PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maicol Raul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brano Hribik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Raul
vs
Hribik

185 cm
22
198 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

180 cm
19
190 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maicol Raul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brano Hribik!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hribik shoots in but Raul avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Raul feinted with a counter takedown.
We've been told by Raul's head coaches at Animal House that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Hribik closes the distance and clinches up with Raul, looking for a takedown. Hribik pushes Raul against the cage but Raul circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Raul tries to counter with a takedown but Hribik is quick to defend against it.
Hribik misses with a takedown attempt - Raul sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Raul changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Maicol Raul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brano Hribik.
Hribik shoots in looking for a takedown but Raul manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hribik's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Raul half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hribik is defended easily by Raul.
Raul changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hribik tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Raul defends well and Hribik ends up having to push Raul into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hribik takes a jab right on the kisser.
Brano Hribik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raul darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hribik misses with a takedown attempt - Raul sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Raul changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hribik looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Raul stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Raul wants it to stay on the feet.
Raul misses with a jab, cross combination.
Raul scores with a one two! Hribik had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hribik is looking to clinch.

Raul fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hribik sprawls well initially but Raul persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hribik wants to improve his position but Raul is controlling well.
Hribik keeps trying to improve his position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Hribik looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raul seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Raul stands up out of the half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sloppy strikes from Raul. Those never looked like landing.
Raul closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hribik shoots for a double leg takedown but Raul sprawls well. He's pushed Hribik's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Raul connects with a crisp jab.
Hribik looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Raul half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Raul lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raul misses with a double jab.
Raul scores with a three punch combo!
Raul keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hribik shoots for a takedown but Raul saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Raul keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hribik avoids the head kick by Raul.
Raul moves in looking to clinch but Hribik pushes him off.
Raul throws a nice looking combination but Hribik bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Raul misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hribik darts in looking for a takedown but Raul gets double underhooks and turns Hribik into the cage.
Raul looks to land a combination. Hribik sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raul scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hribik throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Raul's waist but Raul gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hribik off to one side.
Raul tries to counter with a takedown but Hribik is quick to defend against it.
Hribik fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Raul changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Raul scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Raul throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hribik shoots in and drives through. Raul sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maicol Raul dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hribik will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Raul drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hribik sprawls and moves away.

Raul feints and as Hribik raises his hands in defense, Raul changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Raul tries to stand but Hribik is controlling from the bottom.
Hribik tries to strike from the bottom.
Hribik looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Raul gets to his feet. Hribik looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Raul throws a nice looking combination but Hribik bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hribik drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Raul defends it well.
Hribik shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Raul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hribik looks for a takedown but Raul sprawls well.
Maicol Raul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brano Hribik.
Hribik is breathing heavily.
Raul swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hribik fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Raul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hribik is defended easily by Raul.
Raul tries to counter with a takedown but Hribik is quick to defend against it.

Raul rushes Hribik and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hribik has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Raul after a bit of a struggle.

Raul tightens his grip and picks Hribik up, before dumping him to the ground. Hribik manages to land in guard.
Raul has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hribik is proving hard to escape from.

Raul gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Raul displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hribik.
Raul slaps away a takedown attempt from Hribik, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Raul appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Raul scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hribik with a poor takedown
and Raul counters with a nice uppercut.
Hribik closes this distance looking for a takedown but Raul circles away.
Maicol Raul is winning the standup battle so far.
Raul lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hribik backs up against the cage.
Raul fails to land with a series of punches.
Jab by Raul.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hribik.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raul tries to stand and escape but Hribik is controlling the position.
Hribik tries to kick Raul off but Raul keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Raul tries to stand and escape but Hribik is controlling the position.
Raul is thwarting Hribik's attempts to control the position.
Raul is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hribik can do to turn this around?
It looks like Raul is going to stand back up.

Raul stands up out of the half guard.
Hribik is trying hard to land a takedown here. Raul sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Raul feinted with a counter takedown.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hribik with a poor takedown
and Raul connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hribik takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maicol Raul dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Raul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hribik changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Hribik closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Raul's guard.
Maicol Raul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hribik throws a big elbow that misses.
Hribik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raul swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Raul has his foot on Hribik's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hribik works his way back into a safe position though.
Raul not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hribik drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hribik jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Raul tries to strike from the bottom.
Raul looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hribik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raul swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raul is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hribik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raul is keeping the position for now.
Hribik takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raul tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raul has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Hribik should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Raul has tightened it up now! Hribik should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Maicol Raul!