PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Minicucci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Renato Sobral will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Minicucci
vs
Sobral

185 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joseph Minicucci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Renato Sobral!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minicucci swats away the attempt to clinch by Sobral.
Sobral wants to clinch up but Minicucci keeps it at a distance.

Minicucci clinches up with Sobral and pushes him back against the cage.
Minicucci has Sobral pushed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Minicucci avoiding damage as Sobral throws knees to the body.
Minicucci on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sobral tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Minicucci avoids it.
Sobral stops a takedown attempt from Minicucci.
Minicucci manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.
Minicucci avoiding damage as Sobral throws knees to the body.

Minicucci escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sobral clinches but Minicucci breaks the clinch

and Minicucci counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sobral's guard now.
Minicucci trying to control the position from guard on top but Sobral is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sobral wants to get back to his feet but Minicucci is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Minicucci controls from within his opponent's guard.
Minicucci passes Sobral's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sobral kicks Minicucci off and gets back to his feet.
Sobral tries to clinch up

and Minicucci counters with a takedown into side control.
Minicucci is looking to take a break and control but Sobral is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Minicucci is trying to get an arm triangle but Sobral is defending well.

Minicucci decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Minicucci.
Minicucci is breathing heavily.
Sobral tries to clinch up

and Minicucci counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sobral tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Minicucci avoids it.
Sobral tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Minicucci avoids it.

Minicucci manages to break the clinch.
Sobral tries to clinch up

and Minicucci counters with a single leg into guard. Sobral didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Minicucci trying to control the position from guard on top but Sobral is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sobral has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Minicucci off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Minicucci shoots in looking for a takedown. Sobral tries to sprawl out of it but Minicucci keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sobral manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Minicucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobral closes the distance but Minicucci moves to the side
and Minicucci counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobral closes the distance but Minicucci moves to the side

and Minicucci counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Minicucci.
Minicucci won't allow Sobral to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minicucci trying to control the position from guard on top but Sobral is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sobral has his feet on Minicucci's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Minicucci keeps the fight on the outside.
Sobral tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Minicucci counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Renato Sobral is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sobral wants to clinch but Minicucci slips to the side

and Minicucci counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Minicucci controlling the action here.
Minicucci thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sobral's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minicucci works his way into side control.
Sobral wants to get back to his feet.
Sobral is not content to let Minicucci control the position.
Minicucci is really struggling to control Sobral but he's trying to hold on to the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Minicucci wants to stand but Sobral has his arm trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sobral tries to clinch

and Minicucci counters by clinching up.
Minicucci looking for a takedown.

Minicucci's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sobral displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Minicucci.
Minicucci throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sobral's waist but Sobral gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Minicucci off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Minicucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Minicucci swats away the attempt to clinch by Sobral.
Sobral wants to clinch but Minicucci slips to the side

and Minicucci holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sobral tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Minicucci avoids it.
Minicucci blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.
Minicucci blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sobral tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Minicucci avoids it.
Sobral tries to land knees in the clinch but Minicucci avoids the damage to the body.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.
Sobral avoiding damage.
A right hand to the body from Minicucci.
Minicucci tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sobral tries to land knees in the clinch but Minicucci avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobral tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Minicucci avoids it.

Minicucci successfully pulls guard.
Sobral wants to get up but he can't break Minicucci's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Minicucci controls Sobral momentarily but Sobral frees himself.
Minicucci looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sobral is one step ahead there.
Minicucci is working hard here to advance position.

Sobral decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sobral tries to clinch there but Minicucci circles away.
Sobral tries to clinch up but Minicucci circles away and keeps his distance.
Sobral tries to clinch

and Minicucci decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sobral's guard.
Joseph Minicucci overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sobral pushes Minicucci off and gets back to his feet.

Sobral gets caught flat footed, as Minicucci shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Minicucci prevents Sobral from getting back to his feet.
Minicucci passes Sobral's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Minicucci decides to stand up.
Minicucci scores with a spinning back kick!
Minicucci swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sobral wants to clinch but Minicucci slips to the side

so Minicucci counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Sobral scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sobral closes the distance but Minicucci moves to the side
and Minicucci counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sobral is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minicucci shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Minicucci tries a head kick but it misses.
Sobral tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Minicucci counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Minicucci.

Minicucci jumps into guard, dragging Sobral to the mat.

Sobral gets to his feet. Minicucci looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Minicucci shoots in and drives through. Sobral sprawls well.
Sobral closes the distance but Minicucci moves to the side

and Minicucci counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sobral is trying to stand.
Minicucci looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Minicucci is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sobral is trying to stand back up but Minicucci is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobral is refusing to be controlled, as Minicucci sits in half guard.

Minicucci seems to be looking for submissions.
Minicucci tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sobral tries to clinch but Minicucci moves away

and Minicucci counters by moving into the clinch.

Minicucci has hold of one of Sobral's legs. Sobral is fighting the takedown attempt but Minicucci gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sobral manages to escape and get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sobral closes the distance but Minicucci moves to the side

and Minicucci decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sobral's guard.
Sobral wants to stand and escape but Minicucci is having none of it.
Sobral is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Minicucci dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sobral wants to clinch

and Minicucci counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sobral wants to get back to his feet.
Minicucci is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Minicucci trying to control the action but Sobral is working from the bottom.
Minicucci is nestled in close to Sobral, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sobral is trying to stand up here but Minicucci is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Minicucci clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minicucci'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.
Minicucci blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Minicucci jumps guard.
Minicucci bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sobral's guard.
Minicucci stops Sobral from standing up.

Sobral has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Minicucci off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Sobral clinches but Minicucci breaks the clinch

so Minicucci counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Minicucci trying to control but Sobral is working from the bottom.
Minicucci tries to free his leg and advance position but Sobral is retaining full guard.

Sobral pushes Minicucci off and gets back to his feet.
Sobral tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Minicucci counters with a thumping low kick.

Minicucci has Sobral up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minicucci breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Minicucci tries to clinch up but Sobral circles away and keeps his distance.
Sobral tries to clinch but Minicucci moves away

and Minicucci counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sobral has one foot on Minicucci's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Sobral tries to clinch up

and Minicucci counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sobral!

Minicucci is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sobral to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sobral shrugs it off.
Sobral is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Minicucci is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sobral to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sobral shrugs it off.
Minicucci is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sobral can do to turn this around?
Minicucci tries to control but Sobral wriggling away.
Sobral is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Minicucci wants to control the pace but Sobral is squirming around nicely.
Poor strikes thrown by Minicucci there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Minicucci with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four 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.
Sobral is trying to stand.

Minicucci wants to finish this one by submission but Sobral is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Minicucci.
Minicucci trying to control but Sobral is having none of it.
Sobral really wants to buck Minicucci off and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Minicucci wants to control the pace but Sobral is squirming around nicely.
Renato Sobral has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joseph Minicucci is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Minicucci showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Minicucci 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Minicucci!