PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harlin Faliaygo (ranked 4381 p4p, 4479 weight class) and Aaron Newport (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Faliaygo
vs
Newport

181 cm
18
184
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
172
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harlin Faliaygo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Newport!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faliaygo throws a lazy head kick
and Newport counters with a right hand to the body.
Faliaygo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Newport wants to counter with a clinch but Faliaygo pushes him away.
Faliaygo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Newport was well out of range. Poor timing from Faliaygo.
Newport moves into range and connects with a jab.
Faliaygo throws a lazy head kick
and Newport counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Newport connects with a nice looking jab.
Newport avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Faliaygo tries a head kick but it misses.
Newport thuds a left hand into Faliaygo's body.
Newport lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Faliaygo throws an off balance right hand
letting Newport counter with a right hand.
Faliaygo wants to slow Newport down by chopping away at his legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Newport lands a jab to the nose.
Faliaygo throws a low kick but Newport moves out of range easily.
Newport lands with a hook. Faliaygo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Faliaygo darts in and clinches Newport up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Newport is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Faliaygo can't fight it off and eventually Newport manages to take the fight to the floor. Faliaygo looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Newport trying to control the position from guard on top but Faliaygo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Faliaygo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Newport doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Newport manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Newport looking to pass the guard.
Newport postures up in Faliaygo's guard and throws a big left but Faliaygo blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faliaygo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Newport defends it easily.
Faliaygo thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Newport trying to control the position from guard on top but Faliaygo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Faliaygo misses with a lunging right hand
and Newport cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Newport digs a good hook to Faliaygo's body.
Faliaygo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Newport scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Newport lands a lovely overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faliaygo throws a low kick, looking for Newport's leg but Newport calmly moves out of range.
Faliaygo misses with a body kick.
Newport is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Faliaygo had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Newport lands a slapping body shot.
Newport is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Faliaygo gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Newport counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Faliaygo throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Newport to counter with a crisp jab.
Faliaygo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Faliaygo looks to clinch
enabling Newport to counter with a crisp jab.
Newport thuds his right hand into Faliaygo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Faliaygo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Newport connects with a right hand. Faliaygo shakes it off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Newport connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Faliaygo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Newport lands with a shot to the body.
Faliaygo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Faliaygo. Those never looked like landing.

Newport closes the distance and clinches.
Faliaygo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A frustrated look appears on Newport's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Newport wants to stall.
Faliaygo tries a body shot but Newport blocks it.
Faliaygo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Faliaygo tries to throw a body punch but Newport avoids it by throwing Faliaygo back against the cage.
Faliaygo stalling.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Faliaygo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Newport's elbow.
Faliaygo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Faliaygo misses with a body punch.
Newport working hard to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Newport dominated that round.
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.

The fight stays on the outside here - Faliaygo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Faliaygo misses with a leg kick
and Newport makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Newport has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Newport checks a low kick from Faliaygo.
Faliaygo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Newport counters with a nice uppercut.
Faliaygo throws a sloppy body shot
and Newport cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Newport throws a good cross that connects.
Newport lands a jab to the nose.

Newport darts in and clinches Faliaygo up against the cage.
Faliaygo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Faliaygo misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faliaygo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Faliaygo struggles to land a body shot inside as Newport controls his hands.
Faliaygo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Faliaygo tries a body shot but Newport blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newport prevents a body shot from Faliaygo.
Faliaygo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Faliaygo prevents Newport from breaking the clinch.
Faliaygo has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Newport's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Newport lands a nice shot that snaps Faliaygo's head back.
Faliaygo tries to work over Newport's front leg with a kick but Newport checks it.
Faliaygo thows a leg kick but Newport checks it
and Newport counters with a stiff right hand.
Faliaygo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Faliaygo throws a leg kick
and Newport counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Faliaygo misses with a leg kick.
Faliaygo throws a head kick that misses.
Newport drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Faliaygo defends it well.
Jab by Newport.

Newport clinches up with Faliaygo and pushes him back against the cage.
Faliaygo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Newport's efforts to push away.

Newport successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faliaygo advances to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Newport wants to control but Faliaygo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Faliaygo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Faliaygo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Newport can do anything to dispel that myth.

Faliaygo stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Newport jabs at Faliaygo's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newport scores with a nice strike.
Faliaygo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Faliaygo throws a body kick, spinning off balance
enabling Newport to counter with a crisp jab.
Faliaygo throws a poor cross that misses
letting Newport counter with a right hand.
Faliaygo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Faliaygo throws a leg kick but Newport moved away.
Aaron Newport seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Newport lands with a hook. Faliaygo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Newport fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Faliaygo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Faliaygo misses with a shot to the body
and Faliaygo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Newport lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A head kick misses from Faliaygo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Newport throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Faliaygo on the side of the head.
Newport scores with a nice right hand.
Newport checks a leg kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faliaygo misses with a double jab
and Newport counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Faliaygo tries to close the distance and clinch but Newport swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Newport connects with a right hand. Faliaygo shakes it off.
Faliaygo throws a body kick that misses
and Newport counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Newport scores with a nice right hand.
Faliaygo throws a lazy head kick
and Newport counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Newport connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Faliaygo momentarily.

Newport closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Faliaygo tries to throw a body punch but Newport avoids it by throwing Faliaygo back against the cage.
Faliaygo misses with a body punch.
Faliaygo controlling the action here for a moment.
Newport can't get the takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Newport showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Faliaygo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Faliaygo misses with the body kick
and Newport cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Newport scores with a body shot.
Newport moves out of range of the strikes.
Newport scores with a punch to the head.
Newport throws out a powerful jab.
Faliaygo throws a lazy uppercut
and Newport counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Faliaygo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Faliaygo takes one to the chin there.
Faliaygo tries a head kick but it misses.

Faliaygo moves into the clinch successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Faliaygo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Faliaygo misses with some punches.
Faliaygo gets underhooks to prevent Newport's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newport tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Faliaygo smiles and moves away.
Faliaygo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Newport throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Faliaygo on the side of the head.
Faliaygo throws a series of punches but Newport avoids them all with ease.
Faliaygo misses with a hook
enabling Newport to counter with a crisp jab.
Newport scores with a decent looking hook.
A low kick from Faliaygo is predictable there
and Newport counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice straight punches there by Newport. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Newport.
Newport smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Faliaygo throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Newport counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Faliaygo thinking.
Newport swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Faliaygo.
Newport scores with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Newport throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newport connects with a nice looking jab.
A shot to the body from Faliaygo misses
and Newport counters with a straight right hand.
Newport checks a low kick from Faliaygo.
Faliaygo throws a head kick that misses
and Newport counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Newport lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Faliaygo throws a push kick but Newport slaps the foot to one side.
Faliaygo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Faliaygo throws a poor cross that misses
and Newport counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Newport closes the distance and pushes Faliaygo back into the cage.
Newport tries to circle away but Faliaygo has him pinned against the cage.
Newport is trying to pull guard but Faliaygo has him pressed against the cage.
Harlin Faliaygo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Newport.
Faliaygo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Newport tries to circle away but Faliaygo has him pinned against the cage.
Newport has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Faliaygo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newport blocking some punches.
Newport wants to stall.
Newport prevents a body shot from Faliaygo.
Newport is looking for a takedown.

Newport pulls Faliaygo into guard.
Newport looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Faliaygo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Newport takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Faliaygo trying to control from half guard but Newport is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faliaygo works his foot free and advances to mount.
Newport is squirming around, avoiding Faliaygo's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Newport comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Newport winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Newport!