PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Bitag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CSrai Pinto (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.

Bitag
vs
Pinto

182 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Bitag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, CSrai Pinto!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pinto closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pinto lands in his opponent's guard.

Bitag escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pinto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pinto wants to control from the top but Bitag keeps moving.
Pinto postures up in Bitag's guard and throws a big left but Bitag blocks it.

Bitag is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bitag not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Bitag escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pinto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pinto tries to stand but Bitag is controlling from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pinto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitag is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pinto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bitag swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pinto trying to control the position from guard on top but Bitag is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pinto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bitag. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pinto preventing the sweep.
Pinto wants to pass the guard but Bitag is keeping the position.

Pinto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bitag has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pinto has managed to get both his arms back between Bitag's legs - danger averted.
Pinto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pinto wants to control from the top but Bitag keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinto is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. CSrai Pinto was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Pinto throws the kick towards the body but Bitag avoids it.
Pinto fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Pinto throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bitag's head.
Pinto shoots in for a takedown but Bitag shows good takedown defense.
Bitag shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pinto counters with a head kick. That will keep Bitag thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Bitag is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pinto with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bitag counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pinto's guard now.
Bitag works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Bitag is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Bitag is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pinto has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinto is refusing to be controlled, as Bitag sits in half guard.
Pinto flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Pinto wants to control but Bitag is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Bitag wants to work for an arm triangle but Pinto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bitag wants to control but Pinto is keeping him busy.
Pinto is trying to stand up here but Bitag is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bitag is thwarting Pinto's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bitag seems to be looking for submissions.

Bitag stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Pinto to get to his feet.
Pinto shoots in but no luck this time.
Ben Bitag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of CSrai Pinto.
Bitag shoots in for a takedown but Pinto shows good takedown defense.
Nice takedown defense from Pinto. No joy for Bitag on that attempt.
Pinto throws a nice head kick!
Bitag leaves Pinto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pinto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bitag sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pinto somewhat.
Bitag closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pinto circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Bitag dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pinto moves into the clinch.
Pinto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bitag avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bitag can't get the takedown.

Pinto pulls guard effortlessly.

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

Pinto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bitag doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bitag manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pinto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bitag's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bitag is now in half guard.
Bitag wants to control but Pinto is keeping him busy.
Bitag is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pinto is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Bitag is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Bitag is looking for a kimura here.
Bitag is keen to just control but Pinto is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinto tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Bitag is working for a submission of some sort.
Bitag wants to take a breather but Pinto is having none of it.
Bitag is thwarting Pinto's attempts to control the position.

Bitag is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pinto tries to get to full guard but Bitag has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bitag is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pinto sees it coming and defends easily.

Pinto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pinto gets full guard.
Pinto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bitag wants to pass the guard but Pinto is keeping the position.
Bitag trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Bitag drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pinto looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pinto looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pinto!
Ben Bitag overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bitag tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pinto wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitag regains half guard.
Bitag gets back to full guard.
Bitag bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pinto's guard.

Bitag gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bitag with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pinto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bitag!
Bitag is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bitag regains half guard.
Pinto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
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 Ben Bitag will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bitag is defended easily by Pinto.
Bitag stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bitag wants it to stay on the feet.
Bitag misses with a takedown

and Pinto counters with a takedown into side control.
Bitag gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Pinto punching from mount but Bitag doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pinto controlling the position easily from mount.
Bitag tries to control Pinto's body but Pinto pushes him off. Bitag squirms to his side and now Pinto has his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bitag is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto not allowing Bitag to control his hands.
Pinto has good solid back control here.

Pinto has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Pinto looking for the choke from the back.
Bitag rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Pinto tries to stand but can't do so whilst Bitag controls his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitag gets full guard.

Bitag pushes a forearm under Pinto's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Pinto is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ben Bitag!