PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Cabral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddy Slaps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cabral
vs
Slaps

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Cabral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Freddy Slaps!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cabral showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Slaps.
Cabral takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Cabral drives through and clinches with Slaps against the cage.
Slaps tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Cabral breaks from the clinch.
Slaps lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Slaps misses with an attempted mid kick.
Slaps fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Slaps has Cabral up against the cage in a clinch.
Cabral wants to get back to striking at distance but Slaps won't allow it.
Slaps slows down the pace here.
Cabral stops a takedown attempt from Slaps.
Paulo Cabral has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Freddy Slaps.

Slaps gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cabral regains guard.
Slaps wants to control from the top but Cabral keeps moving.
Cabral manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slaps manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaps looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cabral is one step ahead there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Slaps can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cabral sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cabral advances to half guard.
Slaps is trying to control but can't.

That's two 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.
Slaps moves into full guard.
Slaps can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cabral controls the pace.
Slaps looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cabral is one step ahead there.
Cabral works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Slaps gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabral slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Slaps isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cabral stacks Slaps on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cabral!
Cabral trying to control the position but Slaps is working away.
Slaps is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Cabral is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Slaps tries to hold on but Cabral postures up.
Slaps can't escape the position.
Cabral misses with a head shot.
Slaps tries to improve his position but instead Cabral has taken his back!
I would not like to be Slaps right now.
Slaps is trying to stand back up.
Cabral is hanging on to Slaps's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Freddy Slaps will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cabral throws a series of punches but Slaps avoids them all with ease.
Slaps falls off balance throwing a combination

and Cabral counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cabral.
Cabral avoids the elbow strike from Slaps, against the cage.
Cabral scores with a knee to the head.
Cabral lands a knee to the body.
Cabral with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Freddy Slaps has been cut.
Cabral stalling in the clinch but Slaps improves position.
Slaps wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cabral has him pressed against the cage.

Slaps has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Cabral regains guard immediately.
Cabral lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Slaps!
Slaps throws a strike but has given up his back in the process.
Slaps is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabral controls the action.
Slaps rolls, trying to escape but Cabral keeps control of the position.
Slaps trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Slaps is trying to break free.
Cabral misses with punches from the back.
Slaps is in bad spot here.

Slaps defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cabral's arms.
Cabral just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cabral trying to control momentarily.
Cabral keeps control of the position as Slaps tries to break free.
Cabral tries to keep control of the position but Slaps is staying busy.
Slaps tries to break free.
Slaps is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Slaps trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Slaps looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Slaps tries to escape the position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Slaps looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

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.
Slaps looking very determined here, making life difficult for Cabral.
Slaps is in bad spot here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Slaps wants to control his opponent's hands but Cabral gets his hands free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Cabral dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Freddy Slaps's cut.
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!

Cabral circles away from the clinch attempt.

Slaps moves into range and clinches up with Cabral.
Cabral landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Slaps has had enough of the clinch but Cabral keeps him there for the moment.
Cabral looking to stall.
Cabral wants to get back to striking at distance but Slaps won't allow it.
Cabral stalling in the clinch but Slaps improves position.
Slaps tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cabral throws a knee to the head but misses.
Slaps tries to land a knee to the head but Cabral blocks with his arms.
Cabral tries to stall but Slaps uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Slaps slows down the pace here.
Cabral wants to get back to striking at distance but Slaps won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabral throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Slaps using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cabral has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cabral looking to throw knees to the head but Slaps is blocking nicely.
Slaps fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Slaps escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Slaps looks to throw a body kick
and Cabral counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabral misses with a series of wild punches.
Slaps has a takedown stuffed.
Paulo Cabral has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Freddy Slaps.
Slaps goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Slaps fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Slaps with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cabral counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cabral is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Slaps is looking to clinch but Cabral is avoiding it.
Slaps shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cabral counters with a nice leg kick.
Slaps tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Paulo Cabral is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Slaps throws a leg kick that is checked
and Cabral counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Slaps fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cabral, pushing him back against the cage.

Slaps escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Slaps fails with a takedown attempt.
Slaps wants to clinch.
Cabral is looking to clinch but Slaps is avoiding it.
Slaps tries to clinch up

and Cabral counters by clinching up.

Slaps breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cabral throws a series of punches but Slaps avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Slaps scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cabral is trying to control Slaps's posture but Slaps avoids it.
Cabral regains half guard there - taking advantage of Slaps's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Cabral blocking the ground and pound attempt from Slaps.
Slaps keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Slaps is looking to stall here but Cabral recovers full guard.
Slaps looking to sit in guard and control but Cabral gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabral pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Slaps is keeping the position for now.
Cabral is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Slaps looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Slaps is trying to hold Cabral in close to prevent damage but Cabral has managed to pass into half guard.

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 Paulo Cabral.
I think Cabral 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Paulo Cabral!