PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leondardo Song (ranked 7184 p4p, 590 weight class) and Ricardo Rebenta (ranked 23381 p4p, 652 weight class). Song comes to the cage accompanied by Oldboy OST - The Last Waltz. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Song
vs
Rebenta

180 cm
20
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Leondardo Song!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Rebenta!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rebenta lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Song backs up against the cage.

Song closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rebenta's guard.
Song passes into half guard.

Rebenta is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Song pulls his head out easily.
Song is stalling here. Rebenta is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Song seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rebenta has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Song is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Song prevents Rebenta from moving into mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Song is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
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!
Rebenta is pressing down on Song's thigh, looking to free his foot. Song is holding on for now.
Rebenta wants to stand up but Song has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Rebenta seems to be working for a kimura but Song defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Song is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rebenta's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rebenta's back!

Rebenta defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Song's arms.

Song working for a choke but Rebenta reverses nicely into Song 's guard.
Song wants to sweep here but Rebenta controlling him for the moment.
Rebenta told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Song is trying to control the position but Rebenta postures up.
Rebenta works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Song is trying to get back to full guard.

Rebenta is trying to work for a kimura but Song is defending well.

Song looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rebenta landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Song wants to improve his position but Rebenta is controlling well.

Rebenta is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Song defends it well.
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. Rebenta connects with a nice short shot to Song's temple.

Song looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rebenta slips a nice elbow through Song's hands, connecting with Song's forehead.
Song wants to get back to full guard.
Rebenta works his foot free and advances to mount.
Song is trying to escape the mount.
Rebenta avoids the attempt from Song to control.
Song slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Rebenta is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rebenta lands strikes from half guard.
Song wants to control but Rebenta is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Well, if Rebenta is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rebenta is looking to take a break and control but Song is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Song is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rebenta pulls his head out easily.
Song is trying to get back to full guard.
Song gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rebenta dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rebenta clinches up with Song and pushes him back against the cage.
Song tries to pull guard but Rebenta won't allow it.
Rebenta tries to stall but Song uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rebenta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Song pulls Rebenta into guard.

Song is looking for a triangle but Rebenta pushes his legs off easily.

Song looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Song looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rebenta is one step ahead there.
Rebenta wants to control from the top but Song keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Song wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Song trying to control the position.
Rebenta content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Rebenta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Song has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rebenta can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rebenta trying to control but Song is working from the bottom.
Rebenta stopping the sweep attempt from Song.
Rebenta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Song is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rebenta forces his way into half guard.
Rebenta has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rebenta lands a couple of good shots and Song has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Rebenta has the hooks in. Song is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Rebenta cracks Song with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Song from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rebenta wants to control but Song is keeping busy.
Rebenta is trying to stick to Song's back but Song is turning into Rebenta. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rebenta's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Song.
Song looking to pass the guard.
Song is working hard here to advance position.
Song trying to control but Rebenta is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rebenta 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.

Rebenta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Song slips nicely into half guard.
Ricardo Rebenta has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rebenta is trying to get back to full guard.
Song passes the guard and advances to mount!
Song prevents Rebenta from getting the reversal.
Rebenta is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Song moves to back control.

Song goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Rebenta escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Rebenta is nestled in close to Song, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rebenta winds up and cracks Song with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rebenta seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rebenta wants to take a breather but Song is having none of it.
Song has hold of Rebenta's hands but Rebenta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Song wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rebenta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Song misses with a takedown attempt - Rebenta sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Song shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rebenta as he jumps to the side.
Song fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leondardo Song. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Song dives in and grabs Rebenta's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rebenta pushes down on Song's head and hops out.
Song fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Rebenta is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Song's half guard.

Rebenta is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Song defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rebenta is trying to work for a kimura but Song is defending well.

Rebenta is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rebenta lands a nice short elbow.

Rebenta 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.
Rebenta scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Song trying to control but Rebenta postures up.
Rebenta is looking to take a break and control but Song is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Song trying to hold on to Rebenta's head to control him but Rebenta postures up.
Rebenta is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rebenta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rebenta lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Song is looking for a sweep. Rebenta is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rebenta working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rebenta thows a huge punch but Song dodges it nicely.
Rebenta takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rebenta content to control rather than advance.
Rebenta is just content to waste time from the top position. Song takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Song looking for a sweep. Not yet Song, not yet.
Song keeping moving, preventing Rebenta from controlling successfully.
Rebenta working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Song escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rebenta gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rebenta trying to control but Song is working from the bottom.

Song is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rebenta is aware though and is defending well.
Song trying to control the position.
Rebenta has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rebenta scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rebenta preventing the sweep.
Song keeping moving, preventing Rebenta from controlling successfully.

Song is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rebenta working some strikes from top position.
Rebenta trying to control the position from guard on top but Song is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Song 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rebenta trying to control but Song is working from the bottom.
Rebenta lands a couple of decent looking shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Rebenta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rebenta has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Rebenta!