PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Bastad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maicol Raul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maicol Raul will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bastad
vs
Raul

180 cm
26
215 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chris Bastad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maicol Raul!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bastad drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bastad looking to pass the guard.
Bastad wants to control from the top but Raul keeps moving.
Raul wants to stand but Bastad is controlling the position.
Bastad trying to control but Raul is working from the bottom.
Bastad forces his way into half guard.
Bastad prevents Raul from standing back up.
Bastad wants to pass the guard but Raul is defending well.
Raul flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bastad seems to be working for a kimura but Raul defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bastad is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Raul doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bastad.
Raul is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bastad is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Raul is looking to escape.

Bastad is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Raul doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bastad.
Bastad stops Raul from getting back to his feet.

Bastad is working for a kimura but Raul is defending it quite comfortably.
Raul is trying to stand back up but Bastad is controlling him
Bastad trying to mount his opponent but Raul defends it.
Raul pushes Bastad off looking to stand but Bastad dives back in and keeps control.

That's two 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.
Bastad moves into full mount! Raul won't be happy about that!
Raul felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Raul squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Bastad with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Bastad jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Raul manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Bastad is breathing heavily.
Bastad prevents Raul from escaping the position.

Bastad thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raul is pushing Bastad's head away, looking to escape. Bastad manages to hold on to the position though.

Bastad is trying to get an arm triangle but Raul is defending well.
Raul is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Bastad's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Bastad is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Raul is just riding it out for now. Bastad eventually gives up the hold.

Raul manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Bastad keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Raul is looking to break free of the clinch but Bastad has double underhooks.

Raul manages to break the clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Bastad 's head but he takes it in his stride.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raul is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bastad is controlling him.
Bastad looking to pass the guard.
Bastad trying to control the position from guard on top but Raul is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bastad prevents Raul from getting back to his feet.

Raul wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bastad misses with a takedown
and Raul cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bastad fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Raul, pushing him back against the cage.
Bastad fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bastad moves to clinch but Raul breaks away
enabling Raul to counter with a crisp jab.
Bastad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Raul sprawls well. Raul wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bastad gets slowly back to his feet.
Raul looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bastad tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Raul counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bastad takes one to the chin there.

Bastad gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Raul kicks Bastad off and gets back to his feet.
Raul stuffs the takedown attempt from Bastad. Bastad gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raul lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raul lands a head shot.
Bastad has his takedown stuffed
and Raul counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Bastad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raul slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Raul scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bastad looks to clinch
and Raul counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bastad wants to clinch up but Raul keeps it at a distance.
Raul throws out a powerful jab.
Bastad takes one on the button.
Raul connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bastad shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Raul but Raul pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bastad takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raul throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bastad darts in looking for a takedown but Raul gets double underhooks and turns Bastad into the cage.

Raul gets a double leg takedown into Bastad's guard.

Bastad is working an open guard so Raul takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Raul lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Raul tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bastad is able to avoid easily.
Maicol Raul seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bastad closes the distance but Raul moves to the side
and Raul counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Raul lands with a right hand.
Bastad shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bastad takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Raul connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bastad. Bastad circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nice sprawl there from Raul as Bastad shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastad goes for a double leg but Raul avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Raul continues to drive forward.
Raul looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The crowd cheers as Raul lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bastad doesn't seem phased though.
Bastad looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bastad fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Raul looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Raul lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bastad walks into a straight right hand from Raul.
Raul throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Bastad half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Chris Bastad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raul throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bastad.
Raul connects with a right hand. Bastad shakes it off.
Bastad has his takedown stuffed
letting Raul counter with a right hand.
A punch lands to the side of Bastad 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Raul looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raul lands a nice shot that snaps Bastad's head back.
Raul has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raul stuffs the takedown attempt from Bastad. Bastad gets slowly back to his feet.
Raul looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Raul lands a really nice looking cross but Bastad seems unphased.
Raul connects with a single shot there.
Bastad shoots and misses
and Raul counters with a stiff right hand.
Bastad takes one to the side of the head.

Bastad gets tackled into the cage by Raul. Raul maintains the clinch.
Raul wants to get back to striking at distance but Bastad won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Raul's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Raul cracks Bastad with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bastad takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Raul lands a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maicol Raul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bastad's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bastad with a poor takedown
enabling Raul to counter with a crisp jab.

Raul gets caught napping as Bastad dives in and scores a takedown. Raul manages to retain guard.
Raul will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Raul wants to get back to his feet but Bastad is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Bastad thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Raul punching to the body, from the bottom.
Bastad prevents Raul from getting back to his feet.
Raul is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bastad doesn't manage to clinch there - Raul circles away.
Raul leaves Bastad with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Raul throws out a counter right but Bastad avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Raul.
Nice straight punches there by Raul. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Raul.
Bastad gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Raul counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Bastad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raul scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bastad in his tracks.
Bastad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bastad closes this distance looking for a takedown but Raul circles away.
Bastad takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Raul lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bastad gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Raul counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Raul.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bastad shoots in looking for a takedown but Raul manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bastad's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Raul paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Raul takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bastad gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Raul scores with a sloppy right hand. Bastad should have avoided that one.
Bastad fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Raul misses.
Raul darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Raul works the jab nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Raul as he connects with a hook.
Bastad misses with a takedown
and Raul counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raul dips to his left and cracks Bastad with an uppercut!
Raul lands with an uppercut that bounces Bastad off the cage and back into range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bastad is defended easily by Raul.
Raul throws a series of punches but Bastad avoids them all with ease.
Bastad fails with a takedown attempt.
Bastad doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Raul counters with a stiff right hand.
Bastad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Raul's waist but Raul gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bastad off to one side.
Bastad takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastad takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Raul tries to land a leg kick but Bastad saw it coming and moves away.
Bastad shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Raul as he jumps to the side.
Raul throws out a counter right but Bastad avoids it with no problem.
Nice cross by Raul.
Raul works the jab nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bastad is looking to clinch but Raul is avoiding it.
Bastad tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Raul swivels and escapes.
Raul connects with a single shot there.
Bastad on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Raul fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Raul lands an overhand right.
Raul throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bastad on the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maicol Raul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Raul 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 26:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maicol Raul!