PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo De Lima (ranked 1948 p4p, 213 weight class) and Ribaraoi Tawaivuna (ranked 4239 p4p, 350 weight class). De Lima comes into the arena with Linkin Park - Numb blaring out of the sound system. Rodrigo De Lima has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

De Lima
vs
Tawaivuna

178 cm
26
145 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
157 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Urban Fighter

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodrigo De Lima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ribaraoi Tawaivuna!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from De Lima.
Tawaivuna is trying hard to land a takedown here. De Lima sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tawaivuna doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tawaivuna takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tawaivuna is on the wrong end of a nice combination from De Lima.
De Lima lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
De Lima scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A cross from De Lima lands.
De Lima goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Tawaivuna looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've been told by De Lima's head coaches at Panda Sprawl n Brawl that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rodrigo De Lima has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ribaraoi Tawaivuna.
De Lima lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Tawaivuna backs up against the cage.
Tawaivuna darts in looking for a takedown but De Lima gets double underhooks and turns Tawaivuna into the cage.
A jab from De Lima finds it's way through Tawaivuna's defenses.
De Lima fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tawaivuna shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts De Lima as he jumps to the side.
Ribaraoi Tawaivuna seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tawaivuna misses with a takedown
and Tawaivuna takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
De Lima fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tawaivuna avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Lima cracks Tawaivuna with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
De Lima stalks Tawaivuna and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tawaivuna's face. Tawaivuna staggers backwards, shaken.
A right-left combo lands from De Lima.
De Lima swinging wildly here.
Tawaivuna shoots for a takedown but De Lima saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Tawaivuna drives through with a takedown into guard.
De Lima is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tawaivuna looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De Lima seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
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!
De Lima is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tawaivuna is controlling him.
De Lima bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tawaivuna's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Lima looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
De Lima pushes down on Tawaivuna's leg and manages to get into half guard.
De Lima perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tawaivuna wants to get back to full guard.
De Lima controlling the pace.

Tawaivuna looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
De Lima wants to free his trapped foot but Tawaivuna is holding on for dear life with his legs.
De Lima sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tawaivuna is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! De Lima is tapping! Great win for Tawaivuna!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:11 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ribaraoi Tawaivuna!