PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eduardo Pina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Rafao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafao has chosen Sandstorm as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Pina
vs
Rafao

180 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Pina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Rafao!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rafao gets caught flat footed, as Pina shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rafao wants to stand and escape but Pina is having none of it.
Pina looking to pass the guard.

Pina has gone for a leg lock! Rafao slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pina's guard.
Rafao slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rafao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rafao gets to his feet - Pina follows without any prompting.
Rafao will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rafao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pina misses with a double jab
and Rafao counters with a nice body kick.
Pina throws a wild body kick that Rafao sees coming a mile off.
Pina lands a nice hook to Rafao's body. Rafao takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rafao shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pina as he avoids it easily.
Pina looks to throw a body kick

and Rafao counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Rafao stands and steps away. Pina gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rafao looks gassed!
Rafao takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rafao gets caught flat footed, as Pina shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pina passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Pina has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Pina throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rafao counters with a left and a right that stings Pina.
Pina misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A punch combination from Pina misses.
Pina misses with a double jab.
Pina moves in looking to clinch but Rafao pushes him off.
Pina punishes Rafao's body with a nice straight punch.
Pina avoids the head kick by Rafao.
Pina tries to clinch but Rafao is having none of it.
Pina tries to clinch there but Rafao circles away.
Pina tries to clinch up.
Pina lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rafao circles away quickly and effectively.
Rafao scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pina looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pina bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rafao is not content to let Pina control the position.

Pina tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pina has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rafao is looking for a sweep.

Pina is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rafao knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rafao is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Pina is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pina wants to control but Rafao is keeping him busy.
Rafao should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rafao is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Pina is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Pina frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rafao has given up his back here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pina looking for the choke but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Pina has his opponent's back but Rafao is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Pina.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eduardo Pina dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pina misses with a body kick.
Pina throws a push kick but Rafao slaps the foot to one side.
Pina moves in looking to clinch but Rafao pushes him off.
Pina tries to clinch up but Rafao circles away and keeps his distance.
Pina throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rafao lets loose with a powerful body kick. Pina will feel that in the morning.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rafao!
Pina throws a lazy body kick
and Rafao counters with a stiff right hand.
Rafao fails with the takedown.
Rafao misses with a takedown attempt

so Pina counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pina works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pina controlling the action here.

Pina is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafao wants to control but Pina is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rafao wants to get back to full guard.

Pina is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rafao is just riding it out for now. Pina eventually gives up the hold.

Rafao kicks Pina off and gets back to his feet.
Pina avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rafao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Pina fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rafao sprawls well initially but Pina persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rafao wants to get back to full guard but Pina has passed into side control.
Rafao wants to hold on but Pina pushes him away.
Pina controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rafao tries to lock up and control but Pina gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Eduardo Pina overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pina working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafao wants to try and get back to his feet.

Pina goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rafao is on top in guard.

Pina has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rafao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rafao content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rafao is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rafao wants to pass the guard but Pina is keeping the position.

That's four 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.

Rafao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Pina looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rafao has picked Pina up and slammed him! Pina can't keep hold of the triangle and Rafao manages to pass to side control!
Rafao trying to control the position but Pina is working away.
Rafao tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Pina parries the strikes from Rafao easily there. Rafao is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Pina to escape.
Pina is not content to let Rafao control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eduardo Pina dominated that second round.
That's time! Pina's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pina misses with a double jab.

Pina shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Pina seems to be working for a kimura but Rafao defends the submission attempt.
Rafao is pressing down on Pina's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Pina drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rafao looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rafao looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rafao!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pina wants to control but Rafao postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pina is trying to get back to half guard.
Rafao working away.

Rafao is trying to get an arm triangle but Pina is defending well.
Rafao in the domination position with Pina hanging on.

Rafao stands up and beckons Pina to his feet.

That's two 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.
Rafao moves out of range as Pina throws a body kick.
Pina throws a lazy body kick
and Rafao counters with a left and a right that stings Pina.
Rafao takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pina throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Rafao counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pina's guard now.
Pina is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pina looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rafao trying to control but Pina is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pina has his foot on Rafao's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rafao works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rafao content to stall in guard here.
Rafao wants to get up but he can't break Pina's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rafao throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pina pulls Rafao in close to his closed guard and prevents Rafao from doing any damage or advancing position.

Rafao decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pina, up you get!
Rafao pivots, looking for a leg kick but Pina is out of range and Rafao settles back down.
Pina looks to land a combination. Rafao sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pina misses the shot to the body.
Pina misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rafao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rafao falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pina counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Pina stops Rafao from standing up.
Rafao is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Rafao is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rafao keeping moving, preventing Pina from controlling successfully.
Rafael Rafao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Eduardo Pina.
Well Pina has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eduardo Pina!