PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fatih Emir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Finalizador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Emir might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to i kill people. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Emir
vs
Finalizador

185 cm
28
190 lbs
14 - 12 - 1

188 cm
24
194 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 14 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fatih Emir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Finalizador!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finalizador wants to slow Emir down by chopping away at his legs.
Finalizador throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Emir.

It looks like Fatih Emir has been cut.
Emir misses with a jab to the body
and Finalizador counters with a one-two to the body.
Emir just misses with a punch to the body.
Finalizador fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick from Finalizador lands but Emir takes it in his stride.
Emir throws a lazy uppercut

and Finalizador counters with a single leg into guard. Emir didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Finalizador thows a big elbow that misses.
Emir is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emir trying to strike off his back.
Finalizador preventing the sweep.
Emir is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Emir wants to sweep here but Finalizador controlling him for the moment.
Finalizador looking to pass the guard.
Finalizador wants to stand but Emir has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emir working for a triangle but Finalizador defends it easily.
Emir trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Emir throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Emir looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Finalizador has picked Emir up and slammed him! Emir can't keep hold of the triangle and Finalizador manages to pass to side control!

Finalizador decides to stand up, so the ref orders Emir to his feet.
Emir misses with a double jab

and Finalizador counters with a shoot takedown. Emir fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador lands a couple of elbows.
Finalizador passes Emir's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Finalizador takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Finalizador is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Emir is pressing down on Finalizador's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Emir can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Finalizador controls the pace.
Emir looking to control but Finalizador passes into half guard.
Emir wants to sweep but Finalizador has passed to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador cracks Emir with a big right hand but Emir just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Finalizador wants to control but Emir is keeping him busy.
Emir takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Emir tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Emir is squirming around, avoiding Finalizador's attempts to control the action.

Finalizador is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Emir has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Emir!
Finalizador has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Finalizador looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Emir wants to control from the top but Finalizador keeps moving.
Emir throwing strikes from guard but Finalizador blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emir throws a big right hand that misses.
Finalizador looking for a sweep. Not yet Finalizador, not yet.
Emir postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Emir trying to control but Finalizador is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Finalizador is on top in guard.

Finalizador drops back looking for a leg! Emir is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Emir manages to kick Finalizador off! Finalizador jumps back into Emir's guard.

Emir looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emir trying to keep a closed guard but Finalizador is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Finalizador dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fatih Emir's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Finalizador is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Emir's half guard.
Emir missing with punches from the bottom.
Finalizador wants to lay and pray for a moment but Emir keeps working.
Emir wants to control but Finalizador is keeping busy.
Emir is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Emir is trying to get back to full guard.
Emir is trying to maintain the position but Finalizador is very close to passing his half guard.

Emir looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emir throws a strike from the bottom but Finalizador passes into side control!
Emir is looking to reverse the position.

Finalizador decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Finalizador with a poor takedown

and Emir counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Finalizador working for a triangle but Emir defends it easily.
Finalizador is pulling down on Emir's head to control his posture.
Finalizador wants to hit a switch here but Emir passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Finalizador there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emir with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ricardo Finalizador has got the better of the ground game so far.
Emir controlling from the full mount.
Finalizador is desperately trying to improve his position but Emir has a good base and remains in mount.
Finalizador is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Finalizador is squirming around, avoiding Emir's attempts to control the action.

Emir is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Finalizador has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Finalizador!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emir wants to sweep here but Finalizador controlling him for the moment.
Finalizador is pushing down on Emir's leg trying to pass to half guard. Emir is fighting to maintain full guard but Finalizador has managed to sneak the leg through.
Finalizador works his foot free and advances to mount.
Finalizador landing strikes, looking to finish!
Finalizador controlling the position easily from mount.
Finalizador prevents Emir from getting the reversal.
Emir looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Finalizador is looking for the choke from the back position but Emir is controlling his hands well.

Emir showing good submission defense here.
Finalizador keeps control of the position easily here as Emir tries to buck him off.
Finalizador is not going to allow Emir to sit and survive in this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Finalizador has the hooks in. Emir is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Finalizador struggling to keep hold of the position.
Well, with Finalizador on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Emir is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
I really don't envy Emir right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Finalizador showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fatih Emir's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Finalizador shoots in and drives through. Emir sprawls well.
Finalizador uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Emir has time to react.
Finalizador misses with a hook to the body

and Emir counters with a single leg into guard. Finalizador didn't expect that.
Finalizador looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Finalizador keeping moving, preventing Emir from controlling successfully.

Emir got a little sloppy there for a moment and Finalizador has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Emir has managed to get both his arms back between Finalizador's legs - danger averted.

Emir postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Finalizador is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Emir, into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emir trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Finalizador slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finalizador is looking to take a break and control but Emir is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Emir tries to get to full guard but Finalizador has control of the leg.
Finalizador wants to free his trapped foot but Emir is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Finalizador wants to control but Emir is keeping him busy.
Emir is in trouble now - Finalizador has advanced to mount!
Emir tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Emir tries to hold on but Finalizador pushes him away.
Finalizador lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador with good strikes from the mount here!
Emir is trying to reverse the position but instead Finalizador has taken his back - oops!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Emir is really stuck here.
Emir trying to control the position but Finalizador manages to sink in the hooks.
Finalizador tries to keep control of the position but Emir is staying busy.
Emir tries to roll but Finalizador sticks to his back.
Emir breaks Finalizador's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Emir accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Emir stopping the sweep attempt from Finalizador.
Finalizador managing to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Finalizador is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emir keeping moving, preventing Finalizador from controlling successfully.
Finalizador stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Emir swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Emir keeping moving, preventing Finalizador from controlling successfully.

Finalizador avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Emir wants to control but Finalizador passes easily into half guard.

That's four 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.
Finalizador wants to take a breather but Emir is having none of it.
Emir wants to control but Finalizador is keeping busy.
Emir is refusing to be controlled, as Finalizador sits in half guard.

Emir actively working from the bottom here.
Finalizador wants to stand up but Emir is controlling the position.
Finalizador trying to control from half guard but Emir is working away.
Fatih Emir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricardo Finalizador is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Emir taking some punishment here, with Finalizador in his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Finalizador comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Finalizador 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Finalizador!