PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Amaral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dack Fayden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Amaral
vs
Fayden

189 cm
34
194 lbs
23 - 11 - 0

182 cm
34
185 lbs
27 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Pitt Nutrition 160Q!

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 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Amaral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dack Fayden!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Amaral throws the left hand but Fayden avoids the punch easily.
Fayden is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Fayden dives in and scores a takedown into Amaral's guard.
Amaral is looking to stand back up but Fayden counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Amaral.

Amaral blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fayden.

Fayden is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Amaral wants to improve his position but Fayden is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fayden thows a huge punch but Amaral dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Fayden is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Fayden is pressing down on Amaral's thigh, looking to free his foot. Amaral is holding on for now.
Fayden throwing shots but Amaral is blocking nicely.
Amaral keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Fayden is just content to waste time from the top position. Amaral takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Fayden working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fayden prevents Amaral from getting back to his feet.
Fayden looking to sit in guard and control but Amaral gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Amaral tries to stand but Fayden is controlling from the bottom.
Fayden is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Amaral 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.
Amaral wants to get up but he can't break Fayden's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fayden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fayden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Fayden has his foot on Amaral's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Amaral works his way back into a safe position though.
Fayden is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fayden works his way into side control.
Amaral is trying to buck Fayden off.

Fayden goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Amaral has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Fayden but great work by Amaral.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fayden tries to bench press Amaral off him but Amaral keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fayden stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Fayden is looking for a sweep.
Fayden struggling a bit here.
Fayden is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Amaral is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Amaral tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Fayden tries to hold on but Amaral postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fayden tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rafael Amaral will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters circling - Amaral throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fayden connects with a jab.
Amaral scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Amaral tries to close the distance and clinch but Fayden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fayden moves out of range as Amaral throws a body kick.
Fayden lands a lovely overhand right.
Amaral ducks right into an uppercut from Fayden.
Donk. Amaral catches Fayden right on the button with a cross.
Fayden bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Amaral moves into the clinch.
Fayden blocks an uppercut.
Amaral trying to land knees to the body.
Amaral tries to land knees in the clinch but Fayden avoids the damage to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Amaral slowing the pace effectively.
Fayden blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fayden misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Amaral.
Amaral misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fayden.
Nice body punch from Amaral.
Amaral fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Amaral lands a hook to the side of the head.
Amaral working Fayden over with knees to the body.
Amaral is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fayden throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Amaral blocks it with crossed arms.
Amaral misses with some punches.
Fayden throws a punch but it's blocked by Amaral.
Fayden takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Dack Fayden has been cut.
Amaral throws a head punch that misses.
Amaral misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amaral misses with a short punch on the inside.
Amaral throws a punch but it's blocked by Fayden.
Fayden's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Amaral tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Amaral struggles to land a body shot inside as Fayden controls his hands.
Fayden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Amaral goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fayden managing to block the knees to the body from Amaral.
Fayden misses with a punch on the inside.
Fayden swings wildly with an uppercut but Amaral uses good head movement to avoid it.
Amaral tries a body shot but Fayden blocks it.
Amaral can't find room to land a body shot as Fayden controls the action.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Amaral.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amaral lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Amaral softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Amaral blocks an uppercut.
Amaral working aggressively here.
Amaral avoids a wild elbow strike from Fayden.
Fayden pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Amaral.
Fayden blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fayden tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Amaral.
Rafael Amaral has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Amaral misses with the head strike.
Amaral has Fayden pushed against the cage.
Amaral tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Fayden scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fayden prevents a body shot from Amaral.
Amaral holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Amaral lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fayden backwards.
Amaral crunches a lovely knee into Fayden's ribcage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Amaral tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fayden avoids it.
Amaral lands with a left to the head.
Amaral is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fayden can do to turn this around?
Amaral doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fayden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fayden tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fayden working aggressively here.
Amaral scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fayden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Amaral dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dack Fayden's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Amaral throws a hook but Fayden avoids it easily.
Amaral tries to clinch but Fayden moves out of range.
Amaral waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fayden.
Amaral tries to clinch there but Fayden circles away.
Fayden throws out a counter right but Amaral avoids it with no problem.
Amaral scores with a sloppy right hand. Fayden should have avoided that one.
Rafael Amaral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Amaral connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fayden throws a hook to the side of Amaral's head but Amaral sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
An attempted straight right counter from Amaral misses the target.
Amaral fails with an attempt to clinch.
As Amaral backs off Fayden throws a huge counter combo but Amaral manages to avoid it all.
Amaral misses with a looping left.
Amaral tries to clinch
and Amaral takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amaral throws the left hand but Fayden avoids the punch easily.
Amaral throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Amaral misses with an uppercut
and Fayden connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Amaral connects with a good right hand that stumbles Fayden. Fayden circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fayden looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Amaral seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Fayden looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Amaral uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fayden.
Fayden fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Amaral looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Fayden moves out of range as Amaral throws a body kick.
Fayden shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Fayden misses with a left hand
and Amaral counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Fayden is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Fayden waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Amaral.

Amaral instigates a clinch.
Fayden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fayden connects with a knee to the head.
Amaral lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amaral misses with a hook from the clinch.
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!
Fayden tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Amaral avoids it.
Amaral throws a punch but it's blocked by Fayden.
Amaral gets through Fayden's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Amaral misses with a punch on the inside.
Amaral misses with the head strike.
Fayden scores with a shot to the side of Amaral's head.
Amaral stalling against the cage.
Fayden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Amaral swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Amaral has a couple of punches blocked by Fayden.
Amaral works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Amaral stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fayden blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Amaral fails to land.
Amaral misses with the head strike.
Amaral lands a good knee to the midsection. Fayden won't want to take too many of those.
Fayden cracks Amaral with a nice body shot.
Amaral throws a punch but it's blocked by Fayden.
Amaral blocks an elbow strike from Fayden.
Fayden prevents a body shot from Amaral.
Amaral scores with a nice hook to the head.
Amaral misses with a body punch.
Amaral lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Amaral lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Amaral.
Amaral scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Amaral.
Amaral throws a punch but it's blocked by Fayden.
Amaral has a couple of punches blocked by Fayden.
The referee calls for Fayden to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Amaral misses with the head strike.
Amaral swings wildly with an uppercut but Fayden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Amaral lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dack Fayden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Amaral fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fayden blocking some punches.
Fayden swings wildly with an uppercut but Amaral uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Amaral showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Amaral, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Amaral!
A relieved looking Rafael Amaral thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.