PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Jimenez (ranked 5839 p4p, 625 weight class) and Raghave Upadhyaya (ranked 8779 p4p, 761 weight class). Upadhyaya has chosen Finessin as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jimenez
vs
Upadhyaya

200 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

192 cm
21
204 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Jimenez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raghave Upadhyaya!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Upadhyaya drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Upadhyaya wants to control from the top but Jimenez keeps moving.
Jimenez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Upadhyaya trying to control but Jimenez is working from the bottom.
Jimenez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jimenez tries to get out of the position.
Upadhyaya looking to pass the guard.
Upadhyaya loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Upadhyaya not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Jimenez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimenez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Upadhyaya pushes down on Jimenez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jimenez trying to hold on to Upadhyaya's head to control him but Upadhyaya postures up.

Upadhyaya stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Jimenez to get to his feet.
Upadhyaya shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jimenez defends it nicely.

Upadhyaya shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jimenez definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Upadhyaya wants to control from the top but Jimenez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Upadhyaya stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jimenez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Upadhyaya controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Upadhyaya in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Upadhyaya is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Upadhyaya with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Upadhyaya trying to control but Jimenez is working from the bottom.
Upadhyaya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jimenez is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Upadhyaya is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jimenez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jimenez has escaped and now he's on top!

Jimenez won't allow Upadhyaya to sweep him here.
Upadhyaya throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Jimenez stopping the sweep attempt from Upadhyaya.

Upadhyaya is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Jimenez presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Jimenez is trying to force a seperation but Upadhyaya has the dominant position.
Jimenez blocks an uppercut.
Upadhyaya prevents a takedown attempt there.
Upadhyaya is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jimenez is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Upadhyaya is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Upadhyaya.

Upadhyaya manages to break the clinch.
Jimenez stuffs the takedown.
Upadhyaya swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jimenez counters with a three punch combo that has Upadhyaya backing up. Upadhyaya nods at Jimenez to acknowledge the strikes.
Upadhyaya walks into a jab.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jimenez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Upadhyaya but Upadhyaya pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Upadhyaya shoots and misses
and Jimenez counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Raghave Upadhyaya will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Upadhyaya fails to land the takedown.
Upadhyaya throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Jimenez misses the shot to the body.
Upadhyaya lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jimenez circles away quickly and effectively.
Jimenez throws the kick towards the body but Upadhyaya avoids it.
Upadhyaya rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jimenez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Jimenez closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jimenez breaks from the clinch.
Upadhyaya fails with the takedown.
Upadhyaya throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jimenez's waist but Jimenez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Upadhyaya off to one side.
Carlos Jimenez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raghave Upadhyaya.
Upadhyaya looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Upadhyaya is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Upadhyaya bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Check out the look on Upadhyaya's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
We've been informed that Upadhyaya has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
You can see the frustration on Jimenez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
An elbow from Upadhyaya crashes against the mat.
Jimenez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Upadhyaya wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Upadhyaya manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Jimenez keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Upadhyaya lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jimenez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jimenez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jimenez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Upadhyaya backwards.
Still in the clinch, Upadhyaya scores with a nice short uppercut.
Jimenez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Upadhyaya working aggressively here.
Jimenez working hard to break the clinch.
Jimenez working hard to break the clinch.

Upadhyaya manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Upadhyaya paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Upadhyaya throws a left and a right that both miss

and Jimenez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Upadhyaya breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Upadhyaya scores with a jab to the jaw.
Upadhyaya fails with a takedown attempt.
Upadhyaya looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jimenez is fending him off so far but Upadhyaya persists. Nope, Jimenez circles away and we're back to standing.
Upadhyaya changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jimenez tries to avoid it but Upadhyaya manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jimenez to the ground. Jimenez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Jimenez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Jimenez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Upadhyaya shoots in and bounces Jimenez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez is adopting a defensive guard.
Upadhyaya stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jimenez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Upadhyaya drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jimenez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jimenez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jimenez!

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Upadhyaya is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Jimenez off and has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raghave Upadhyaya will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Upadhyaya lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Jimenez closes the distance and pushes Upadhyaya back into the cage.
Upadhyaya tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jimenez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Upadhyaya is looking to control Jimenez's arms but Jimenez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Upadhyaya has his back to the cage.
Upadhyaya scores with a shot to the side of Jimenez's head.
Upadhyaya goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Upadhyaya tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jimenez smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Upadhyaya tries to clinch there but Jimenez circles away.
No luck for Jimenez with that takedown attempt.

Upadhyaya has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Upadhyaya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Upadhyaya gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Upadhyaya lands an elbow that stopped Jimenez in his tracks for a moment.
Upadhyaya slowing the pace effectively.

Jimenez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Upadhyaya tries to close the distance and clinch but Jimenez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Upadhyaya shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jimenez counters with a three punch combo that has Upadhyaya backing up. Upadhyaya nods at Jimenez to acknowledge the strikes.
Carlos Jimenez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raghave Upadhyaya.

Jimenez rushes Upadhyaya and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Upadhyaya lands with a left to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Jimenez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Upadhyaya throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jimenez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Upadhyaya pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jimenez tries to break the clinch but Upadhyaya is controlling the position.

Jimenez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Upadhyaya shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Jimenez is trying to defend but Upadhyaya finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Upadhyaya wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jimenez keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Upadhyaya might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jimenez haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Jimenez is trying to stand up here but Upadhyaya is controlling him well.
Upadhyaya takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Upadhyaya is working for a kimura but Jimenez is defending it quite comfortably.
Upadhyaya takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Upadhyaya throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Upadhyaya misses with a head shot. Jimenez uses the momentum to regain guard.
Upadhyaya throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jimenez trying to control the position.
Jimenez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Upadhyaya is one step ahead there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Upadhyaya fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Upadhyaya lands a two punch combo.
Carlos Jimenez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Horrible takedown attempt by Jimenez or perhaps it was just good defense by Upadhyaya, which made it look bad.
Jimenez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Upadhyaya.
Raghave Upadhyaya is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jimenez takes one to the chin there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raghave Upadhyaya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Upadhyaya winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raghave Upadhyaya!
Raghave Upadhyaya took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Grind Never Stops'.