PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Efren Joyce (ranked 7199 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Fernandes (ranked 5009 p4p, 0 weight class). Efren Joyce had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Joyce
vs
Fernandes

194 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Efren Joyce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joyce circles away.
Joyce tries to counter with a takedown but Fernandes is quick to defend against it.
Fernandes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fernandes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Joyce's waist but Joyce gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fernandes off to one side.
Efren Joyce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matheus Fernandes.
Fernandes looks winded!
Fernandes with a poor takedown
and Joyce finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Joyce really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fernandes shoots in looking for a takedown. Joyce tries to sprawl out of it but Fernandes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Joyce manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Joyce feinted with a counter takedown.
Joyce slaps away a takedown attempt from Fernandes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Joyce tries to counter with a takedown but Fernandes is quick to defend against it.

Joyce forces Fernandes back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joyce wants to break free but Fernandes has control.
Joyce displaying some good clinch control by pressing Fernandes up against the cage.
Joyce wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Joyce's efforts to push away.
Fernandes tries to pull guard but Joyce forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Joyce is looking to break free of the clinch but Fernandes has double underhooks.
Fernandes has Joyce pressed against the cage, preventing Joyce from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Joyce tries to break free but Fernandes pushes him back against the cage.
Joyce working hard to break the clinch.
Fernandes tries to pull guard but Joyce forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Fernandes is trying to pull guard but Joyce has him pressed against the cage.
Joyce is trying to push Fernandes away but Fernandes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Fernandes is trying to pull guard but Joyce has him pressed against the cage.

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.
Joyce tries to break free but Fernandes pushes him back against the cage.
Joyce wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fernandes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Joyce just stands there and leans against the cage.
Joyce is trying to force a seperation but Fernandes has the dominant position.
Fernandes prevents Joyce from breaking the clinch.
Fernandes jumps guard but Joyce stands there with Fernandes around his waist. Fernandes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fernandes has Joyce pressed against the cage, preventing Joyce from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Joyce wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Joyce is trying to push Fernandes away but Fernandes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Joyce wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fernandes has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyce tries to break free but Fernandes pushes him back against the cage.
Fernandes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Joyce's efforts to push away.
Joyce controlling the action here for a moment.
Fernandes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Joyce tries to break free but Fernandes pushes him back against the cage.
Joyce can't break the clinch.
Joyce has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fernandes jumps guard but Joyce stands there with Fernandes around his waist. Fernandes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

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.
Joyce wants to break free but Fernandes has control.
Joyce is trying to break the clinch but Fernandes has him pressed against the cage.
Fernandes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Joyce's efforts to push away.
Joyce tries to break the clinch but Fernandes is controlling the position.

Fernandes has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Joyce uses from the top position.
Joyce prevents Fernandes from getting back to his feet.
Joyce loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joyce postures up in Fernandes's guard and throws a big left but Fernandes blocks it.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Fernandes manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Joyce has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Joyce wants to get back to striking at distance but Fernandes won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efren Joyce dominated that round.
That's time! Joyce's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fernandes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Joyce avoids it really well and circles away.
Joyce drops down looking for a counter takedown but Fernandes sprawls and moves away.
Fernandes looks for a takedown but Joyce sprawls well.
Fernandes shoots in looking for a takedown. Joyce tries to sprawl out of it but Fernandes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Joyce manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Efren Joyce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matheus Fernandes.
Fernandes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Joyce counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernandes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Joyce tries to avoid it but Fernandes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Joyce to the ground. Joyce escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Joyce feinted with a counter takedown.
Fernandes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Joyce is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fernandes can do to turn this around?
Fernandes is breathing heavily.
Fernandes goes for a double leg but Joyce avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Joyce continues to drive forward.

Joyce closes the distance and pushes Fernandes back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyce working hard to break the clinch.
The referee calls for Joyce to work.
Joyce wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fernandes prevents Joyce from breaking the clinch.

