PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edwardo Knox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harata Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harata Araujo looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Knox
vs
Araujo

192 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

192 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edwardo Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Harata Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knox rushes Araujo and presses him up against the cage.
Knox managing to block the knees to the body from Araujo.
Knox has Araujo pressed against the cage.
Knox is stalling here.
Knox is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Knox lands a nice knee to the body.

Araujo successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox wants to stand but Araujo is controlling his posture from full guard.

Knox stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Knox closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Araujo kicks off Knox and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Araujo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Araujo looks winded!

Knox is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Knox has his hands on Araujo's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Knox is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Knox lands a decent punch to the body there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox is pulling down on Araujo's head. It's preventing any offense from Araujo, at least for the moment.
Knox tries to strike from the bottom.
Knox wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Knox continues to stall.

Araujo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Knox manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Araujo has Knox in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knox drops back looking for a leg! Araujo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Araujo manages to kick Knox off! Knox jumps back into Araujo's guard.
Knox postures up and lands a big shot to Araujo's brow.

Araujo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Knox stands up over Araujo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Knox wants to stand but Araujo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Knox landing some decent shots from guard.
Knox with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knox decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Araujo, up you get!

Knox drives through with a takedown into Araujo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Araujo is looking to stand back up but Knox counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Araujo.

Knox is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Araujo is just riding it out for now. Knox eventually gives up the hold.
Knox working Araujo over with strikes.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Knox is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Knox tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Araujo looking for submissions off his back.

Knox is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edwardo Knox dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Knox gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Knox seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox punching from the bottom.
Araujo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Knox is looking for a triangle here but Araujo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Knox struggling a bit here.

Araujo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Knox wants to control but Araujo postures up.
Knox keeps Araujo under control for a moment.
Knox wants to control but Araujo postures up.
I wouldn't like to be where Knox is right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Araujo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Knox holds on and takes a little breather.
Harata Araujo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Knox working for a triangle but Araujo defends it easily.

Knox working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Araujo has passed into half guard!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knox has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Araujo is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harata Araujo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Knox looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Araujo!

Knox stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Araujo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Knox looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Araujo working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Araujo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Araujo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Knox rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Araujo's guard! Nice work there by Knox!
Knox is in close to Araujo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Araujo can't keep his opponent in guard - Knox advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Knox tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Araujo.

Knox is trying to work for a kimura but Araujo is defending well.
Knox scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Knox decides to stand up.

Araujo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Knox quickly recovers to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Knox is pressing down on Araujo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Araujo wanted to stand there but Knox had control of the position.
Knox seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
More hug and hope from Knox.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Knox scores with a jab to the head.

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

Knox is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Knox tries to free his leg and advance position but Araujo is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Knox stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Knox shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Knox showed some decent athleticism there.
Knox winds up and cracks Araujo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

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

Knox seems to be working for a kimura but Araujo defends the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knox wants to stand up but Araujo is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edwardo Knox showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Knox has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edwardo Knox!