PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zica Brava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaien Cao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brava kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Chimaira - Nothing Remains. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Brava
vs
Cao

168 cm
21
142 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Hades ®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zica Brava!
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, Kaien Cao!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brava wants to clinch but Cao slips to the side

and Cao decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Brava's guard.
Cao is looking to work some ground and pound but Brava has wrist control.
Cao trying to control but Brava is working from the bottom.
Brava keeping full guard, as Cao tries to pass.
Cao sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Brava knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cao on the ground.

Cao has gone for a leg lock! Brava slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cao's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brava controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Brava wants to control from the top but Cao keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Zica Brava wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cao throws a looping overhand right but Brava ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cao throws a leg kick
and Brava counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Brava fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cao has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Brava with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Brava misses with a head kick.

Brava has taken the fight to the clinch.
Brava lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Brava.
Cao tries to score a body lock takedown but Brava shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cao is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Brava gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Brava pushes Cao back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Brava can't find room to land a body shot as Cao controls the action.
Cao is trying to stall.
A short uppercut from Brava.
Brava lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cao drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Brava gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Zica Brava has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaien Cao.
Brava makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cao is working for takedown but Brava is calmly controlling the position for now.
Brava cracks Cao with a nice body shot.
Cao looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Brava.
Nice body punch from Cao - that landed with a thud.
A short right from Brava on the inside.
Cao swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Brava lands a body shot.
Brava misses with some punches.
Brava lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cao backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cao creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cao wants to break the clinch but can't.
Brava misses with a short punch on the inside.
Brava lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cao or not.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Brava.
Brava works on Cao's body with a couple of short punches.
Brava has a couple of punches blocked by Cao.
Brava lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cao backwards.
Brava digs a right hand underneath Cao's ribcage. Cao let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short uppercut from Brava.
Cao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Brava works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Brava stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Brava lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cao backwards.
Brava lands a hook that snaps the head of Cao backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cao.
Brava lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cao.
Cao looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Brava lands a body shot.
Brava makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Brava.
A body shot lands from Brava.
Brava lands a hook that snaps the head of Cao backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right handed body shot lands from Brava.
Brava works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Brava pushes Cao back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Brava lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cao backwards.
Brava digs a right hand into Cao's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cao's gas tank.
A hook to the body from Brava.
Brava lands a right hand.
Brava is leaning against Cao and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Brava lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cao backwards.
A short body shot lands from Brava as the two fighters clinch.
Brava lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Brava lands an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Brava scores with a nice short uppercut.
Brava lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Brava.
Brava digs a right hand underneath Cao's ribcage. Cao let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Brava working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Brava.
Brava lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Brava lands a shoulder strike.
Brava scores with a shoulder strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A right handed body shot lands from Brava.
Brava pushes Cao back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Brava works on Cao's body with a couple of short punches.
Brava lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cao backwards.
Brava lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cao is looking to break free of the clinch but Brava has double underhooks.
Brava lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zica Brava dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cao keeps the fight on the outside.
Brava throws a head kick but Cao moves out of range.
Brava scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Brava.
Brava misses with a kick to the body.
Brava steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cao.
Brava is looking to clinch but Cao is avoiding it.
Cao looks to land a combination but Brava avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brava tries to close the distance and clinch but Cao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brava avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sloppy strikes from Brava. Those never looked like landing.
Cao keeps the fight on the outside.
Zica Brava seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brava lands with a shot to the body.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Brava here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Cao doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Brava lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cao throws a right hand that misses
and Brava counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Brava, right into the meat.
Zica Brava is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cao swats away the attempt to clinch by Brava.
Brava tries to clinch but Cao is having none of it.
Brava blocks a jab.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Brava.
Brava is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cao avoids the body shot from Brava.
Brava thuds a left hand into Cao's body.
Brava lands with a good body shot.
Brava throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cao stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Brava tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cao manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Brava plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
An inside leg kick lands from Brava.
Brava tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Brava tries to clinch up but Cao circles away and keeps his distance.
Cao gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Brava.
Cao throws a jab but it's blocked by Brava.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Brava finds it's way through Cao's defenses.
Brava with a nice cross.
Brava moves in looking to clinch but Cao pushes him off.
A slapping body kick lands there for Brava.
Brava misses with a combination
and Cao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cao cracks Brava with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cao displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Brava throws out the jab.
Cao tries to close the distance and clinch up but Brava swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Brava connects with a looping right hand.
Brava tries to clinch but Cao is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brava tries to land a front kick but Cao steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cao rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Brava counters with a one-two to the body.
Cao misses with a straight left.
Brava tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Brava throws a sloppy body shot
and Cao counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cao misses with a looping left.
Brava fakes the leg kick and cracks Cao in the body.
That kick from Brava tenderised Cao's leg. Cao is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cao wants to land a leg kick but Brava is out of range.
Some wild striking there from Cao.
Brava throws a wild body kick that Cao sees coming a mile off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zica Brava 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Brava bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cao walks into a jab.
Zica Brava is winning the standup battle so far.
Cao throws a poor cross that misses
and Brava counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cao takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Brava swinging wildly here.
Cao blocks a head kick by Brava.
Good exchange - Brava coming out on top.
Cao misses with a lunging right hand
and Brava makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Brava is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cao can do to turn this around?
Cao avoids the head kick by Brava.
Cao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Brava was well out of range. Poor timing from Cao.
Cao moves in looking to clinch but Brava pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cao misses with a hook.
Brava is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Brava cracks Cao with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Brava scores with a leg kick.
Brava throws a body punch but Cao moves out of range.
Brava throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Brava.
That kick from Brava tenderised Cao's leg. Cao is trying to keep his angry face on.
Brava pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cao staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cao misses with a lunging right hand
and Brava counters with an inside leg kick.
Brava throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cao avoids the head kick by Brava.
Cao throws a leg kick
and Brava counters with a nice leg kick.
Zica Brava is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Donk. Brava catches Cao right on the button with a cross.
Brava throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Brava swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cao with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Brava fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cao, pushing him back against the cage.
Brava lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cao misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cao misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cao has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Brava is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cao blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Brava working aggressively here.
Brava lands a shoulder strike.
Brava working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cao.
Cao stalling in the clinch but Brava improves position.
Brava lands a body punch.
Cao wants a takedown.
Cao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cao tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zica Brava has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaien Cao.
Cao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Brava lands a body shot.
Brava lands an uppercut.
Brava lands a body punch in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Brava.
Zica Brava has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Brava lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cao or not.
A body shot lands from Brava.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Brava.
Brava works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Brava working aggressively here.
Brava lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cao or not.
Brava lands a right hand.
Cao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cao misses with a punch to the body.
Cao swings wildly with an uppercut but Brava uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good body shot from Brava.
Cao has a couple of punches blocked by Brava.
Brava is leaning against Cao and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Brava digs a right hand into Cao's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cao's gas tank.
A left hand lands to the body for Brava.
A right hand to the body from Brava.
Brava lands a nice shot to the body.
Brava lands a nice shot to the body.
Kaien Cao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A body shot lands from Brava.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zica Brava showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Brava, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zica Brava!