PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Garviel Loken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rafael Almeida has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Almeida
vs
Loken

191 cm
26
196 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

184 cm
20
185 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Almeida!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Garviel Loken!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Almeida decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Loken is pressing down on Almeida's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Loken wants to sweep here but Almeida controlling him for the moment.
Almeida trying to control the position from guard on top but Loken is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Almeida won't allow Loken to sweep him here.
Almeida trying to control but Loken is working from the bottom.
Almeida slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Almeida tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Almeida tries for a kimura but Loken is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida trying to control the action but Loken is working from the bottom.

Almeida working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Loken is trying to control Almeida's posture but Almeida avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Loken is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Almeida is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Loken has escaped the position, nice work there.

Almeida tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Almeida has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Loken is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loken can't do much from the bottom here.

Almeida looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Almeida goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Loken rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Almeida's guard! Nice work there by Loken!
Almeida keeping full guard, as Loken tries to pass.

Loken drops back, looking for a kneebar! Almeida looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Almeida looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Almeida!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loken gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Almeida is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Loken doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Almeida.
Almeida is breathing heavily.

Almeida looking for a submission but Loken manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Loken has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Almeida 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.

Almeida is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Loken's half guard.

Almeida is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Loken is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rafael Almeida!
Rafael Almeida is the new middleweight champion!