PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tariq Joey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and WhatA Surprise (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Joey
vs
Surprise

187 cm
26
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tariq Joey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, WhatA Surprise!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joey gets a takedown into half guard.

Surprise looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Joey tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Surprise wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Surprise is still trying to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Surprise trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Joey moves out of range of the strikes.
Surprise swings for the body but Joey moves out of range.
WhatA Surprise is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Joey avoids a punch combination nicely.
As Surprise backs away, Joey returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Joey avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Surprise tries to clinch up.
A counter left hand to the body from Joey misses its target.
Surprise looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Joey seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Joey shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Surprise as he jumps to the side.
Horrible takedown attempt by Joey or perhaps it was just good defense by Surprise, which made it look bad.
Surprise fails in his attempt to clinch.
Surprise tries to clinch up but Joey circles away and keeps his distance.
Joey went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Surprise misses with the combination.
Joey fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tariq Joey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joey dives in and grabs Surprise's left leg, looking for a takedown. Surprise pushes down on Joey's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Surprise swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Joey appears to be looking for a big counter.
Good exchange - Surprise coming out on top.
Surprise fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Joey manages to avoid it.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Surprise has eaten all the pies!
Surprise misses with a wild combination.
Joey appears to be looking for a big counter.
Joey shoots in and drives through. Surprise sprawls well.
A swing and a miss from Surprise.
Joey is looking to counter with head kicks.
Surprise fails with an attempt to clinch.
Joey fails with a takedown attempt.

Joey looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Surprise is trying to get back to full guard.
Joey is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Surprise is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Joey pulls his head out easily.
Surprise trying to control here.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joey tries to stand and escape but Surprise is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

WhatA Surprise dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tariq Joey's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Surprise throws a series of punches but Joey moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Surprise as Joey shoots in.
Joey takes one to the side of the head.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Joey.
Joey keeps the fight on the outside.
Joey tries to score a power double leg takedown but Surprise sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Joey somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tariq Joey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joey fails with a takedown attempt.
Joey shoots and misses
and Surprise counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Surprise looks to land a combination but Joey avoids it well.
A counter left hand to the body from Joey misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Surprise looks to score with a jab to the body but Joey is just out of range.
A quick step to the side and Joey tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Surprise keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Surprise throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Surprise misses with a wild body shot.
Surprise dips to his left and cracks Joey with an uppercut!
WhatA Surprise seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Joey shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Joey would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Surprise working for submissions but it's allowed Joey to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Surprise trying to get back to full guard but Joey takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Surprise tries to control Joey's body but Joey pushes him off. Surprise squirms to his side and now Joey has his back!
Joey is not going to allow Surprise to sit and survive in this position.
Surprise has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Joey wants to stand up but Surprise is stuck to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joey has the hooks in. Surprise is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Joey is looking to get the fight back to the feet.
Surprise breaks Joey's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Surprise working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Surprise wants to pass the guard but Joey is keeping the position.
Surprise looking to sit in guard and control but Joey gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Joey stopping the sweep attempt from Surprise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Surprise wants to improve his position but instead Joey has moved into half guard.
Surprise wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Surprise trying to control from the bottom.
Surprise wants to improve his position but Joey is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joey tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Surprise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but WhatA Surprise will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tariq Joey's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Joey or perhaps it was just good defense by Surprise, which made it look bad.
Joey slips a jab and a cross from Surprise.
Joey staying out of range there.
Joey misses with a takedown
and Surprise counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Joey thinking.
Nice takedown defense from Surprise. No joy for Joey on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tariq Joey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Joey or perhaps it was just good defense by Surprise, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joey tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Surprise defends well and Joey ends up having to push Surprise into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Joey fails with the takedown
and Surprise counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Joey fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Surprise throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Surprise lands with a cross.
Surprise scores with a sloppy right hand. Joey should have avoided that one.

Joey gets tackled into the cage by Surprise. Surprise maintains the clinch.

Joey has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Surprise regains guard immediately.
Joey wants to get up but he can't break Surprise's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Surprise has his foot on Joey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Joey works his way back into a safe position though.
Joey wants to stand but Surprise has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Surprise is trying to keep Joey in close.

Surprise working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Joey doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Joey manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Surprise wants to hit a switch here but Joey passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Surprise there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joey get's back to his feet.
Surprise looks to land a left hand but Joey moved out of range nicely.
Joey throws a big counter combination but Surprise scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Joey shoots for a double leg takedown but Surprise sprawls well. He's pushed Joey's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joey sets himself, and Surprise steps forward looking for the clinch! Joey avoids it this time.
Surprise ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Joey moves away.
Joey seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Tariq Joey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four 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.
Joey gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Joey keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Surprise. No joy for Joey on that attempt.
Joey looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Joey displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Surprise throws out the jab.
Joey avoids the body shot from Surprise.

Surprise closes the distance and pushes Joey back into the cage.
Surprise misses with the head strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Surprise fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Joey can't get the takedown.
Tariq Joey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
WhatA Surprise is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Surprise escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

And that's the end of the fight!
WhatA Surprise comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Surprise 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... WhatA Surprise!