PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jozue Higeio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastian El Loco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Higeio
vs
El Loco

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
20
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Jozue Higeio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sebastian El Loco!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
El Loco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Higeio with a lazy takedown attempt

and El Loco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by El Loco.
Higeio on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Higeio tries to get out of the position.
El Loco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
El Loco wants to control from the top but Higeio keeps moving.
El Loco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Higeio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Higeio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
El Loco with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
El Loco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
El Loco won't allow Higeio to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
El Loco tries for a takedown but Higeio circles away easily

and Higeio decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in El Loco's guard.
Higeio trying to control but El Loco is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higeio throws a big right hand that misses.
Higeio is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
El Loco keeping moving, preventing Higeio from controlling successfully.
El Loco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Higeio wants to pass the guard but El Loco is keeping the position.
Higeio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
El Loco misses with a takedown

and Higeio counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in El Loco's guard now.
Jozue Higeio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastian El Loco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higeio wants to control from the top but El Loco keeps moving.
El Loco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Higeio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Higeio controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Loco is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Higeio is trying to control but El Loco manages to pass to mount!
El Loco lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Higeio is wriggling around trying to escape.
El Loco landing punches.
Higeio working to try and regain half guard.
The referee warns Higeio that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higeio is trying desperately to improve position.
Higeio is breathing heavily.
El Loco with shots to the head and body - Higeio looks very uncomfortable down there.
El Loco throwing strikes here but Higeio is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
El Loco punishing his opponent with strikes.
Higeio blocking the ground and pound.
Higeio knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for El Loco on the ground.
El Loco lands a big shot there that rocks Higeio but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

El Loco has hold of Higeio's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Higeio manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
El Loco is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Higeio can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian El Loco dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

El Loco shoots and misses

and Higeio counters with a nice double leg into side control. El Loco won't be happy with that.
Higeio working away.
El Loco has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Higeio wants to control but El Loco is keeping him busy.
Higeio lands a nice forearm strike.
El Loco taking punishment in the form of punches.
Higeio is looking to take a break and control but El Loco is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
El Loco is working to avoid the ground and pound but Higeio connects with a decent elbow.
El Loco is breathing heavily.
El Loco is not content to let Higeio control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Higeio shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. El Loco is trying to defend but Higeio finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
El Loco is refusing to be controlled, as Higeio sits in half guard.
El Loco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Higeio seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but El Loco does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Higeio connects with a nice short shot to El Loco's temple.
Higeio wants to advance to full mount but El Loco doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Higeio stopping the sweep attempt from El Loco.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Higeio misses with a takedown attempt

and El Loco counters with a shoot takedown. Higeio fights it but they end up in guard.
Higeio is trying to control the position but El Loco postures up.
El Loco trying to control but Higeio is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Loco preventing the sweep.
Higeio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
El Loco postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
El Loco won't allow Higeio to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Higeio tries for a takedown but El Loco circles away easily

and El Loco decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Higeio's guard.
El Loco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Higeio looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Loco wants to control from the top but Higeio keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells El Loco's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
El Loco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sebastian El Loco has got the better of the ground game so far.
El Loco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
El Loco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Higeio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Higeio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Higeio misses with a takedown attempt
and El Loco cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jozue Higeio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
El Loco with a poor takedown

and Higeio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
El Loco keeping moving, preventing Higeio from controlling successfully.
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 Jozue Higeio will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Higeio misses with a takedown attempt

and El Loco counters with a shoot takedown. Higeio fights it but they end up in guard.
El Loco wants to control from the top but Higeio keeps moving.
Higeio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
El Loco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
El Loco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Higeio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
El Loco postures up in Higeio's guard and throws a big left but Higeio blocks it.
El Loco stands up over Higeio, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Higeio manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
El Loco is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Loco is squirming around, avoiding Higeio's attempts to control the action.
El Loco is wriggling around trying to escape.
Higeio scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish El Loco?
El Loco has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Higeio's lack of action.
Higeio looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
El Loco wants to improve his position but Higeio is controlling well.
Higeio trying to pass the guard but El Loco defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Higeio trying to control the action but El Loco is working from the bottom.
El Loco works his way to full guard. Good work.
Higeio trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but El Loco manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
El Loco throwing strikes but missing.
Higeio lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for El Loco!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higeio is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. El Loco can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Higeio trying to control but El Loco is having none of it.
Higeio is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because El Loco is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
El Loco is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.
Higeio can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as El Loco is looking to escape.
Higeio scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish El Loco?
Higeio can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as El Loco is looking to escape.
Higeio lands a big elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Higeio trying to control but El Loco is having none of it.
Higeio in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sebastian El Loco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well El Loco 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sebastian El Loco!