PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clyde Lambert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Arias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arias is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by we will find a way. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Raphael Arias enters the cage!

Lambert
vs
Arias

180 cm
22
214 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

189 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Clyde Lambert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Arias!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Felipe Paraventi and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lambert fails to land with a series of punches.

Arias drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lambert looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Arias is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Arias stands and steps away. Lambert gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lambert enables Arias to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lambert manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Arias showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lambert had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Arias defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lambert is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Arias is aware though and is defending well.

Lambert working for a triangle but Arias defends it easily.
Arias throwing strikes from guard but Lambert blocks nicely.
Arias advances position into side control!
Arias 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.
Lambert tries to buck Arias off but Arias is having none of it.
Arias controlling the position from side mount.

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.
Lambert looking for a sweep but Arias has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Lambert really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Arias takes Lambert's back, avoiding a couple of desperation strikes from the bottom.

Lambert fending off the submission attempt from Arias.
Arias is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Arias is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lambert is defending well though. Arias let's go of the attempt for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert is in bad spot here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Arias is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Arias controls the position.
Let's hope that Arias 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.
Lambert has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Arias.
Lambert is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Lambert is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Arias is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Arias controlling the positon.

Arias looking to break Lambert's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Lambert remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Arias will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Arias missing with strikes.

Lambert is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Lambert's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Arias dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Arias gets a clinch.
Lambert has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arias is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lambert is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Arias to keep the fight standing.
Lambert tries to pull guard but Arias won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clyde Lambert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lambert tries for a takedown. No joy.
Arias has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lambert is trying to pull guard but Arias turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Arias gets control of Lambert's arms and successfully pulls guard. Arias will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Arias has his foot on Lambert's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lambert works his way back into a safe position though.
Arias manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lambert manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arias 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.
Arias passes into half guard.
Arias missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arias is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Arias throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Raphael Arias has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lambert is looking to improve his position.
Arias not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Arias has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lambert keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lambert wants to get back to full guard but Arias has passed into side control.
Arias misses with the ground and pound.
Lambert is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Arias wants to pass the guard but Lambert is defending well.
Arias passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Lambert!
Arias has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arias throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Lambert because Arias loaded up on that one.
Lambert wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Arias.
Lambert is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Arias looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lambert wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Arias.
Arias looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arias can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lambert is looking to escape.
Arias controlling the position easily from mount.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Arias.
Lambert can't escape the position.
Arias tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lambert is looking to improve his position but Arias isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Poor strikes thrown by Arias there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Lambert wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Arias.
Lambert is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Arias tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lambert is desperately trying to improve his position but Arias has a good base and remains in mount.
Arias looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arias with shots to the head and body - Lambert looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Arias showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Arias tries a head kick but it misses.
Arias is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Arias changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lambert looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lambert looking for a sweep but Arias has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Lambert tries to reverse the position but Arias maintains control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arias tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lambert is trying desperately to improve position.
Lambert is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arias sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Arias looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Arias sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Arias throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lambert can't escape the position.
Arias trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Poor strikes thrown by Arias there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Lambert sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lambert trying to hold on to Arias's head to control him but Arias postures up.
Arias throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Arias perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lambert tries to roll over but Arias keeps him under control.
Arias sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lambert defending well though.
Arias is taking a breather. Lambert 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lambert looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arias looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Arias escapes and gets back to his feet.

Lambert gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Arias to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Lambert looking for a guillotine here but Arias defends easily.
Arias controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambert manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Arias manages to get himself to full guard.

Arias has control of Lambert's left arm, preventing Lambert from doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arias tries to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Arias comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Arias winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 26:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphael Arias!