PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Bezerra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saint Joan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saint Joan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bezerra
vs
Joan

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
167 lbs
0 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Bezerra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saint Joan!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bezerra scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Bezerra stands up and beckons Joan to his feet.

Bezerra pushes Joan up against the cage in a clinch.
Joan letting Bezerra take a breather here.

Bezerra manages to break the clinch.
Joan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Joan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Bezerra stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bezerra.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Joan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bezerra's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bezerra sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Joan's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bezerra is taking a breather. Joan says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Joan tries to roll over but Bezerra keeps him under control.
Bezerra trying to control the pace.
Joan is looking to improve his position.
Bezerra moves nicely into side control.
Bezerra moves into full mount!

Joan defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bezerra.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joan defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bezerra.
Bezerra controlling his opponent.
Bezerra is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Bezerra landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bezerra content just to control the position here.
Joan tries to lock up and control but Bezerra gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Bezerra working for a guillotine from mount but Joan is in no mood to give up.
Bezerra tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joan in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Bezerra connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bezerra pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bezerra postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Joan looks a forlorn figure.
Joan taking shots to the head.

Bezerra has hold of Joan's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Joan manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Bezerra lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bezerra feints and as Joan raises his hands in defense, Bezerra changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bezerra sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Joan's guard.
Bezerra has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Joan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bezerra controlling the position easily from mount.
Bezerra landing shots from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joan is desperately trying to improve his position but Bezerra has a good base and remains in mount.
Bezerra content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bezerra raining down hammerfists from mount.

Bezerra working for a guillotine from mount but Joan is in no mood to give up.
Bezerra controlling the position easily from mount.
Bezerra connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Bezerra is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Joan can do to turn this around?
Bezerra breaks from Joan's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Bezerra jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Joan manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Bezerra happy to just control the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bezerra stands up and beckons Joan to his feet.

Bezerra drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bezerra stands up.
Saint Joan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bezerra moves into the clinch.

Bezerra works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bezerra stays in close to Joan's body and controls the position.
Paulo Bezerra overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bezerra advances position into side control!
Joan is being controlled here.

Bezerra has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Bezerra gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bezerra slowing the pace effectively.

Bezerra has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Joan regains guard immediately.

Bezerra gets to his feet - Joan follows without any prompting.
Joan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Joan is breathing heavily.

Bezerra lands a big head kick that sends Joan tumbling to the mat! Bezerra takes a step backwards and waves Joan back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Joan is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bezerra looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Joan is still in real trouble! Can Bezerra finish him?
Bezerra controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Bezerra dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bezerra shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bezerra showed some decent athleticism there.
Bezerra controlling the pace.
Joan seems to have recovered his senses.

Bezerra decides to return to a standing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bezerra pushes Joan up against the cage in a clinch.

Bezerra breaks the clinch.
Paulo Bezerra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bezerra looking to score a takedown here. Joan is defending well but Bezerra drives through and ends up in Joan's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bezerra seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Joan trying to control the position.

Bezerra drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bezerra jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bezerra is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Bezerra stands up from Joan's guard - Bezerra perhaps looking for a knockout.

Bezerra looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bezerra moves nicely into side control.

Bezerra is trying to get an arm triangle but Joan is defending well.
Bezerra is working Joan over with some ground and pound from side control.
Joan takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Joan is letting Bezerra control him for a moment.
Joan takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Bezerra stalls from top position.
Bezerra 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.
Joan defending against the ground and pound.
A lull in the action here as Bezerra stalls from top position.

Bezerra stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Bezerra lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Joan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bezerra moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bezerra breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Joan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bezerra connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Joan scrambles back to his feet.
Joan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Bezerra closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Joan to the mat! Joan manages to get full guard.
Bezerra is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bezerra's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bezerra is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bezerra is working Joan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Bezerra showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bezerra has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:24
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:24
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:24

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