Joyce breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matheus Fernandes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Joyce.
Fernandes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Joyce pinned against the cage. Joyce gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fernandes closes the distance and clinches up with Joyce, looking for a takedown. Fernandes pushes Joyce against the cage but Joyce circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Joyce drives through and clinches with Fernandes against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Joyce walks away with a smile on his face. Fernandes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Joyce moves into the clinch successfully.
Joyce tries to circle away but Fernandes has him pinned against the cage.
Joyce stalling.

Joyce breaks from the clinch.
Fernandes takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Matheus Fernandes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fernandes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Joyce tries to avoid it but Fernandes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Joyce to the ground. Joyce escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Joyce can't break the clinch.
Joyce can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joyce escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fernandes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fernandes shoots in looking for a takedown but Joyce manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fernandes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Joyce throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Fernandes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fernandes.
Joyce attempts a counter takedown but Fernandes avoids it well and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Joyce. No joy for Fernandes on that attempt.
Joyce scores with a nice head shot.
Fernandes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Joyce swivels and escapes.
Joyce uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fernandes has time to react.

Joyce closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Joyce's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Joyce is trying to break free.
Fernandes letting Joyce take a breather here.
Joyce wants to break the clinch but can't.
Joyce has had enough of the clinch but Fernandes keeps him there for the moment.
Joyce looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fernandes tries to pull guard but Joyce holds him up against the cage and eventually Fernandes drops back down to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joyce tries to break free but Fernandes pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efren Joyce dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Joyce shoots in for a takedown but Fernandes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fernandes feints the counter takedown.
Fernandes misses with a takedown attempt - Joyce sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fernandes tries for a takedown but Joyce sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Joyce keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Efren Joyce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matheus Fernandes.
Fernandes takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Joyce is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernandes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joyce sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fernandes somewhat.
Joyce attempts a counter takedown but Fernandes avoids it well and moves away.

Joyce pushes Fernandes up against the cage in a clinch.
Fernandes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Joyce wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fernandes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Joyce's efforts to push away.
Fernandes avoiding damage as Joyce throws knees to the body.
Joyce tries to circle away but Fernandes has him pinned against the cage.
Joyce wants to break the clinch but can't.
Joyce has had enough of the clinch but Fernandes keeps him there for the moment.
Joyce wants to get back to striking at distance but Fernandes won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Joyce has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fernandes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Joyce's efforts to push away.
Fernandes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Joyce tries to break free but Fernandes pushes him back against the cage.
Fernandes fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Joyce manages to break the clinch.
Fernandes darts in looking for a takedown but Joyce gets double underhooks and turns Fernandes into the cage.
Joyce wants to clinch up but Fernandes keeps it at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Joyce. No joy for Fernandes on that attempt.
Joyce tries to counter with a takedown but Fernandes is quick to defend against it.
Joyce tries to land a front kick but Fernandes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Fernandes with the counter takedown but Joyce avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyce changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fernandes tries to avoid it but Joyce manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fernandes to the ground. Fernandes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown but Joyce shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Joyce shoots in but Fernandes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fernandes looks for a takedown but Joyce sprawls well.
Joyce tries to close the distance and clinch but Fernandes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fernandes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Fernandes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joyce sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fernandes somewhat.
Joyce is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Fernandes.
Fernandes shoots in for a takedown but Joyce shows good takedown defense.
Joyce tries to clinch there but Fernandes circles away.
Efren Joyce is winning the standup battle so far.
Joyce wants to clinch up but Fernandes keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes shoots in but Joyce avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Joyce attempts a counter takedown but Fernandes avoids it well and moves away.
Joyce keeps Fernandes at a distance using the push kick.
Fernandes shoots in looking for a takedown but Joyce manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fernandes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Joyce.
Fernandes fails to land the takedown.
Joyce shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fernandes but Fernandes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Joyce drives through and clinches with Fernandes against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Efren Joyce showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Joyce, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Efren Joyce!