PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Esquiva Falcao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Smacky Slappy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esquiva Falcao has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Falcao
vs
Slappy

182 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
19
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Esquiva Falcao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Smacky Slappy!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Eddie Farnsworth and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falcao shoots in looking for a takedown. Slappy tries to sprawl out of it but Falcao keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Slappy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Falcao fails with the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Slappy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Falcao fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esquiva Falcao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slappy wants to clinch but Falcao slips to the side
and Falcao counters with a nice body shot.
Falcao slaps away a takedown attempt from Slappy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Slappy lands a nice leg kick that just misses Falcao's sensitive parts.
Slappy tries to clinch but Falcao is having none of it.
Slappy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Slappy wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slappy darts in trying to clinch

and Falcao counters by clinching up.
Slappy tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Falcao just stands there and leans against the cage.
Slappy stalling in the clinch but Falcao improves position.
Slappy can't find room to land a body shot as Falcao controls the action.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Falcao drags the fight down to the ground.
Slappy preventing the sweep.

Falcao looking for a guillotine here but Slappy defends easily.
Falcao seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falcao wants to sweep but no luck.
Slappy passes Falcao's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Slappy is looking to take a break and control but Falcao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Falcao is doing well to control the position and prevent Slappy from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esquiva Falcao has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Slappy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Slappy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Falcao.
Falcao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Falcao shoots in for a takedown but Slappy shows good takedown defense.

Falcao scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falcao working away.
Slappy is trying to get back to his feet.
Falcao in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Slappy is looking for a sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You can see the frustration on Slappy's face as Falcao controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Esquiva Falcao will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Falcao shoots for a takedown but Slappy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Slappy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Falcao is fending him off so far but Slappy persists. Nope, Falcao circles away and we're back to standing.
Slappy tries to clinch up.
Slappy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A head kick by Falcao misses
letting Slappy counter with a right hand.
Falcao shoots in looking for a takedown but Slappy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Falcao's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Slappy shoots in for a takedown but Falcao shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Falcao shoots for a takedown but Slappy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esquiva Falcao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slappy wants to clinch.
Slappy tries to clinch but Falcao is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slappy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Falcao as he avoids it easily.

Falcao has Slappy up against the cage in a clinch.
Slappy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Falcao gets control of Slappy's arms and successfully pulls guard. Falcao will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Falcao looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Falcao looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slappy is looking to stand up but Falcao won't let him.
Falcao throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Slappy preventing the sweep.

Smacky Slappy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Falcao misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fight stays on the outside here - Slappy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Slappy as Falcao shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Falcao with that takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Slappy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Falcao shoots for a takedown but Slappy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Slappy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Falcao misses with the body kick
and Slappy counters with a two punch combo.
Slappy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Falcao takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Slappy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Falcao but Falcao pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slappy moves to clinch but Falcao breaks away
and Falcao counters with a two punch combo.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Falcao.
Slappy throws a quick inside leg kick.
Slappy cracks the inside of Falcao's front leg.

Falcao has Slappy up against the cage in a clinch.
Slappy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Falcao walks away with a smile on his face. Slappy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Slappy misses with a double jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Falcao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Smacky Slappy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Falcao thows a leg kick but Slappy checks it
and Slappy counters with an outside leg kick.
Falcao fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Falcao stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Falcao wants it to stay on the feet.
Slappy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Slappy wants it to stay on the feet.
Falcao shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Slappy as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esquiva Falcao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slappy keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Falcao rushes Slappy and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Falcao is trying to break the clinch but Slappy has him pressed against the cage.

Slappy has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Falcao uses from the top position.
Slappy wants to stand and escape but Falcao is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slappy keeping full guard, as Falcao tries to pass.
Falcao postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Slappy keeping full guard, as Falcao tries to pass.
Slappy trying to keep a closed guard but Falcao is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Smacky Slappy was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Falcao shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Slappy pinned against the cage. Slappy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falcao fails to land the takedown.
Slappy fails with an attempt to clinch.

Falcao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Slappy missing with knees to the body.

Slappy jumps into guard, dragging Falcao to the mat.
Falcao forces his way into half guard.
Falcao wants to lay and pray for a moment but Slappy keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falcao is looking to advance position but Slappy won't allow it.
Slappy is trying to stand up here but Falcao is controlling him well.
Falcao is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slappy is pressing down on Falcao's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Falcao wants to control from the top but Slappy keeps moving.
Esquiva Falcao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Slappy wants to sweep here but Falcao controlling him for the moment.
Slappy looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Esquiva Falcao.
I think Falcao has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esquiva Falcao!