PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo De Lima (ranked 4605 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luiz Pires (ranked 4535 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo De Lima has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

De Lima
vs
Pires

178 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rodrigo De Lima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luiz Pires!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Lima scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Luiz Pires has been cut.

Pires has managed to clinch.
Pires swings away with an uppercut that misses.

De Lima pulls guard successfully.
Pires engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pires slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pires taking a breather here.
De Lima prevents Pires from improving position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Lima is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
De Lima is trying to escape the position but Pires is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Lima is trying to improve his position.
Pires tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Pires swings around for an armbar but De Lima sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Pires's guard.
Pires pulls De Lima in to control the position.
De Lima preventing the sweep.
De Lima stands and throws Pires's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pires is not content to let De Lima control the position.
Pires wants to control but De Lima postures up.

De Lima is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pires is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

De Lima tries for a kimura but Pires is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pires tries to improve position but can't.

De Lima is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pires knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

De Lima is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pires knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Pires's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

De Lima is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pires is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pires is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

De Lima is working for a submission of some sort.
Pires is pressing down on De Lima's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Pires is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pires looking to hit a scissor sweep but De Lima is one step ahead there.
Pires lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pires pushes down on De Lima's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Lima is staying active underneath Pires, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
De Lima is looking to improve his position.
De Lima tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Pires has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Pires seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but De Lima is holding on tight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Lima is squirming around, avoiding Pires's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rodrigo De Lima will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luiz Pires's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

De Lima lands a two punch combo.
De Lima misses with a combination

and Pires counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pires.
De Lima keeping moving, preventing Pires from controlling successfully.
Pires tries to free his leg and advance position but De Lima is retaining full guard.
De Lima will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pires trying to control the position from guard on top but De Lima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

De Lima looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Luiz Pires has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pires looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Lima working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Pires has passed into half guard!

Pires wants to work for an arm triangle but De Lima is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pires is trying to control. De Lima wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Pires is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pires is breathing heavily.
De Lima is controlling Pires's trapped leg to prevent Pires from advancing to side control.
Pires moves into full mount! De Lima won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Lima working to try and regain half guard.
De Lima tries to lock up and control but Pires gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
De Lima is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Pires has taken his back.
De Lima tries to escape but Pires has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
De Lima looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

De Lima is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
De Lima just trying to survive but Pires is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Pires working for a choke but De Lima is defending well.
De Lima rolls, trying to escape but Pires keeps control of the position.
De Lima tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
De Lima gets back to half guard.
De Lima wants to get back to full guard.

Pires is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. De Lima doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pires.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pires is thwarting De Lima's attempts to control the position.
De Lima is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pires is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

De Lima looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pires is pressing down on De Lima's thigh, looking to free his foot. De Lima is holding on for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Pires showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Luiz Pires's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

De Lima tries for a takedown but Pires circles away easily

and Pires moves into the clinch.

Pires jumps guard and drags De Lima to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Pires keeping moving, preventing De Lima from controlling successfully.
Pires has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pires looking to control.
De Lima wants to control from the top but Pires keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Pires trying to control the position but De Lima is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Lima tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Pires easily slips into full mount!
Pires controlling his opponent.

Pires is going oldschool here, as he tries to force De Lima to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so De Lima shrugs it off.
Pires controlling his opponent.
Pires takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pires wants to control the action but instead De Lima gets a body lock and reverses into Pires's guard! Nice work!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pires trying to control the position.
De Lima tries to free his leg and advance position but Pires is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Lima advances position into side control!
Pires is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
De Lima is trying to control. Pires wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Pires actively working from the bottom here.
De Lima wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pires keeps working.

De Lima is working for a kimura but Pires is defending it quite comfortably.

De Lima is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Pires is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but De Lima pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pires is trying to get back to full guard.
Pires is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of De Lima's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take De Lima's back!
Pires is not going to allow De Lima to sit and survive in this position.
De Lima is trying to break free.
Pires doesn't have the hooks in and De Lima manages to turn into his guard.
De Lima stands and throws Pires's legs to the side, diving into side control.
De Lima working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pires looks to move to half guard but instead De Lima has passed into mount! Damn!

De Lima working for a guillotine from mount but Pires is in no mood to give up.

De Lima looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

De Lima goes for an armbar but Pires turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Pires.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Lima keeping full guard, as Pires tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

De Lima throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rodrigo De Lima has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luiz Pires is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

De Lima escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pires gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Luiz Pires.
I think Pires has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Luiz Pires!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Luiz Pires!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Luiz Pires!

Luiz Pires wins by unanimous decision!