PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Hilaire (ranked 4380 p4p, 4243 weight class) and Felipe Cunha (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.

Hilaire
vs
Cunha

182 cm
23
245
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
245
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Benjamin Hilaire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Felipe Cunha!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hilaire paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Felipe Cunha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cunha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cunha cracks Hilaire with a good jab.
Hilaire avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hilaire takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hilaire shoots in looking for a takedown but Cunha manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hilaire's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hilaire fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hilaire circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cunha misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sloppy strikes from Cunha. Those never looked like landing.
Cunha lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cunha.
Hilaire tries to bum rush Cunha with a series of wild strikes but Cunha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Hilaire feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cunha is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Hilaire dives into side control.
Cunha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hilaire. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cunha is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunha struggling a bit here.
Hilaire lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Cunha down.
Cunha trying to remain calm as Hilaire controls from the top position.

Hilaire decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cunha to his feet.
Cunha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cunha tries to clinch up but Hilaire circles away and keeps his distance.
Cunha tries to clinch there but Hilaire circles away.

Cunha tries to sprawl but Hilaire drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hilaire works his way into full mount!
Cunha looks winded!
Hilaire postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cunha looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hilaire content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hilaire works his way to his opponent's back.
Cunha just trying to survive but Hilaire is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Hilaire looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Cunha taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Benjamin Hilaire!