PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joca Carioca (ranked 3638 p4p, 291 weight class) and Aaron Dale (ranked 4722 p4p, 352 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Carioca
vs
Dale

175 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

176 cm
19
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Forge Clothing Co.

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 2 - 2 - 1, 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aaron Dale!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carioca throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dale's waist but Dale gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Carioca off to one side.
Dale throws a body shot but no joy.
Carioca half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Dale. No joy for Carioca on that attempt.
Dale wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Carioca looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Carioca throws a body kick that misses
and Dale counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dale stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dale wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joca Carioca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dale goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Carioca takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carioca shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Carioca trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carioca wants to control from the top but Dale keeps moving.
Carioca is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dale is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carioca 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.
Dale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dale has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Carioca has passed into side control.

Carioca looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Carioca wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dale keeps working.
Dale avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Carioca.
You can see the frustration on Dale's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Carioca thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dale manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Dale 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 Dale.
Carioca keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Carioca looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Dale throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dale throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dale prevents Carioca from improving his position.
Dale throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Carioca is not content to let Dale control the position.
Dale winds up and cracks Carioca with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Carioca wants to improve his position but Dale is controlling well.
Dale is trying to control. Carioca wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dale missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dale not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Carioca moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carioca is looking for a triangle but Dale pushes his legs off easily.
Dale trying to control the position from guard on top but Carioca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dale 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.
Dale trying to control the position from guard on top but Carioca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dale makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carioca avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dale is in close to Carioca's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dale comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Carioca uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dale.
Dale misses with a straight left.
Dale throws a leg kick that is checked

and Carioca counters with a single leg into guard. Dale didn't expect that.

Carioca is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Dale is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Dale has escaped and now he's on top!

Carioca looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dale is in close to Carioca's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Joca Carioca overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dale loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carioca is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dale with a flurry of punches that miss.
Carioca can't keep his opponent in guard - Dale advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dale lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Carioca tries to roll over but Dale keeps him under control.

Dale is looking for a kimura here.
Dale prevents Carioca from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Carioca is trying to stand up here but Dale is controlling him well.

Carioca is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dale pulls his head out easily.
Dale trying to control the action but Carioca is working from the bottom.
Carioca trying to control from the bottom.

Carioca looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dale is keen to just control but Carioca is a slippery customer.
Carioca is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dale working Carioca over with strikes.
Nice strikes from Dale there.
Dale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Dale is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Carioca is just riding it out for now. Dale eventually gives up the hold.
Dale thows a huge punch but Carioca dodges it nicely.
Carioca is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dale scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dale really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Carioca. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dale landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dale landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Still in half guard, Dale seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dale scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dale works his way into full mount!
Dale scoring with strikes but Carioca is staying in there.
Carioca tries to hold on but Dale pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dale trying to control but Carioca is having none of it.
Carioca manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Dale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Dale stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dale wants it to stay on the feet.
Carioca takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Carioca shoots for a takedown but Dale saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carioca takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dale throws a series of punches but Carioca moves out of range.
Carioca shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dale as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joca Carioca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carioca takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dale moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Carioca closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dale circles away.
Aaron Dale seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A jab from Dale finds it's way through Carioca's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Carioca circles away quickly and effectively.
Dale sizes up Carioca with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Dale throws out a powerful jab.
A slow jab from Dale misses its intended target.
Dale feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cariocas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dale scores with a jab to the body.
Carioca tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dale defends well and Carioca ends up having to push Dale into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dale looks to land a combination but Carioca avoids it well.
Dale throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Carioca counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dale 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.
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!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dale is still trying to improve position.
Carioca wants to control from the top but Dale keeps moving.
Carioca is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dale tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Carioca drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Carioca jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dale seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Carioca trying to control the position from guard on top but Dale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carioca forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dale is trying is best to control the position here.

Carioca is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Carioca is keen to just control but Dale is a slippery customer.
Carioca looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dale wants to control but Carioca is keeping busy.
Dale 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.
Dale wants to improve his position but Carioca is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Carioca is trying to work for a kimura but Dale is defending well.
Dale wants to control but Carioca is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Carioca wants to work for an arm triangle but Dale is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dale manages to get to full guard.

Carioca drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Carioca as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Dale screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Carioca! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Joca Carioca!