalifa over with some ground and pound from side control.
Acevedo trying to control the action but Khalifa is working from the bottom.
Khalifa is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Acevedo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Khalifa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Acevedo.
Khalifa wants to get back to full guard.
Acevedo working over Khalifa with some ground and pound. Khalifa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Acevedo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nice strikes from Acevedo there.
Acevedo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Acevedo wants to control but Khalifa is keeping him busy.
Khalifa wants to improve his position but Acevedo is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalifa wants to get back to full guard but Acevedo has mounted him!
Khalifa is bucking up trying to escape but Acevedo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Khalifa keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Acevedo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Khalifa is looking to escape.
Acevedo landing strikes from the mount.
Khalifa is bucking up trying to escape but Acevedo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Khalifa tries to reverse the position but Acevedo maintains control.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Acevedo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Acevedo lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Acevedo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Khalifa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Khalifa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Acevedo tries to break free but Khalifa pushes him back against the cage.

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

Acevedo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Acevedo is pushing down on Khalifa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Khalifa is fighting to maintain full guard but Acevedo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Acevedo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Khalifa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Acevedo stands up out of the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acevedo tries to sprawl but Khalifa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Acevedo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Acevedo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Khalifa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Acevedo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Khalifa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Acevedo.
Khalifa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Acevedo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Acevedo's back!
Acevedo is trying to remain composed but Khalifa is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Khalifa has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Acevedo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Acevedo turns into Khalifa and is now in his guard.
Acevedo throwing strikes but missing.
Acevedo trying to control but Khalifa is working from the bottom.
Khalifa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo is looking to work some ground and pound but Khalifa has wrist control.
Acevedo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Acevedo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Acevedo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Khalifa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Acevedo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Acevedo won't allow Khalifa to sweep him here.
Khalifa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Acevedo is looking to stand up but Khalifa won't let him.
Acevedo throwing strikes but missing.
Acevedo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khalifa looking for a sweep. Not yet Khalifa, not yet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Khalifa is still trying to improve position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khalifa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Acevedo trying to control the position.
Acevedo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khalifa is one step ahead there.
Khalifa prevents Acevedo from getting back to his feet.
Khalifa looking to pass the guard.
Acevedo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khalifa is one step ahead there.
Khalifa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Acevedo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Khalifa postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalifa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Khalifa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Acevedo is keeping the position for now.
Khalifa keeps trying to improve his position.
Acevedo wants to sweep here but Khalifa controlling him for the moment.
Acevedo is trying to keep Khalifa in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Khalifa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Khalifa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Acevedo misses the target.

Khalifa gets a clinch.

Acevedo manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Thomaz Khalifa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Khalifa throws a looping overhand right but Acevedo ducks down to avoid it.
Khalifa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Acevedo tries to counter with a takedown but Khalifa is quick to defend against it.

Khalifa rushes Acevedo and presses him up against the cage.
Khalifa throws an elbow that misses.
Khalifa pushes off an throws an elbow but Acevedo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Acevedo breaks from the clinch.

Khalifa moves into the clinch successfully.

Khalifa gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Acevedo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Khalifa is fighting to break Acevedo's control of his arms but Acevedo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Acevedo trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acevedo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khalifa manages to get himself to full guard.

Acevedo stands and throws Khalifa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Khalifa is letting Acevedo control him for a moment.
Khalifa tries to buck Acevedo off but Acevedo is having none of it.
Acevedo looks up at the clock and then as Khalifa takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Acevedo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Acevedo lands a nice forearm strike.
Acevedo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Khalifa dodges the ground and pound from Acevedo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Khalifa gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Acevedo connects with a nice short shot to Khalifa's temple.
Acevedo is trying to control the action in half guard but Khalifa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Khalifa wants to get back to full guard.
Acevedo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Khalifa defending well though.
Acevedo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Khalifa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Acevedo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Khalifa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Acevedo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Khalifa manages to get to full guard.
Khalifa looking for a sweep. Not yet Khalifa, not yet.
Khalifa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Acevedo won't allow Khalifa to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Khalifa is on top in guard.

Acevedo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khalifa is one step ahead there.
Khalifa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Acevedo is trying to keep Khalifa in close.
Khalifa won't allow Acevedo to sweep him here.
Khalifa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Acevedo trying to control the position.
Khalifa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Khalifa's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Khalifa is thwarting Acevedo's attempts to control the position.
Acevedo tries to roll over but Khalifa keeps him under control.
Khalifa is thwarting Acevedo's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khalifa works his way into full mount!
Acevedo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomaz Khalifa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Khalifa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomaz Khalifa!
A very excited looking Thomaz Khalifa made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.