PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Solo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and matt champion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). champion has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Solo
vs
champion

173 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 Amsterdam, Raphael Solo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, matt champion!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solo stuffs the takedown attempt from champion. champion gets slowly back to his feet.
champion keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Solo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as champion throws out the jab.
Solo has a takedown stuffed.
Solo has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Solo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Solo gets a takedown into half guard.
Solo is taking a breather. champion says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if champion can do anything to dispel that myth.
champion is staying active underneath Solo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Solo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
champion has given up his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solo wants to control but champion is keeping busy.

champion showing good submission defense here.
Solo controls the action.
Solo controlling well, preventing champion from escaping the position.
champion looks gassed!
Solo has good solid back control here.

Solo tightening his grip on champion, looking for the choke.

Solo working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Solo has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, champion has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Solo struggling to keep hold of the position.

Solo is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
champion looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Solo tries to keep control of the position but champion is staying busy.
What can champion do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Solo is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but champion has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solo keeps control of the position easily here as champion tries to buck him off.

Solo working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
champion looking very determined here, making life difficult for Solo.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Raphael Solo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Solo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts champion as he jumps to the side.
Solo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with champion but champion pushes him off and we're back to square one.
champion looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solo shoots for a takedown but champion saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
champion darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
champion stuffs the takedown attempt from Solo. Solo gets slowly back to his feet.
champion fails to land with a series of punches.
Solo fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Solo.
Solo shoots for a takedown but champion saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Solo shoots in and drives through. champion sprawls well.
Solo fails with a takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from champion.
champion throws an overhand right that lands on Solo's shoulder, as Solo tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Solo dominated that round.
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.

Solo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says champion as he avoids it easily.
Jab from champion.
Solo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Solo slips a jab from champion.

Solo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Solo wants to control from the top but champion keeps moving.
Solo is stalling in the full guard.
champion is breathing heavily.
Solo is pushing down on champion's leg trying to pass to half guard. champion is fighting to maintain full guard but Solo has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solo moves nicely into side control.

Solo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Solo trying to control the action but champion is working from the bottom.
Solo advances to mount.

Solo is going olschool here, as he tries to force champion to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so champion shrugs it off.
champion is desperately trying to improve his position but Solo has a good base and remains in mount.
champion really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Solo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Solo wants to finish this one by submission but champion is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Solo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solo works his way to his opponent's back.

champion is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

champion preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Solo.
Solo wants to control but champion is keeping busy.

champion won't enjoy being in this position. Solo looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - champion is tapping - it's over boys! Solo picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Raphael Solo!