PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Moraes (ranked 7415 p4p, 637 weight class) and Rafael Oreiro (ranked 4064 p4p, 445 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Moraes
vs
Oreiro

180 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
188 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

JD's Island Shack

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Santiago Moraes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rafael Oreiro!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Moraes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Moraes looking to slow down the pace here.

Moraes pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moraes wants to sweep here but Oreiro controlling him for the moment.
Oreiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Moraes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Moraes is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Oreiro presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Oreiro has had enough of the clinch but Moraes keeps him there for the moment.

Moraes ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Moraes no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Oreiro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moraes pulls Oreiro in close to prevent any damage.
Moraes wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes controlling Oreiro's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moraes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Oreiro wants to improve his position but Moraes is controlling well.
Oreiro is trying to stand.

Oreiro kicks Moraes off and gets back to his feet.
Oreiro swats away the attempt to clinch by Moraes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moraes closes the distance but Oreiro moves to the side
and Moraes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Oreiro throws a shot to the body.
Rafael Oreiro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Moraes doesn't manage to clinch there - Oreiro circles away.
Moraes fails to land with a series of punches.
Moraes doesn't manage to clinch there - Oreiro circles away.

Moraes rushes Oreiro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Moraes manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Moraes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Oreiro let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Moraes misses with a shot to the body
letting Oreiro counter with a right hand.
Moraes looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Oreiro connects with a body shot that sends Moraes's belly button to the back.
Oreiro's coach down at Island Safe Space was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Oreiro's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Moraes tries to clinch but Oreiro moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moraes tries to clinch
and Oreiro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Moraes misses with a wild body shot.
Oreiro scores with a one two! Moraes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Moraes wants to clinch up but Oreiro keeps it at a distance.
Oreiro looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Oreiro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Oreiro moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Oreiro's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Oreiro duly obliges.

Oooooh!!! Moraes has knocked Oreiro down with a huge combo! Moraes steps away and waves a wobbly Oreiro back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Oreiro is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Moraes buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Moraes looks to clinch
and Oreiro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Moraes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Oreiro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Oreiro throws a shot from downtown. Moraes moves away and avoids it.
Nice uppercut there from Oreiro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moraes wants to clinch but Oreiro slips to the side
and Oreiro counters with a stiff right hand.
Moraes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Oreiro backs up against the cage.
Moraes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Oreiro.
Moraes with a poor takedown
enabling Oreiro to counter with a crisp jab.
Moraes moves forwards but Oreiro connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Moraes is rocked!
Moraes misses with a takedown attempt
and Oreiro counters with a huge right that knocks Moraes out cold! Oreiro is running around with a crazed look on his face - you can see how much that meant to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Rafael Oreiro!