PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Fabinho (ranked 1025 p4p, 1682 weight class) and Kobe Bryant (ranked 159 p4p, 249 weight class). Fabinho comes to the cage accompanied by Glowed Up - Kaytranada. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Fabinho
vs
Bryant

193 cm
27
200
9 - 5 - 1

184 cm
27
195
11 - 11 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Carnage

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roberto Fabinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Fabinho misses its intended target.

Fabinho has Bryant up against the cage in a clinch.
Fabinho goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bryant prevents it.

Bryant breaks from the clinch.
Bryant tries a head kick but it misses.
A leg kick checked by Fabinho.
Fabinho swings for the body but Bryant moves out of range.
Fabinho tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bryant sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fabinho somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fabinho wants to clinch.
Fabinho on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fabinho feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bryants jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Fabinho has Bryant up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bryant as Fabinho tries to tie him up.
Fabinho tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bryant's elbow.
Bryant is trying to break free.
Fabinho wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roberto Fabinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fabinho gets through Bryant's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Bryant breaks from the clinch.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bryant lands with a slapping head kick.
Fabinho throws a nice looking combination but Bryant bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bryant scores with the left hand. Fabinho knows he should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Fabinho.
Fabinho looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bryant throws a head kick but Fabinho moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bryant throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fabinho slips a jab and a cross from Bryant.
Fabinho lands a lovely overhand right.
A big left from Fabinho misses.
Bryant misses with the combination.
Fabinho throws a combination. Bryant tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Kobe Bryant has been cut.
Bryant digs a good hook to Fabinho's body.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses.
Donk. Fabinho catches Bryant right on the button with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Fabinho throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fabinho lands a body shot.
Bryant pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fabinho attempts a counter takedown but Bryant avoids it well and moves away.
Roberto Fabinho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fabinho digs a good body shot into Bryant's ribs.
Bryant throws a left and a right that both miss

and Fabinho counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Bryant!
Fabinho is looking to take a break and control but Bryant is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fabinho is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bryant has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fabinho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bryant keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fabinho is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bryant knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bryant pushes Fabinho away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Fabinho gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Fabinho is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bryant knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bryant is not content to let Fabinho control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Roberto Fabinho will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kobe Bryant's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fabinho misses with a hook.
Nice shot lands for Fabinho.
Fabinho just misses with a punch to the body.
Bryant takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bryant misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bryant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bryant connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Fabinho is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Fabinho has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bryant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bryant is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bryant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fabinho thuds a left hand into Bryant's body.

Fabinho takes the fight into the clinch.
Fabinho prevents Bryant from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant prevents a body shot from Fabinho.
Fabinho can't find room to land a body shot as Bryant controls the action.
Bryant blocking some punches.

Bryant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bryant throws a right hand that Fabinho ducks under and follows up with a left that Fabinho also avoids with ease.
Fabinho throws the left hand but Bryant avoids the punch easily.
Bryant throws a head kick but Fabinho moves out of range.
Fabinho cracks Bryant with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kobe Bryant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fabinho shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fabinho is keen to just control but Bryant is a slippery customer.

Fabinho is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bryant sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fabinho is working for a kimura but Bryant is defending it quite comfortably.
Fabinho is keen to just control but Bryant is a slippery customer.
Bryant has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Bryant is doing well to control the position and prevent Fabinho from advancing to side control.
Bryant wants to get back to his feet.
Nice strikes from Fabinho there.
Fabinho not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fabinho working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fabinho is keen to just control but Bryant is a slippery customer.
Fabinho not doing much here.
Bryant is trying to stand up here but Fabinho is controlling him well.
Fabinho lands strikes from half guard.

Fabinho looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bryant tries to roll over but Fabinho keeps him under control.

That's four 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.
Fabinho wants to pass the guard but Bryant is defending well.
Bryant looks like he's trying to stand up.
Fabinho is looking to advance position but Bryant won't allow it.

Bryant actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fabinho is trying to work for a kimura but Bryant is defending well.
Roberto Fabinho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fabinho is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Fabinho dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kobe Bryant's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bryant throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kobe Bryant seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Decent striking displayed by Bryant there.
Fabinho throws a jab when Bryant was well out of range.
As Fabinho backs off Bryant throws a huge counter combo but Fabinho manages to avoid it all.
Nice sprawl there from Bryant as Fabinho shoots in.

Fabinho gets tackled into the cage by Bryant. Bryant maintains the clinch.
Fabinho has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bryant after a bit of a struggle.

Bryant breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fabinho misses with a body shot.
Fabinho throws a big shot that misses.
Bryant ducks under a wild hook from Fabinho.
Bryant is looking for the big counter here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryant throws a nice head kick!
Bryant stuffs the takedown attempt from Fabinho. Fabinho gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roberto Fabinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bryant pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bryant uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fabinho.
Bryant takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Fabinho displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bryant throws a low kick but Fabinho moves out of range easily.
Fabinho connects with a nice looking jab.
Fabinho bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bryant's head backwards.
Bryant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fabinho goes for a double leg but Bryant avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bryant continues to drive forward.
Bryant is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Bryant breaks the clinch.
Good shot there by Fabinho.
Fabinho scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bryant in his tracks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fabinho misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Fabinho misses.
Fabinho misses with a hook. Bryant ducked under it nicely.
Bryant is looking for the big counter here.
Fabinho avoids the head kick by Bryant.
Bryant ducks under a wild hook from Fabinho.
Fabinho lands with a right hand.
Bryant swinging wildly here.
A left and a right from Bryant both land. Nice combination.
Fabinho moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bryant looks to land a combination but Fabinho avoids it well.
A slow jab from Bryant misses its intended target.
Fabinho changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fabinho throws a body punch but Bryant moves out of range.
Bryant does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Bryant.
Fabinho misses with an uppercut.
Bryant raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Bryant slips a straight right by Fabinho.
Bryant's corner calls for a 1-2. Bryant obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Bryant scores with a jab.
Bryant connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bryant throws a low kick but Fabinho avoids it.
Bryant takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bryant lands a head kick. Fabinho smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Bryant 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bryant throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fabinho.
Fabinho misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bryant.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bryant.
Fabinho fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bryant manages to avoid it.
Bryant takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Fabinho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bryant moves away.
Fabinho misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bryant throws a counter combo.
Fabinho cracks Bryant with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fabinho scores with a jab. Bryant acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Fabinho throws out a powerful jab.
Kobe Bryant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryant misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kobe Bryant.
I think Fabinho 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Roberto Fabinho!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Roberto Fabinho!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Roberto Fabinho!

Roberto Fabinho wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Roberto Fabinho thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.