PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phoenix comes to the cage accompanied by The Toughest Song In The Universe. Rafael Balboa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Phoenix
vs
Balboa

175 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
134 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

[MMABR]FALCON CLOTHING[†]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Paul Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix is looking to land body kicks.

Phoenix gets a takedown into half guard.
Phoenix content to control rather than advance.
Balboa is looking to control Phoenix's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balboa avoid being mounted?

Balboa looking for submissions off his back.
Still in half guard, Phoenix seems content to control.
Phoenix stops Balboa from getting back to his feet.
Balboa wants to get back to full guard.

Balboa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Balboa trying to control but Phoenix postures up.
Phoenix sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Balboa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Phoenix tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balboa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa trying to hold on to Phoenix's head to control him but Phoenix postures up.
Phoenix looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Phoenix darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Balboa is trying to stand up here but Phoenix is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Phoenix is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Balboa keeping moving, preventing Phoenix from controlling successfully.
Phoenix has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Balboa looking to control.
Phoenix wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
Balboa keeping full guard, as Phoenix tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Balboa has his foot on Phoenix's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Phoenix works his way back into a safe position though.
Phoenix controlling from the top position.
Phoenix knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balboa on the ground.

Balboa is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Phoenix has his hands clasped together but Balboa extends an breaks Phoenix's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Balboa.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rafael Balboa!