PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joca Carioca (ranked 5502 p4p, 415 weight class) and Javier Dominguez (ranked 5969 p4p, 429 weight class). Dominguez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Man Comes Around. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Carioca
vs
Dominguez

175 cm
24
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joca Carioca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Dominguez!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Ben Watson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dominguez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Dominguez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Carioca sprawls well initially but Dominguez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Carioca is trying to stand back up but Dominguez is controlling him
Carioca is looking to improve his position.

Dominguez wants to work for an arm triangle but Carioca is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dominguez wants to pass the guard but Carioca is defending well.
Carioca is refusing to be controlled, as Dominguez sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carioca tries to roll over but Dominguez keeps him under control.

Dominguez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Dominguez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dominguez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Carioca is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez wants to control but Carioca has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Dominguez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Carioca is looking to escape.
Carioca tries to roll over but Dominguez keeps him under control.

Dominguez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Carioca doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dominguez.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Carioca slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez pushing down on Carioca's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Carioca avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dominguez.
Carioca slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Carioca trying to control the position here.
Carioca looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dominguez is one step ahead there.
Dominguez wants to control from the top but Carioca keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carioca is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Dominguez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Carioca is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Dominguez wants to pass the guard but Carioca is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dominguez wants to control from the top but Carioca keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dominguez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Carioca haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Dominguez dominated that round.
That's time! Carioca's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dominguez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Carioca was covering up waiting for the punch and Dominguez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Dominguez throws a big elbow that misses.
Dominguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Dominguez drops back looking for a leg! Carioca is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carioca manages to kick Dominguez off! Dominguez jumps back into Carioca's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dominguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Carioca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dominguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carioca swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carioca controls Dominguez momentarily but Dominguez frees himself.
Dominguez trying to control but Carioca is working from the bottom.
Carioca wants to stand but Dominguez is controlling the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Javier Dominguez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Carioca is trying to control the position but Dominguez postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Dominguez drives through with a takedown into Carioca's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Carioca looking to control.
Dominguez wants to control from the top but Carioca keeps moving.
Carioca is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carioca seems keen to control Dominguez's posture.
Carioca wants to sweep but no luck.
Carioca keeping full guard, as Dominguez tries to pass.

Dominguez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dominguez controlling from the top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dominguez wants to control from the top but Carioca keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Carioca counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Carioca not doing much here.
Carioca is looking to advance position but Dominguez won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dominguez is looking for a sweep. Carioca is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dominguez landing rabbit punches to the side of Carioca's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Dominguez trying to get back to full guard but Carioca takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez is trying to escape the mount.
Dominguez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Carioca tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Dominguez gets back to half guard.
Dominguez tries to get to full guard but Carioca has control of the leg.
Carioca seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Dominguez looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Javier Dominguez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Carioca. No joy for Dominguez on that attempt.
Javier Dominguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carioca slaps away a takedown attempt from Dominguez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dominguez shoots in for a takedown but Carioca shows good takedown defense.
Carioca changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Joca Carioca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Javier Dominguez.

Carioca dives in and scores a takedown into Dominguez's guard.

Carioca got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dominguez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Carioca has managed to get both his arms back between Dominguez's legs - danger averted.

Dominguez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Carioca is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carioca 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.
Dominguez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dominguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carioca tries to free his leg and advance position but Dominguez is retaining full guard.
Carioca trying to control but Dominguez is working from the bottom.
Carioca preventing the sweep.
Carioca wants to pass the guard but Dominguez is keeping the position.
Carioca trying to control but Dominguez is working from the bottom.

Carioca avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Carioca showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Carioca trying to control but Dominguez is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Carioca tries to free his leg and advance position but Dominguez is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Carioca drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dominguez is not content to let Carioca control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carioca working away.

Carioca thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dominguez is trying to control Carioca's posture but Carioca avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dominguez is looking to regain half guard here but Carioca keeps moving and retains side control.
Carioca in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Dominguez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Carioca is trying to control. Dominguez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Joca Carioca has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Dominguez looking for submissions off his back.
Carioca prevents Dominguez from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joca Carioca showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dominguez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!