PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Mckenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Ribeiro (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.

Mckenzie
vs
Ribeiro

190 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leonardo Mckenzie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ribeiro dives in and scores a takedown into Mckenzie's guard.
Mckenzie wants to get back to his feet but Ribeiro passes into half guard.

Mckenzie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ribeiro is working away from the top position though.
Mckenzie tries to roll over but Ribeiro keeps him under control.
Ribeiro prevents Mckenzie from standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Mckenzie makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ribeiro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Ribeiro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mckenzie was covering up waiting for the punch and Ribeiro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ribeiro drops back looking for a leg! Mckenzie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mckenzie manages to kick Ribeiro off! Ribeiro jumps back into Mckenzie's guard.

Mckenzie has his feet on Ribeiro's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ribeiro rushes Mckenzie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Mckenzie decides to pull guard.
Mckenzie wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ribeiro is now in half guard.
Mckenzie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ribeiro.
Mckenzie is trying to stand back up but Ribeiro is controlling him
Ribeiro tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mckenzie.
Mckenzie is controlling Ribeiro's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Ribeiro prevents Mckenzie from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Mckenzie tries to get to full guard but Ribeiro has control of the leg.
Ribeiro trying to mount his opponent but Mckenzie defends it.
Still in half guard, Ribeiro seems content to control.
Mckenzie manages to get to full guard.
Mckenzie throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Ribeiro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mckenzie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ribeiro wants to stand but Mckenzie is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mckenzie 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie wants to stand up but Ribeiro is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mckenzie gets tackled into the cage by Ribeiro. Ribeiro maintains the clinch.

Ribeiro jumps into guard, dragging Mckenzie to the mat.
Mckenzie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ribeiro lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ribeiro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ribeiro wants to pass the guard but Mckenzie is keeping the position.
Ribeiro slips nicely into half guard.
Ribeiro looks winded!
Mckenzie tries to get to full guard but Ribeiro has control of the leg.
Mckenzie knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ribeiro on the ground.
Mckenzie pushes Ribeiro off but Ribeiro dives into side control.
The strikes coming from Ribeiro are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mckenzie is not content to let Ribeiro control the position.
Mckenzie looks to move to half guard but instead Ribeiro has passed into mount! Damn!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Ribeiro dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ribeiro fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mckenzie sprawls well initially but Ribeiro persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ribeiro seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mckenzie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Ribeiro is looking for a kimura here.
Mckenzie tries to get to full guard but Ribeiro has control of the leg.
Mckenzie is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribeiro trying to mount his opponent but Mckenzie defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mckenzie tries to roll over but Ribeiro keeps him under control.
Mckenzie is looking to control Ribeiro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mckenzie avoid being mounted?
Mckenzie is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ribeiro is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ribeiro sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mckenzie trying to control but Ribeiro postures up.
Mckenzie tries to kick Ribeiro off but Ribeiro keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ribeiro is nestled in close to Mckenzie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Mckenzie kicks Ribeiro off and gets back to his feet.

Mckenzie gets tackled into the cage by Ribeiro. Ribeiro maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mckenzie uses from the top position.
Gabriel Ribeiro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ribeiro is breathing heavily.
Mckenzie chips away with some ground and pound.
Mckenzie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mckenzie postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mckenzie throws an elbow that misses. Ribeiro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mckenzie's guard. Nice move by Ribeiro!

Mckenzie has an active guard here but Ribeiro has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ribeiro prevents Mckenzie from standing back up.
Mckenzie is looking for a sweep. Ribeiro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ribeiro uses his free foot to push down on Mckenzie's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mckenzie.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ribeiro controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro tries to control but Mckenzie wriggling away.
Mckenzie is working to get back to half guard.
Ribeiro controlling from mount.
Ribeiro thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Mckenzie is squirming around, avoiding Ribeiro's attempts to control the action.

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.
Mckenzie working to try and regain half guard.
Ribeiro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mckenzie is looking to escape.
Ribeiro prevents Mckenzie from getting the reversal.

Ribeiro with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ribeiro avoids the attempt from Mckenzie to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mckenzie looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Ribeiro is looking to control Mckenzie but Mckenzie is wriggling around and keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Ribeiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mckenzie clinches.
Mckenzie tries to land a knee to the head but Ribeiro blocks with his arms.

Ribeiro manages to pull guard.
Ribeiro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mckenzie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mckenzie is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mckenzie throwing strikes but missing.
Mckenzie with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro is looking to stand up but Mckenzie isn't so interested in that idea.
Mckenzie chips away with some ground and pound.
Mckenzie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ribeiro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mckenzie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mckenzie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mckenzie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ribeiro wants to get back to his feet but Mckenzie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ribeiro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mckenzie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mckenzie postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mckenzie lands a couple of digs.
Ribeiro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mckenzie manages to get himself to full guard.

Ribeiro stops Mckenzie from standing up.
Mckenzie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mckenzie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ribeiro seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mckenzie is looking to stand back up but Ribeiro counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mckenzie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie wants to get back to his feet.

Ribeiro maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Mckenzie could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Ribeiro has cracked it and Mckenzie is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Ribeiro!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gabriel Ribeiro!
An out of breath Gabriel Ribeiro thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.