PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Calvin Larios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Zapelini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Larios
vs
Zapelini

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Tokyo, Calvin Larios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Renan Zapelini!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zapelini showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Larios.
Zapelini is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Larios shoots in and drives through. Zapelini sprawls well.
Larios lands a two punch combo.
Zapelini dives in and grabs Larios's left leg, looking for a takedown. Larios pushes down on Zapelini's head and hops out.
Zapelini wants to clinch up but Larios keeps it at a distance.
Larios uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zapelini has time to react.

Larios pushes Zapelini up against the cage in a clinch.
Zapelini prevents Larios from breaking the clinch.
Zapelini goes for a takedown in the clinch but Larios prevents it.
Larios wants to get back to striking at distance but Zapelini won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zapelini's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Larios connects with the punch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zapelini.
Larios attempts a counter takedown but Zapelini avoids it well and moves away.
Calvin Larios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renan Zapelini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larios throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zapelini throws a wild body kick that Larios sees coming a mile off.
Larios tries to clinch but Zapelini moves out of range.
Zapelini pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zapelini blocks the body kick.
Larios scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Larios tries to clinch but Zapelini moves out of range.
Larios throws a head kick but Zapelini moves out of range.
Zapelini drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Larios defends it well.
Larios tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zapelini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zapelini swinging wildly here.
Larios lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zapelini backs up against the cage.

Zapelini closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zapelini remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini works to advance to full mount. Larios defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zapelini controlling his opponent.
Zapelini misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zapelini throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Larios tries to lock up and control but Zapelini gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zapelini working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini controlling the position easily from mount.

Larios defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zapelini.
Larios is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zapelini tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zapelini throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Zapelini lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Zapelini tries to control but Larios wriggling away.
Zapelini controlling the position easily from mount.
Zapelini prevents Larios from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Calvin Larios dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A telegraphed right hand from Zapelini misses the target.
Larios shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zapelini sprawls well. Zapelini wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Larios gets slowly back to his feet.

Zapelini dives in and scores a takedown into Larios's guard.
Zapelini distracts Larios with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zapelini passes Larios's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larios is in trouble now - Zapelini has advanced to mount!
Larios keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zapelini has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zapelini looking to finish Larios with some ground and pound. This is bad for Larios!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zapelini working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Zapelini takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Zapelini looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Zapelini jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Larios manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larios is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zapelini's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Larios knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zapelini on the ground.
Zapelini with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Larios is not content to let Zapelini control the position.
Larios punching from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zapelini is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Renan Zapelini has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zapelini 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.
Larios working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zapelini.
Zapelini is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Larios tries to clinch but Zapelini is having none of it.
Larios closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zapelini circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Larios misses with a combination

and Zapelini counters with a nice double leg into side control. Larios won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini wants to control but Larios is keeping him busy.

Zapelini tries for a kimura but Larios is defending well.

Zapelini has hold of Larios's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Larios tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Zapelini cranks the arm and Larios screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Larios, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Renan Zapelini!