PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saul Guilermo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Cabral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Guilermo
vs
Cabral

177 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Saul Guilermo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ricardo Cabral!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Guilermo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Guilermo throws a big right hand that misses.
Cabral looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cabral bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Guilermo's guard.

Cabral trying to control the position from guard on top but Guilermo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cabral throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cabral postures up in Guilermo's guard and throws a big left but Guilermo blocks it.
Cabral throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabral throws a big right hand that misses.
Cabral throwing strikes from guard but Guilermo blocks nicely.
Cabral working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Guilermo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabral won't allow Guilermo to sweep him here.
Guilermo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Guilermo looking to pass the guard.
Guilermo postures up in Cabral's guard and throws a big left but Cabral blocks it.
Guilermo 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.

Cabral has his foot on Guilermo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Guilermo works his way back into a safe position though.
Guilermo throws a big elbow that misses.
Guilermo advances to half guard.
Guilermo thows a huge punch but Cabral dodges it nicely.
Cabral wants to control but Guilermo is keeping busy.
Cabral might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Guilermo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Guilermo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guilermo wants to take a breather but Cabral is having none of it.
Guilermo is thwarting Cabral's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Guilermo throwing shots but Cabral is blocking nicely.
Cabral is not content to let Guilermo control the position.
Guilermo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Guilermo prevents Cabral from improving his position.
Cabral wants to control but Guilermo is keeping busy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Guilermo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cabral sees it coming and defends easily.
Cabral wants to control but Guilermo is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Guilermo shoots in and gets a takedown into Cabral's guard.
Guilermo passes Cabral's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cabral regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Guilermo.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cabral is pulling down on Guilermo's head. It's preventing any offense from Guilermo, at least for the moment.
Cabral preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guilermo is fighting to break Cabral's control of his arms but Cabral 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.
Guilermo is looking to work some ground and pound but Cabral has wrist control.
Cabral manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Guilermo manages to get himself to full guard.

Guilermo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cabral trying to control the position from guard on top but Guilermo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cabral stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Guilermo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Guilermo keeping moving, preventing Cabral from controlling successfully.

Cabral avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Guilermo dominated that 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.

Cabral looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Guilermo is fending him off so far but Cabral persists. Nope, Guilermo circles away and we're back to standing.
Cabral throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Guilermo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cabral can do to turn this around?
Guilermo shoots for a double leg takedown but Cabral sprawls well. He's pushed Guilermo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Guilermo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Guilermo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cabral is fending him off so far but Guilermo persists. Nope, Cabral circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saul Guilermo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Guilermo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cabral as he avoids it easily.
Guilermo throws a body kick that misses.
Cabral lands with a nice body kick.
Guilermo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cabral but Cabral pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cabral tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabral scores with a kick to the midsection.
Cabral will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guilermo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cabral finds it's way round the side to connect with Guilermo's head.
Cabral shoots for a double leg takedown but Guilermo sprawls well. He's pushed Cabral's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cabral throws a sloppy head kick and Guilermo moves out of range easily.
Guilermo fails to land the takedown.
Guilermo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cabral is fending him off so far but Guilermo persists. Nope, Cabral circles away and we're back to standing.

Cabral shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cabral was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cabral creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Guilermo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cabral is working Guilermo over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabral is putting a hurting on Guilermo here, landing some big shots from side control.
Guilermo dodges the ground and pound from Cabral.
Guilermo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cabral is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Guilermo scores with a couple of nice shots.

Cabral actively working from the bottom here.
Cabral is looking to control Guilermo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cabral avoid being mounted?
Cabral is trying to get back to full guard.
Guilermo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guilermo is nestled in close to Cabral, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cabral has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Guilermo is working away from the top position though.
Guilermo content to control rather than advance.
Cabral slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Cabral throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Guilermo lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Guilermo wants to control from the top but Cabral keeps moving.
Cabral 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.
Guilermo trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabral is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Guilermo is really struggling to control Cabral but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Guilermo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cabral has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cabral looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Cabral showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Guilermo shoots in looking for a takedown. Cabral tries to sprawl out of it but Guilermo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cabral manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Guilermo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Guilermo working the ground and pound from side control.
Cabral is trying to control Guilermo's posture but Guilermo avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guilermo postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Cabral tries to improve position but can't.
Cabral taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabral is looking for a sweep.
Cabral wants to control but Guilermo postures up.
Cabral gets back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Guilermo lands a nice short elbow.
Guilermo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Guilermo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Guilermo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Guilermo is trying to control. Cabral wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cabral wants to get back to full guard.

Guilermo is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Cabral still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Cabral has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Cabral working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabral scoring with punches and elbows.

Cabral tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cabral has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cabral working the ground and pound.
Guilermo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cabral wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Guilermo can't do much from the bottom here.
Guilermo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cabral landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guilermo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cabral prevents Guilermo from improving his position.
Cabral not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Guilermo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cabral.

Cabral is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Guilermo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cabral throwing shots but Guilermo is blocking nicely.
Guilermo is looking to control Cabral's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Guilermo avoid being mounted?
Cabral throws a strike but Guilermo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Guilermo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cabral gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Guilermo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cabral must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cabral trying to control the position from guard on top but Guilermo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cabral loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Saul Guilermo!