PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paxton Becker (ranked 4639 p4p, 3937 weight class) and Rapha Berimbolo (ranked 390 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Becker
vs
Berimbolo

175 cm
18
165
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paxton Becker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rapha Berimbolo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Winston Howard and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Becker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Berimbolo pinned against the cage. Berimbolo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Becker tries to bum rush Berimbolo with a series of wild strikes but Berimbolo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Berimbolo misses with a double jab.
Becker is looking for a counter combo.

Berimbolo moves into the clinch successfully.
A bit of stalling here from Berimbolo.
Berimbolo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Becker tries to circle away but Berimbolo has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Becker tries to break free but Berimbolo pushes him back against the cage.

Berimbolo gets control of Becker's arms and successfully pulls guard. Berimbolo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Berimbolo controlling Becker's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berimbolo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Becker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Becker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Berimbolo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Becker manages to get himself to full guard.

Becker looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berimbolo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Becker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Berimbolo stays in close to Becker's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berimbolo advances position into side control!
Becker is breathing heavily.
Berimbolo advances to mount.
Berimbolo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Becker is in all sorts of trouble here.

Berimbolo working for a guillotine from mount but Becker is in no mood to give up.
Becker is bucking up trying to escape but Berimbolo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berimbolo controlling the pace for now.
Berimbolo landing strikes, looking to finish!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Berimbolo stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Berimbolo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Berimbolo is thwarting Becker's attempts to control the position.
Becker is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Hybrid MMA, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Berimbolo is looking for a kimura here.
Berimbolo slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Berimbolo is working for a submission of some sort.

Berimbolo stands up and beckons Becker to join him on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rapha Berimbolo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Berimbolo instigates a clinch.

Berimbolo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Becker regains guard.
Berimbolo landing with the ground and pound.
Berimbolo looking to pass the guard.

Berimbolo stands up from Becker's guard - Berimbolo perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Becker scores with a takedown into Berimbolo's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Berimbolo is pulling down on Becker's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berimbolo is looking for a triangle but Becker pushes his legs off easily.
Becker trying to control the position from guard on top but Berimbolo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Becker wants to get up but he can't break Berimbolo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Berimbolo pulls Becker in close to prevent any damage.
Berimbolo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Berimbolo is continuing to stall.
Becker trying to control but Berimbolo is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Berimbolo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Berimbolo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berimbolo slips a nice elbow through Becker's hands, connecting with Becker's forehead.
Berimbolo controlling the pace.
Becker trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Berimbolo in particular looking to stall.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rapha Berimbolo has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Berimbolo pushes Becker up against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Berimbolo gets control of Becker's arms and successfully pulls guard. Berimbolo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Berimbolo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Becker's guard.

Berimbolo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rapha Berimbolo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Becker is looking to clinch.

Becker gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Berimbolo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Berimbolo is working Becker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Berimbolo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The adventures of Berimbolo the control monster continue. Boring.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berimbolo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Berimbolo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berimbolo postures up and lands a big shot to Becker's brow.
Berimbolo landing with the ground and pound.
Berimbolo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Berimbolo working away.
Berimbolo lands a nice forearm strike.

Berimbolo decides to stand back up.
Berimbolo tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berimbolo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Berimbolo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Berimbolo slips a nice elbow through Becker's hands, connecting with Becker's forehead.
Berimbolo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Berimbolo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berimbolo wants to free his trapped foot but Becker is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Berimbolo escapes and gets back to his feet.

Becker gets tackled into the cage by Berimbolo. Berimbolo maintains the clinch.
Berimbolo landing knees to the head.

Berimbolo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Berimbolo clinches up with Becker and pushes him back against the cage.

Berimbolo manages to break the clinch.

Berimbolo has managed to clinch.
Berimbolo has Becker pushed against the cage.
Becker is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Berimbolo decides to pull guard.
Berimbolo has Becker pulled in close to control his posture.
Berimbolo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Becker manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Berimbolo postures up and lands a big shot to Becker's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rapha Berimbolo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Berimbolo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 26:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rapha Berimbolo!