PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Caulo Posta (ranked 1617 p4p, 3187 weight class) and Alex Poatan (ranked 189 p4p, 343 weight class). Poatan has chosen The rock Hollywood theme as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Posta
vs
Poatan

185 cm
21
202
4 - 1 - 0

193 cm
23
196
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Caulo Posta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Poatan!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Posta throws a leg kick that is checked
and Poatan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Poatan pushes Posta up against the cage in a clinch.
Poatan trying to land knees to the body.
Posta prevents Poatan from breaking the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The referee calls for Poatan to work.
A head punch on the inside from Posta fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poatan takes a shot to the head.
Poatan wants to break the clinch but can't.

Poatan is fighting off a takedown attempt but Posta is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Poatan to the mat. Poatan regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Posta content to stall in guard here.
Poatan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Posta is controlling him.
Posta controlling from the top position.
Poatan throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Poatan is trying to control the position but Posta postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Posta drops back looking for a leg! Poatan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Poatan manages to kick Posta off! Posta jumps back into Poatan's guard.

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.
Posta slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Caulo Posta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Posta closes the distance and clinches.
Poatan creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Poatan leaning his opponent against the cage.
Posta is working Poatan over against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Poatan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Posta is working Poatan over against the cage.
Poatan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Posta throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The referee is keeping an eye on Posta - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Poatan is looking to break free of the clinch but Posta has double underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Posta.

Posta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Poatan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Posta moves into the clinch successfully.
Poatan trying to control the position but instead, Posta has worked for underhooks and has pushed Poatan into the cage.
Posta tries to score a body lock takedown but Poatan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Posta misses with a body punch.
Poatan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Posta lands with a short head shot on the inside.

It looks like Alex Poatan has been cut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Posta - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Posta just leaning against Poatan, taking a breather.
Poatan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Poatan tries to work over Posta's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Posta has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Poatan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Posta breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Caulo Posta dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Poatan's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Posta gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Poatan.
Posta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Posta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Posta swats away the attempt to clinch by Poatan.
Posta looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Poatan wants to clinch.
Posta is looking to counter the offense by Poatan and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Posta throws a head kick that misses.
Poatan throws a combination. Posta tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Poatan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Posta is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Posta loads up on a big right hand but Poatan slips the punch.
Poatan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Posta wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Posta. Poatan shrugs it off though.
A slapping leg kick lands for Posta.

Posta forces Poatan back against the cage and clinches.
Poatan working aggressively here.
Poatan is looking to break free of the clinch but Posta has double underhooks.
Posta lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Poatan backwards.

Posta is trying to trip Poatan. He has hold of a leg but Poatan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Posta persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Posta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Poatan can do to turn this around?
Posta slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Posta has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poatan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Posta is controlling him.
Posta is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Caulo Posta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Posta feints and then cracks Poatan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Poatan down.
Posta throws a sloppy body shot
and Poatan counters with a two punch combo.
Posta scores with a spinning back kick!
Posta throws a front kick aimed at Poatan's knee but Poatan avoids it well.
Posta swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Posta keeps the fight on the outside.
Poatan lands a leg kick that knocks Posta off balance momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Posta looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Poatan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alex Poatan seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Poatan instigates a clinch.
Posta has Poatan pressed against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Posta.
A right hand to the body from Posta.
Poatan is trying to force a seperation but Posta has the dominant position.
Poatan letting Posta take a breather here.
Posta 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poatan can't break the clinch.

Posta decides to pull guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Caulo Posta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex Poatan's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Posta throws a one two combo.
Poatan doesn't manage to clinch there - Posta circles away.
Posta tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Poatan manages to circle out of the way.
Posta works Poatan's body with a nice hook.
Posta lands with a kick to the ribs.

Posta closes the distance and clinches.
Posta lands a right hand.
Poatan trying to land knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Posta.
Poatan is struggling to control the position.
Posta changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Poatan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Poatan moves in looking to clinch but Posta pushes him off.
Posta seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Posta bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Posta moves into range and clinches up with Poatan.
Posta has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Poatan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Poatan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Postas head.

Posta breaks the clinch.
Poatan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Posta paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Poatan connects with an inside leg kick.
Posta throws the kick towards the body but Poatan avoids it.
Poatan is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Posta throws a leg kick but Poatan sees it coming and moves out of range.
Poatan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Posta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Posta is looking to slow Poatan down with leg kicks.

Posta clinches up against the cage.
Posta is working for takedown but Poatan is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caulo Posta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Posta blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Poatan comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Poatan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Posta blocks an elbow strike.
Poatan throws a punch but it's blocked by Posta.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Posta has Poatan pressed against the cage, preventing Poatan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Posta wants to take the fight to the mat but Poatan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Posta lands with a left to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Posta takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Poatan has Posta pressed against the cage.
Poatan landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Posta's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Posta tries to score a body lock takedown but Poatan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Poatan lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Posta.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Posta is pushing Poatan up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Posta pulls guard.
Caulo Posta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Poatan wanted to stand there but Posta had control of the position.
Posta seems keen to control Poatan's posture.
Poatan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Posta's guard.
Alex Poatan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Posta pulls Poatan in close to prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caulo Posta showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Posta 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caulo Posta!
Caulo Posta took some time post fight to say the following; 'The division problem is back, do you want a streak of how many wins to give me a chance at the belt?'.
Alex Poatan was interviewed post fight and said 'It is what it is'.