PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Icaro Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave O Keeffe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Oliveira
vs
O Keeffe

188 cm
18
169 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

182 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Icaro Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave O Keeffe!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliveira looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
O Keeffe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

O Keeffe clinches with his opponent.

O Keeffe has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Oliveira is trying to keep an underhook but O Keeffe manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Oliveira looking for a kimura from the bottom but O Keeffe passes into side control!
Oliveira is looking for a sweep.
O Keeffe has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Oliveira!
O Keeffe lands a big shot there that rocks Oliveira but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
O Keeffe sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Oliveira is desperately trying to improve his position but O Keeffe has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Keeffe controlling the position easily from mount.
O Keeffe in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
O Keeffe with a couple of short strikes.
Oliveira knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for O Keeffe on the ground.
Oliveira working to try and regain half guard.
O Keeffe sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Oliveira is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Oliveira is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Oliveira is breathing heavily.
O Keeffe looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oliveira tries to lock up and control but O Keeffe gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Oliveira is wriggling around trying to escape.
O Keeffe controlling from the full mount.
Oliveira working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Keeffe breaks from Oliveira's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oliveira is wriggling around trying to escape.
Oliveira taking shots to the head.
O Keeffe lands a heavy elbow.
Oliveira can't escape the position.

O Keeffe stands up from mount. Strange move.
O Keeffe swats away the attempt to clinch by Oliveira.
Icaro Oliveira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Keeffe circles away from the clinch attempt
and O Keeffe counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Oliveira tries to close the distance and clinch but O Keeffe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oliveira misses with a series of wild punches.

Oliveira gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows O Keeffe to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

O Keeffe gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

O Keeffe scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Oliveira is trying to get back to half guard.
O Keeffe cracks Oliveira with a big right hand but Oliveira just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
O Keeffe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
O Keeffe advances to full mount.
Oliveira wants to control but O Keeffe is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave O Keeffe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

O Keeffe looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Oliveira tries to clinch but O Keeffe moves out of range.
Oliveira misses with a takedown

and O Keeffe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by O Keeffe.
O Keeffe seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

O Keeffe stands and steps away. Oliveira gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Excellent takedown into side control there by O Keeffe.
O Keeffe sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Oliveira is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oliveira dodges the ground and pound from O Keeffe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira tries to buck O Keeffe off but O Keeffe is having none of it.
Oliveira gets back to half guard.
O Keeffe drops an elbow to the side of Oliveira's head.
Oliveira blocking the ground and pound attempt from O Keeffe.
O Keeffe prevents Oliveira from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Oliveira shoots and misses

and O Keeffe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Oliveira wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
O Keeffe tries to pull guard but Oliveira won't allow it.
O Keeffe dodges an elbow strike from Oliveira.

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.
O Keeffe has Oliveira pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Oliveira manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
O Keeffe keeps control of Oliveira as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

O Keeffe wants the takedown. Oliveira is fighting it off but O Keeffe persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Oliveira's guard against the cage.
O Keeffe sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dave O Keeffe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Oliveira is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst O Keeffe is controlling him.
O Keeffe stopping the sweep attempt from Oliveira.
O Keeffe looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oliveira is working an open guard so O Keeffe takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Oliveira doesn't manage to clinch there - O Keeffe circles away.
Oliveira has his takedown stuffed
and O Keeffe counters with a body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Icaro Oliveira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oliveira throws a hook but O Keeffe avoids it easily.

O Keeffe shoots in and bounces Oliveira off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Oliveira is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Oliveira pulls O Keeffe in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Keeffe landing some decent shots from guard.
Oliveira keeping moving, preventing O Keeffe from controlling successfully.
O Keeffe prevents Oliveira from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave O Keeffe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Oliveira drives through and clinches with O Keeffe against the cage.
Oliveira can't break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Oliveira scores with a nice short uppercut.
O Keeffe changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Oliveira fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Oliveira tries to close the distance and clinch up but O Keeffe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Oliveira has his takedown stuffed

and O Keeffe counters with a takedown into side control.
O Keeffe taking a breather here.
Oliveira is looking for a sweep.
O Keeffe in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira wants to get back to his feet but O Keeffe drags him back down.
O Keeffe advances to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oliveira really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Oliveira is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
O Keeffe controlling the pace for now.
Oliveira wants to control but O Keeffe is having none of it.
Oliveira can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
O Keeffe lands with some strikes.
Oliveira can't escape the position.
Oliveira is trying to stand.
O Keeffe looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oliveira really wants to buck O Keeffe off and get back to his feet.
Oliveira can't escape the position.
O Keeffe with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Keeffe controlling the position easily from mount.
Oliveira keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
You get the feeling that Oliveira really doesn't like being in this position too much.
O Keeffe controlling from mount.
Oliveira wants to hold on but O Keeffe pushes him away.
O Keeffe controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four 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.
Oliveira is wriggling around trying to escape.
Oliveira is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Oliveira tries to hold on but O Keeffe postures up.
O Keeffe trying to control but Oliveira is having none of it.
Icaro Oliveira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
O Keeffe controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave O Keeffe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got O Keeffe winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave O Keeffe!