PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cian Sullivan (ranked 4400 p4p, 24595 weight class) and Bruna Faria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cian Sullivan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sullivan
vs
Faria

165 cm
18
150
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
140
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Cian Sullivan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bruna Faria!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Faria as he avoids it easily.
Faria looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Sullivan tries to clinch up

and Faria counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sullivan won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faria is looking to take a break and control but Sullivan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sullivan tries to improve position but can't.
Faria wants to control but Sullivan is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sullivan struggling a bit here.
Sullivan tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faria is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sullivan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sullivan wants to control but Faria postures up.

Faria is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sullivan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sullivan is trying to get back to half guard.
Sullivan controls the position for a moment.
Sullivan is not content to let Faria control the position.

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.
Faria tries to move to mount but Sullivan blocks the move with his legs.
Faria working away.
Sullivan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Faria wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sullivan avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Faria.
Faria remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
It looks like Faria might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sullivan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've been informed that Faria has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
A combination from Sullivan does no damage.
Sullivan fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cian Sullivan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sullivan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Faria defends it nicely.
A shot to the liver by Sullivan. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Faria drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sullivan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Faria on the ground.
Sullivan can't do much from the bottom here.
Sullivan is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Sullivan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Faria landing a few strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sullivan trying his best to control but Faria has mounted him.
Sullivan tries to lock up and control but Faria gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruna Faria dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Faria stuffs the takedown.
Sullivan is looking to clinch but Faria is avoiding it.
Sullivan shoots in for a double leg but Faria sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Faria has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sullivan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Faria pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cian Sullivan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Faria bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sullivan tries to bench press Faria off him but Faria keeps the position.
Faria is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sullivan wants to control but Faria postures up.
Sullivan tries to bench press Faria off him but Faria keeps the position.

Faria thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan tries to buck Faria off but Faria is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Faria decides to stand back up.
Faria stuffs the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Faria on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Faria as he jumps to the side.
Cian Sullivan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sullivan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Faria throws a right and a left that both miss.

Faria looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Faria prevents Sullivan from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan is working hard here to advance position.
Sullivan missing with punches from the bottom.
Faria trying to control the action but Sullivan is working from the bottom.
Faria is thwarting Sullivan's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faria trying to control the pace.
Faria has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sullivan tries to get to full guard but Faria has control of the leg.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Faria keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sullivan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Faria swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Faria shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sullivan is trying to defend but Faria finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faria tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sullivan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Sullivan actively working from the bottom here.
Faria performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Faria prevents Sullivan from improving his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruna Faria showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sullivan shoots in for a takedown but Faria shows good takedown defense.

Faria has managed to clinch.

Sullivan is fighting off a takedown attempt but Faria is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sullivan to the mat. Sullivan regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sullivan working a defensive guard here.
Faria stopping the sweep attempt from Sullivan.
Sullivan is wriggling around but Faria manages to pass to half guard.

Sullivan is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Faria has latched onto it... Big trouble! Faria pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Sullivan is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Faria!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bruna Faria!