PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sydney Faulkner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harata Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Harata Araujo was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Faulkner
vs
Araujo

197 cm
24
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

192 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sydney Faulkner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Harata Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Faulkner closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Faulkner lands in his opponent's guard.
Faulkner sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Araujo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Araujo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Faulkner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Faulkner controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Araujo has an active guard here but Faulkner has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faulkner is working for a submission of some sort.

Araujo looking for submissions off his back.

Araujo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Faulkner pulls his head out easily.

Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
Faulkner not doing much here.

Faulkner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Araujo sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Faulkner controlling the action here.
Araujo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Faulkner lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faulkner stalling.
Araujo trying to get back to full guard but Faulkner takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Faulkner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Araujo is looking to escape.
Faulkner landing strikes from the mount and Araujo is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Araujo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Faulkner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Araujo defends well.

Faulkner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Araujo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Araujo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Araujo has gone for a leg lock! Faulkner slips out almost immediately though and dives into Araujo's guard.

Araujo has a closed guard, preventing Faulkner from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faulkner trying to control but Araujo is working from the bottom.

Araujo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Faulkner keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Araujo's head.

Araujo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Faulkner defends well.
Faulkner sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Araujo has a closed guard, preventing Faulkner from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Araujo has an active guard here but Faulkner has managed to pass into half guard.

Araujo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sydney Faulkner dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Faulkner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Faulkner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Araujo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Araujo looking for subs from the bottom but Faulkner mounts him!
Faulkner controlling from the full mount.
Araujo squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Faulkner is working for a guillotine from mount but Araujo frees his head quite easily.
Araujo is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo keeps trying to improve his position.

Faulkner is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Araujo misses with a takedown

and Faulkner counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Faulkner.
Faulkner is standing up over Araujo. Araujo looks to escape but Faulkner dives into side control.
Araujo is breathing heavily.

Faulkner is trying to get an arm triangle but Araujo is defending well.
Araujo is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Faulkner asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faulkner looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Faulkner stands up.
Faulkner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Faulkner looking to score a takedown here. Araujo is defending well but Faulkner drives through and ends up in Araujo's guard.
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!

Araujo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Faulkner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Faulkner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Araujo can do to turn this around?

Araujo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Faulkner passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faulkner decides to stand up, so the ref orders Araujo to his feet.

Faulkner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Araujo did well to prevent Faulkner getting side control.
Faulkner controlling the action here.
Araujo trying to get back to full guard but Faulkner takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Faulkner working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araujo wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Faulkner is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Araujo has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Faulkner content just to control the position here.
Faulkner wants to control the pace but Araujo is squirming around nicely.
Faulkner content just to control the position here.
Araujo gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sydney Faulkner dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Faulkner fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Araujo to the ground. Faulkner is now in Araujo's guard.

Araujo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Faulkner off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Faulkner feints and as Araujo raises his hands in defense, Faulkner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Araujo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Faulkner wants to control from the top but Araujo keeps moving.

Araujo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Faulkner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Faulkner cracks Araujo with a solid left hand.
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!
Faulkner sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Araujo is looking for a triangle but Faulkner pushes his legs off easily.
Araujo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Araujo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Faulkner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Araujo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Faulkner is aware though and is defending well.

Araujo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Faulkner is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Araujo.
Faulkner is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Faulkner is trying to get an arm triangle but Araujo is defending well.
Faulkner grinds an elbow into Araujo's temple.
Faulkner is putting a hurting on Araujo here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sydney Faulkner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Faulkner scoring with punches and elbows.
Araujo is looking to reverse the position.
Araujo wants to get back to his feet.

Faulkner stands up.
Araujo shoots for a double leg takedown but Faulkner sprawls well. He's pushed Araujo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Faulkner throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Araujo was covering up waiting for the punch and Faulkner finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Araujo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Faulkner defends well.
Faulkner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Araujo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Faulkner has picked Araujo up and slammed him! Araujo can't keep hold of the triangle and Faulkner manages to pass to side control!

Faulkner looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Faulkner is staying tight to Araujo's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Faulkner tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Faulkner has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Araujo tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araujo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Araujo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Araujo is trying to get back to full guard.

Faulkner is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Faulkner stands up from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Araujo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Faulkner tries to avoid it but Araujo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Faulkner to the ground. Faulkner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Faulkner shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Faulkner showed some decent athleticism there.
Harata Araujo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sydney Faulkner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Faulkner is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sydney Faulkner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Faulkner has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sydney Faulkner!