|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jonathas Araujo (ranked 3980 p4p, 3416 weight class) and Rafael Soto (ranked 325 p4p, 284 weight class). Soto is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Parkway Drive - Wild Eyes. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
 |
|
 |
| 166 cm
21
140
1 - 0 - 0 |
|
160 cm
31
138
12 - 6 - 0 |
Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine |
|
BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Fast |
|
| |
|
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jonathas Araujo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Soto!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Josh West.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Araujo throws out the jab.
Soto wants to counter with a clinch but Araujo pushes him away.
Soto has closed the distance and engaged Araujo in a clinch.
Araujo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Soto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Soto drags the fight down to the ground.
Araujo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Araujo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Araujo trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Soto manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto trying to control but Araujo is working from the bottom.
Soto looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Araujo wants to sweep but no luck.
Araujo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo keeping moving, preventing Soto from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Soto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Araujo trying to keep a closed guard but Soto is proving a slippery customer.
Araujo definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Araujo pulls Soto in close to prevent any damage.
Soto postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Araujo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Soto, into his guard.
Araujo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Araujo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Soto has escaped the position, nice work there.
Soto is trying to control Araujo's posture but Araujo avoids it.
Araujo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Araujo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Soto is avoiding damage well.
Soto is looking to regain half guard here but Araujo keeps moving and retains side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Araujo works his foot free and advances to mount.
Araujo prevents Soto from getting the reversal.
Araujo wants to finish this one by submission but Soto is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Araujo.
Araujo goes for an armbar but Soto turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Soto.
Soto trying to control but Araujo is working from the bottom.
Soto drops back, looking for a kneebar! Araujo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Araujo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Araujo!
Soto is trying to get back to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araujo swings around for an armbar but Soto sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Araujo's guard.
Araujo wants to sweep here but Soto controlling him for the moment.
Araujo working a defensive guard here.
Soto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Araujo dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Araujo is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Araujo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soto isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Araujo stacks Soto on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Araujo!
Araujo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
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 Jonathas Araujo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Araujo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Araujo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Soto quickly recovers to half guard.
Soto is defending against the submission attempts here by Araujo.
Soto looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto wants to get back to full guard.
Soto actively working from the bottom here.
Soto has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Araujo escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Araujo!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Araujo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Soto keeps working.
Araujo passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Soto!
Araujo throwing strikes here but Soto is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Araujo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Soto is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Soto and Araujo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Araujo is trying to get an arm triangle but Soto is defending well.
Araujo is trying to get an arm triangle but Soto is defending well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Soto is looking for a sweep.
Araujo is trying to get an arm triangle but Soto is defending well.
Araujo works to advance to full mount. Soto defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Soto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Soto tries to hold on but Araujo pushes him away.
Araujo trying to control but Soto is having none of it.
Araujo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soto can do to turn this around?
Araujo is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Soto is in real trouble.
Jonathas Araujo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Soto's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Araujo looking for the RNC.
Araujo looking to break Soto's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Soto remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Araujo will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Araujo is trying to stick to Soto's back but Soto is turning into Araujo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Araujo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Soto.
Araujo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Soto wants to control from the top but Araujo keeps moving.
Araujo looking for a sweep. Not yet Araujo, not yet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto looking to pass the guard.
Araujo pulls Soto in to control the position.
Soto stands and throws Araujo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Araujo tries to improve position but can't.
Araujo can't do much from the bottom here.
Araujo is looking to regain half guard here but Soto keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soto tries for a kimura but Araujo is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jonathas Araujo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Araujo throws out a loose jab but Soto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Soto closes the distance and clinches.
Soto manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Soto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Araujo defends it easily.
Araujo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Araujo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Araujo passes into half guard.
Araujo wants to work for an arm triangle but Soto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Soto wants to control but Araujo is keeping busy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto won't allow Araujo to pass to mount.
Araujo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Soto sees it coming and defends easily.
Araujo is pressing down on Soto's thigh, looking to free his foot. Soto is holding on for now.
Soto trying to control but Araujo postures up.
Soto looking for submissions off his back.
Araujo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Soto defends it well.
Araujo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rafael Soto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo fails to advance to Soto's back.
Araujo controlling the position easily from mount.
Araujo takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Araujo tightening his grip on Soto, looking for the choke.
Soto wants to escape the position.
Araujo is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo struggling to keep hold of the position.
Soto defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Soto showing good submission defense here.
Araujo is looking for the choke from the back position but Soto is controlling his hands well.
Soto can't escape the position.
Soto defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Araujo's arms.
Araujo is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araujo is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Araujo 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, Soto has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Soto is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Soto defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Soto tries to escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Araujo looking to break Soto's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Soto remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Araujo will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that's the end of the fight!
Jonathas Araujo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Araujo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathas Araujo!
Our winner, Jonathas Araujo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
30% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
