PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tareco Safondine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vera's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Pendulum - Tarantula. Safondine has chosen Million Voices as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vera
vs
Safondine

177 cm
18
197 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Four-Twenty Nutrition

Arcticus University: London

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tareco Safondine!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Safondine getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vera cracks Safondine with a good jab.

Safondine throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vera tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Safondine is in Vera's guard.

Vera has an active guard here but Safondine has managed to pass into half guard.
Safondine tries to pass the half guard into mount. Vera knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Vera's coaches at have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Safondine is looking for submissions but instead, Vera has regained full guard.

Vera is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vera 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Safondine gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Safondine content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safondine advances to half guard.
Safondine is trying to control the action in half guard but Vera is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Vera wants to get back to full guard but Safondine has passed into side control.
Vera is looking for a sweep.
Safondine is looking to take a break and control but Vera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vera is looking for a sweep.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Safondine working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Safondine has knee on belly momentarily but Vera bucks him off and regains half guard.
Vera is refusing to be controlled, as Safondine sits in half guard.

Vera looking for submissions off his back.
Safondine seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Vera is pressing down on Safondine's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Safondine is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Safondine makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Safondine feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Safondine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vera swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Safondine avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Safondine 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.
Vera tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Safondine avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Vera is looking for a triangle but Safondine pushes his legs off easily.
Safondine must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Safondine trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.
Vera is trying to control the position but Safondine postures up.
Safondine wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.
Safondine lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vera wants to sweep here but Safondine controlling him for the moment.
Safondine trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tareco Safondine dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Safondine will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Vera darts in and clinches Safondine up against the cage.
Vera goes for a takedown in the clinch but Safondine prevents it.
Vera is pushing Safondine up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Safondine misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vera blocks an elbow strike.
Safondine with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Vera.
Safondine wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera gets underhooks to prevent Safondine's takedown attempt.

Vera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vera looks to score with a jab to the body but Safondine is just out of range.
Safondine shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vera as he jumps to the side.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vera misses with an uppercut.
Safondine lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Safondine shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vera napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Vera is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Safondine off and has taken his back!

Vera is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Safondine has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Safondine is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vera looking for the choke from the back.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vera tries to keep control of the position but Safondine is staying busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safondine wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Vera is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Safondine has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Vera.
Vera lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Safondine.
Safondine has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Vera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safondine is trying to get back to his feet but Vera has full control of the position and if anything, Safondine has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Vera is looking for the choke from the back position but Safondine is controlling his hands well.
Safondine is trying to get back to his feet but Vera has full control of the position and if anything, Safondine has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Safondine is trying to shake Vera off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Vera won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Vera looks to land a right hand but Safondine moved out of range.
Safondine dives in and grabs Vera's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vera pushes down on Safondine's head and hops out.
Gabriel Vera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tareco Safondine.
Safondine tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Safondine staying out of range there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vera.
Safondine is breathing heavily.
Safondine wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Vera is working Safondine over with some ground and pound from side control.
Safondine managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Vera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Safondine takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Safondine wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Vera has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Vera is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Safondine to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Safondine shrugs it off.
Safondine is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Vera trying to control but Safondine is having none of it.
Vera is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Safondine wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Vera dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vera swings for the body but Safondine moves out of range.

Safondine shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vera is trying to defend but Safondine finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Safondine is looking to advance position but Vera won't allow it.
Safondine stalling away here and it's allowed Vera to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Safondine trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gabriel Vera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vera trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Safondine with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vera 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.

Vera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Safondine gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safondine engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Let's hope that Safondine has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Safondine is continuing to stall.
Vera lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Vera throws a big right hand that misses.
Safondine wants to get back to his feet but Vera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two 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.
Vera wants to control from the top but Safondine keeps moving.

Safondine manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Vera pulls guard successfully.
Safondine tries to free his leg and advance position but Vera is retaining full guard.
Safondine passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vera gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Safondine trying to pass the guard but Vera defending well.
Vera is trying to maintain the position but Safondine is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vera is pressing down on Safondine's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vera wants to sweep here but Safondine controlling him for the moment.

Vera looking for a guillotine here but Safondine defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Safondine working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Safondine looking to pass the guard.
Safondine lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Safondine won't allow Vera to sweep him here.
Safondine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vera is keeping the position for now.

Vera is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Safondine wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.

Vera is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Safondine is aware though and is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vera wants to sweep but no luck.
Safondine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vera is keeping the position for now.
Safondine trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Tareco Safondine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Safondine 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tareco Safondine!
After the big win, Tareco Safondine made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Arcticus University: London and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.