PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Amaral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yago Barros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Amaral
vs
Barros

182 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Amaral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yago Barros!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Amaral fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Amaral closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Yago Barros has been cut.
Amaral rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barros moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A head kick misses from Barros.
Both fighters circling a little - Amaral finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Amaral showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barros.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barros.
Amaral lands with a hook. Barros tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Barros tries to work over Amaral's front leg with a kick but Amaral checks it.
Amaral cracks Barros with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Barros throws a head kick that misses.
Barros fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
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!
Barros scoring well with a low kick there.
Barros misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barros looks gassed!
Barros pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Amaral throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Amaral takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barros is looking to clinch but Amaral is avoiding it.

Amaral moves into the clinch.
Barros wants a takedown but no success here.
Barros throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Amaral blocks it with crossed arms.
Amaral drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Barros gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Amaral tries for a takedown but Barros manages to get underhooks.

Amaral's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Amaral fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barros takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Barros throws a sloppy head kick
and Amaral counters with a left and a right that stings Barros.

Amaral shoots in and bounces Barros off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Amaral trying to control the position from guard on top but Barros is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amaral passes into half guard.
Amaral moves into full mount! Barros won't be happy about that!
Amaral tries to control but Barros wriggling away.

Amaral wants to finish this one by submission but Barros is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Amaral.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Amaral can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barros is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barros is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Barros keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Barros is in a horrible position here. Amaral smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Amaral controlling his opponent.
Amaral's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Barros wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Amaral.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Barros really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Barros really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Amaral. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Amaral stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Amaral is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barros tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barros moves in looking to clinch but Amaral pushes him off.
Amaral throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Yago Barros seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barros shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Amaral counters with a left to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Amaral dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yago Barros's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barros fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck for Amaral with that takedown attempt.
Barros with a poor takedown

and Amaral counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Amaral trying to control but Barros is working from the bottom.
Amaral preventing the sweep.
Barros working a defensive guard but Amaral passes into half guard.
Barros missing with punches from the bottom.
Amaral controlling the action here.
Amaral trying to control from half guard but Barros is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barros trying to hold on to Amaral's head to control him but Amaral postures up.
Amaral wants to pass the guard but Barros is defending well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Barros tries a head kick but it misses.
Barros circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barros moves out of range as Amaral throws a body kick.
Barros pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Amaral scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Barros misses with a kick to the body

and Amaral counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Barros with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Good body shot from Amaral.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Amaral's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barros keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Amaral tries to close the distance and clinch but Barros swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barros fails with the takedown.
No joy there for Barros, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Danga de danga de dang - Barros scores with a four punch combination!
Barros looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Amaral wants to clinch up but Barros keeps it at a distance.
Barros shoots for a takedown but Amaral saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rafael Amaral has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yago Barros.
Amaral stuffs the takedown.
Barros tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Amaral paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rafael Amaral is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barros tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barros misses with a low kick.
Nice takedown defense from Barros. No joy for Amaral on that attempt.
Amaral looks to land a right hand but Barros moved out of range.
Amaral looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Amaral as Barros shoots in.
Amaral shoots in for a takedown but Barros shows good takedown defense.
Barros fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Amaral manages to avoid it.
Barros misses with a few strikes there.
Amaral blocks a head kick by Barros.
Amaral looks to land a combination. Barros sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Amaral tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barros paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barros shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Amaral as he jumps to the side.
Barros pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Amaral takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Amaral moves into range and clinches up with Barros.
Amaral can't break the clinch.
Amaral is working for takedown but Barros is calmly controlling the position for now.

Barros breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barros throws a sloppy head kick

and Amaral counters by moving into the clinch.
Barros lands an elbow inside.
Barros looking for a takedown.
Amaral tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barros missing with knees to the body.
Barros wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Barros has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Amaral avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Amaral dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yago Barros's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Amaral lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Amaral throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barros throws a nice head kick!

Barros closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Barros can't break the clinch.

Amaral pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Barros fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Amaral, pushing him back against the cage.
Amaral is looking to break free of the clinch but Barros has double underhooks.
Amaral lands a knee to the body.

Amaral pulls guard successfully.
Barros pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Amaral is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barros accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Amaral looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Barros!
Barros working to try and regain half guard.

Amaral is working for a guillotine from mount but Barros frees his head quite easily.
Barros is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Barros tries to reverse the position but Amaral maintains control.
Amaral trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Barros is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.
A nice elbow there by Amaral.
Barros manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Amaral connects with a nice short shot to Barros's temple.
Barros is looking to get back to is feet but Amaral passes into side control.
Barros is trying to control Amaral's posture but Amaral avoids it.
Barros is trying to escape the position but Amaral is controlling the position.
Barros sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Barros trying to hold on to Amaral's head to control him but Amaral postures up.
Amaral trying to control from half guard but Barros is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barros blocking the ground and pound attempt from Amaral.
Amaral trying to control the action but Barros is working from the bottom.
Barros trying to hold on to Amaral's head to control him but Amaral postures up.
Barros regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barros wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Amaral is now in half guard.
Amaral not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Amaral frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Amaral trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Barros is in all sorts of trouble here.
Barros wants to hold on but Amaral pushes him away.
Barros tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Barros is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Amaral wants to control the pace but Barros is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barros is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yago Barros has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Amaral is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
BOOM! Amaral connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafael Amaral.
Well Amaral has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Amaral!