PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ireneo Requina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Mara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mara has chosen Rickety Cricket as his entrance music. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Requina
vs
Mara

182 cm
21
185 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
180 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

[JMFC] 160!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ireneo Requina!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matthew Mara!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mara misses with a body shot.
Requina misses with a shot to the body
and Mara counters with a right hand to the body.
Mara swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Requina connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Requina swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mara swings away with a body shot that misses
and Requina counters with a series of strikes. Mara will be more careful next time no doubt.
A swing and a miss from Mara.
Mara is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Requina.
Requina misses with a jab to the body
and Mara counters with a stiff right hand.
Mara misses with a jab to the body
and Requina counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mara takes a swing at Requina's ribcage but misses.
Requina lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mara circles away quickly and effectively.
Mara misses with a shot to the body
and Requina counters with a right hand to the body.
Requina swinging wildly here.
Requina throws a leg kick that misses.
Requina moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Requina wants to land a leg kick but Mara is out of range.

Requina scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Requina working away.
Requina misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mara is trying to improve his position.
Mara defending against the ground and pound.
Requina lands some shots froms side control.
Requina working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Requina cracks Mara with a big elbow.
Mara is looking for a sweep.
The strikes coming from Requina are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Requina misses with the ground and pound.
Requina advances nicely into full mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Requina there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mara is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Mara wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Requina.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Requina wants to control the pace but Mara is squirming around nicely.
Mara avoids a series of strikes thrown by Requina.
Requina tries to control but Mara wriggling away.
Requina looking to ground and pound but Mara is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Requina trying to control but he's not successful this time.

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.
Mara tries to buck Requina off but he can't manage it.
Mara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Requina throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Requina trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Requina thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ireneo Requina dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mara moves in looking to clinch but Requina pushes him off.
Mara is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Requina rather than just go for the knockout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Requina takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mara moves to clinch but Requina breaks away

and Requina counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mara's guard now.
Requina wants to control from the top but Mara keeps moving.
Requina pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mara is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mara is looking to stand up but Requina isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Requina controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Requina loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Requina loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Requina pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mara is keeping the position for now.
Requina slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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.

Ireneo Requina has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Mara fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ireneo Requina is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Requina circles away from the clinch attempt.
Requina slips a jab from Mara.

Requina moves into the clinch.
Mara goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Requina manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Requina is looking to stand back up but Mara counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Requina.
Mara with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Requina kicks off Mara and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Requina fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mara manages to avoid it.
Mara misses with a body shot.
Requina scores with a jab to the body.
Requina takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Requina throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mara counters with a right hand to the body.
Requina misses with a wild body shot.
Mara swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Requina counters with a straight right hand.
Requina throws out a powerful jab.
Mara throws a jab when Requina was well out of range.
Matthew Mara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Requina keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mara lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nice defenses there by Requina.
Mara misses with a body shot

and Requina counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Requina wants to control from the top but Mara keeps moving.
Mara wants to sweep but no luck.
Requina working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Requina trying to control but Mara is working from the bottom.
Requina sitting in guard here, content to control.

Ireneo Requina has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Requina. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ireneo Requina dominated that second 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.

Requina throws a right hand that Mara ducks under and follows up with a left that Mara also avoids with ease.
Mara lands with an uppercut that bounces Requina off the cage and back into rage.
Requina misses the body punch
and Requina takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mara lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mara just misses with a punch to the body.
Requina fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mara manages to avoid it.
Mara lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Mara looks to land a right hand but Requina moved out of range.
Mara misses with an uppercut
and Requina counters with a nice body shot.
Requina misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Mara counters with a stiff right hand.
Mara connects with a body shot.
Mara fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Requina manages to avoid it.
Mara throws a sloppy body shot
and Requina counters with a slapping leg kick.
Mara fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Requina.
Mara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Requina.
Requina slips under a jab.
Mara misses with an uppercut
letting Requina counter with a right hand.

Mara takes the fight into the clinch.
Requina pushes Mara back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Requina has a couple of punches blocked by Mara.
A hook to the body from Requina.
Mara tries to stall but Requina uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Requina presses Mara against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Requina throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Requina breaks the clinch.
Mara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Requina paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mara takes a swing at Requina's ribcage but misses.
A punch lands to the side of Requina 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Requina takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mara tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Requina counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Requina wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mara takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mara swings widly with a right hand
and Requina counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Requina is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Requina throws a combination that misses
and Mara counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Requina misses with a shot to the body
and Mara counters with a straight right hand.
Requina uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mara.
Requina changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Requina. Mara does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matthew Mara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mara's jab looks to have found its range, popping Requina under the eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Requina keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Requina moves away.
Mara tries to clinch up.
Mara swings widly with a right hand
and Requina counters with a nice uppercut.
Mara avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A telegraphed right hand from Mara misses the target.
Mara throws an off balance right hand
and Requina counters with a nice body shot.
Mara misses with a right hand
and Requina connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mara checks a low kick from Requina.
Mara wants to clinch but Requina slips to the side

and Requina counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mara wants to stand but Requina is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mara is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Mara trying to stall but Requina improves his position.
Mara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Requina's elbow.
Still in the clinch, Requina scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mara working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Requina tries a body shot but Mara blocks it.
Requina stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Mara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mara stalling in the clinch but Requina improves position.
Requina softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mara misses with a punch to the body.
Requina is working for takedown but Mara is calmly controlling the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mara prevents a body shot from Requina.
Requina misses with a hook to the ribs.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mara blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ireneo Requina clearly takes that 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.

Requina swats away the attempt to clinch by Mara.
Requina ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mara moves away.
Mara avoids the body shot from Requina.
Mara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Requina paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mara misses with a hook to the body

and Requina counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mara tries to roll over but Requina keeps him under control.
Ireneo Requina overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mara looks like he's trying to stand up.
Requina throws a strike but Mara avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Requina trying to control the position from guard on top but Mara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Requina trying to move into half guard but instead Mara has managed to sweep!
Requina has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Requina pushes Mara off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Mara has managed to clinch.
Mara works on Requina's body with a couple of short punches.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
The referee calls for Mara to work.
Mara misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Requina changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mara fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mara thows a body shot but no joy.
Mara defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Requina.
Mara misses the jab.
Mara misses with a wild body shot.
Mara digs a good hook to Requina's body.
Requina drops his hands momentarily and Mara takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Requina misses with a shot to the body
and Mara counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Requina takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mara with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Requina takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mara is looking to clinch.
Requina takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Requina gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mara connects with a body shot that sends Requina's belly button to the back.
Mara throws a body punch but Requina moves out of range.
Mara throws a body punch but Requina moves out of range.
Requina keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mara punishes Requina's body with a nice straight punch.
Good standup being displayed there by Mara as he connects with a hook.
Mara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Requina circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mara throws a looping overhand right but Requina ducks down to avoid it.
Requina keeps the fight on the outside.
Requina misses with a body shot
and Mara counters with a nice body shot.
Requina misses with a left hand
and Mara counters with a stiff right hand.

Requina is rocked!
Mara batters Requina with a massive right followed by a huge left! Requina is out on his feet looking like a zombie as Mara lands a final crushing right hand to drop Requina to the mat with a gruesome thud! Mara is running around like a mad man after that fight and for good reason!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Matthew Mara!
Matthew Mara is the new welterweight champion!