PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Rojas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rojas
vs
Tavares

171 cm
19
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
22
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Rojas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Tavares!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rojas takes one on the button.
Rojas shoots in looking for a takedown. Tavares tries to sprawl out of it but Rojas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tavares manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Tavares shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rojas's guard.
Tavares wanted to stand there but Rojas had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rojas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tavares wants to pass the guard but Rojas is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tavares postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rojas is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tavares, into his guard.
Rojas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tavares swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tavares had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rojas defends it easily.
Rojas passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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.
Rojas moves into full mount!
Tavares is squirming around, avoiding Rojas's attempts to control the action.

Tavares defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rojas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares tries to hold on but Rojas pushes him away.
Rojas unloads with some shots from mount but Tavares bucks and avoids them well.
Rojas prevents Tavares from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Rojas looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Tavares tries to hold on but Rojas pushes him away.
Tavares really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rojas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Rojas is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Tavares to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tavares shrugs it off.
Rojas is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tavares tries to lock up and control but Rojas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Rojas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rojas misses with a takedown attempt

and Tavares decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rojas's guard.
Tavares must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Tavares postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rojas is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tavares, into his guard.
Rojas passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rojas tries to move into full mount but can't pass Tavares's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rojas tries for a kimura but Tavares is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tavares struggling a bit here.

Rojas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tavares, who protects the arm well.

That's two 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.
Tavares looks to move to half guard but instead Rojas has passed into mount! Damn!
Tavares wants to hold on but Rojas pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares wants to try and get back to his feet.
Rojas works his way to his opponent's back.
Tavares is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Rojas is persistently looking for the submission but Tavares is defending it well.
Tavares looking very determined here, making life difficult for Rojas.

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.

Rojas is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tavares defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Tavares rolls, trying to escape but Rojas keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paulo Rojas will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tavares scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Paulo Rojas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tavares misses with a two punch combination.
Rojas tries for a takedown but Tavares circles away easily

and Tavares counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rojas won't be happy with that.

Tavares swings around for an armbar but Rojas sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tavares's guard.
Rojas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tavares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rojas stands and throws Tavares's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Tavares's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas tries to score with some ground and pound. Tavares controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Tavares is trying to get back to his feet.

Rojas stands up.
Tavares misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tavares connects with the punch.
Tavares throws a right and a left that Rojas avoids nicely.
Rojas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Tavares counter with a right hand.
Tavares throws a series of strikes that have Rojas backpedaling.
Tavares lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Tavares shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Tavares was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tavares has hold of Rojas's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rojas manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Tavares moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rojas has worked his arm free - good work by Rojas!

Tavares tries for a kimura but Rojas is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Rojas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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.
Paulo Rojas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rojas regains half guard.

Tavares is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rojas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tavares.

Rojas manages to escape and get back to his feet!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Tavares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rojas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Rojas!