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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joao Cajo Branca (ranked 296 p4p, 239 weight class) and Thiago Araujo (ranked 43 p4p, 36 weight class). Branca kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is original score medley. Joao Cajo Branca has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 194 cm
28
267
19 - 10 - 0 |
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193 cm
35
285
25 - 23 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Cajo Branca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Araujo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
As Araujo looks to move away, Branca throws a big counter combo but Araujo just gets out of the way.
Branca drops his hands momentarily and Araujo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Branca has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Chakuriki LA Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Araujo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Branca sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thiago Araujo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Araujo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Joao Cajo Branca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Araujo.
Araujo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Araujo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Branca but Branca pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Araujo has his takedown stuffed
and Branca counters with a body kick.
Araujo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Branca defends well and Araujo ends up having to push Branca into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Branca.
Branca jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Branca is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Araujo.
Araujo tries to move into range but Branca moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Branca throws a solid leg kick but Araujo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Branca.
Araujo closes the distance and clinches.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo tries to pull guard but Branca won't allow it.
Araujo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Branca uses from the top position.
Branca controlling from the top position.
Branca has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Araujo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Branca doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Branca manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Branca stopping the sweep attempt from Araujo.
Branca controls from within his opponent's guard.
Branca slips nicely into half guard.
Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branca is trying to control. Araujo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Branca prevents Araujo from improving his position.
Araujo wants to control but Branca is keeping busy.
Araujo is trying to get back to full guard.
Araujo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Branca pulls his head out easily.
Branca knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Araujo on the ground.
Branca content to control rather than advance.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Branca.
Branca wants to control but Araujo is keeping him busy.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo gets full guard.
Branca not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Branca got a little sloppy there for a moment and Araujo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Branca has managed to get both his arms back between Araujo's legs - danger averted.
Branca scoring with punches to the head and body.
Branca stopping the sweep attempt from Araujo.
Branca showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Araujo has control of Branca's left arm, preventing Branca from doing any damage.
Araujo is trying to keep Branca in close.
Araujo is looking for a triangle here but Branca uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Araujo is looking to reverse the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branca happy to just control the position for now.
Araujo tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Araujo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Araujo wants to get back to full guard.
Branca slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
Araujo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Branca is working away from the top position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Joao Cajo Branca dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Branca looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Araujo with the counter takedown but Branca avoids it easily.
Araujo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Araujo lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Branca keeping full guard, as Araujo tries to pass.
Araujo drops back looking for a leg! Branca is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Branca manages to kick Araujo off! Araujo jumps back into Branca's guard.
Branca is trying to keep Araujo in close.
Branca is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branca's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Araujo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Branca is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Araujo, into his guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Branca avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Araujo wants to sweep here but Branca controlling him for the moment.
Branca sitting in guard here, content to control.
Araujo has his foot on Branca's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Branca works his way back into a safe position though.
Araujo looking to control.
Araujo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Branca controls the pace.
Araujo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Branca escapes and throws Araujo's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Araujo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Branca wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo keeps trying to improve his position.
Branca is looking to take a break and control but Araujo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Branca moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Araujo wants to control but Branca postures up.
Branca 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.
Araujo is not content to let Branca control the position.
Araujo is looking for a sweep.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branca staying calm.
Araujo is not content to let Branca control the position.
Branca controls the position.
Araujo is not content to let Branca control the position.
Araujo gets back to half guard.
Araujo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Branca pulls his head out easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Araujo tries to get to full guard but Branca has control of the leg.
Araujo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Araujo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Branca defends it easily.
Araujo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Branca stays in close to Araujo's body and controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Araujo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Branca defends well.
Branca avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Thiago Araujo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Araujo fails to land with a series of punches.
Branca misses the shot to the body.
Araujo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Branca was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Araujo tries for a takedown but Branca circles away easily
and Branca counters with a nice uppercut.
Araujo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Branca sprawls well initially but Araujo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Araujo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Araujo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thiago Araujo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Branca wants to improve his position but Araujo is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo thows a huge punch but Branca dodges it nicely.
Araujo wants to control but Branca is keeping him busy.
Araujo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Branca sees it coming and defends easily.
Araujo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo wants to work for an arm triangle but Branca is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Branca is trying to stand up here but Araujo is controlling him well.
Branca is pressing down on Araujo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Branca looking to hit a scissor sweep but Araujo is one step ahead there.
Araujo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Branca is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Araujo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Branca is adopting a defensive guard.
Branca controls Araujo momentarily but Araujo frees himself.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Araujo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Araujo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Araujo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Branca is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Araujo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Branca's waist but Branca gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Araujo off to one side.
Joao Cajo Branca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Araujo.
Branca lands a really nice looking cross but Araujo seems unphased.
Araujo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Branca circles away.
Araujo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Branca defends well and Araujo ends up having to push Branca into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Araujo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A little feinted left hand from Branca on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Araujo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Branca scores with a sloppy right hand. Araujo should have avoided that one.
Branca moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Branca avoids it really well and circles away.
Joao Cajo Branca is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Araujo shoots and misses
and Araujo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joao Cajo Branca is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Branca tries to throw a body punch but Araujo avoids it by throwing Branca back against the cage.
Branca blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Branca tries a body shot but Araujo blocks it.
Branca misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right from Branca on the inside.
Branca tries a body shot but Araujo blocks it.
Branca lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Branca tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Araujo's elbow.
A short body shot lands from Branca as the two fighters clinch.
Branca tries a body shot but Araujo blocks it.
Branca tries to throw a body punch but Araujo avoids it by throwing Branca back against the cage.
Branca lands with a short punch from the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Branca scores with a nice short uppercut.
Branca wants to stall.
Araujo tries to pull guard but Branca forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Araujo trying to control the position but instead, Branca has worked for underhooks and has pushed Araujo into the cage.
Branca tries a body shot but Araujo blocks it.
Branca misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Araujo fails to pull guard.
Branca lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Branca tries to stall but Araujo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Araujo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Branca smiles and moves away.
Araujo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Branca thuds a left hand into Araujo's body.
Araujo lands a jab to the head.
And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Cajo Branca showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Branca has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Cajo Branca!
Joao Cajo Branca was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
32% |
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