PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leos Karanous (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Guimaraes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Karanous
vs
Guimaraes

180 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leos Karanous!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marcelo Guimaraes!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Guimaraes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Karanous shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Guimaraes as he jumps to the side.
Karanous has a takedown stuffed.

Karanous manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Guimaraes on his heels. He'll look to pass Guimaraes's guard now, I'm sure.
Karanous looking to sit in guard and control but Guimaraes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Karanous avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Guimaraes drops back looking for a leg! Karanous is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Karanous manages to kick Guimaraes off! Guimaraes jumps back into Karanous's guard.
Guimaraes won't allow Karanous to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guimaraes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karanous swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Guimaraes preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Guimaraes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Karanous controls Guimaraes momentarily but Guimaraes frees himself.
Guimaraes is looking to work some ground and pound but Karanous has wrist control.
Karanous trying to keep a closed guard but Guimaraes is proving a slippery customer.

Karanous is looking for a triangle but Guimaraes pushes his legs off easily.
Karanous tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Karanous managing to control the position.
Guimaraes wants to control from the top but Karanous keeps moving.
Guimaraes looking to pass the guard.
Guimaraes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guimaraes won't allow Karanous to sweep him here.
Guimaraes tries to free his leg and advance position but Karanous is retaining full guard.
Guimaraes trying to control the position from guard on top but Karanous is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Marcelo Guimaraes hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Guimaraes has managed to clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Guimaraes.
Karanous tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Guimaraes smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leos Karanous. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Guimaraes clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karanous gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Guimaraes looking to control.
Karanous trying to control the position from guard on top but Guimaraes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Guimaraes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Karanous trying to control but Guimaraes is working from the bottom.
Karanous definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Karanous slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Karanous postures up and lands a big shot to Guimaraes's brow.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Karanous avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Karanous throws a strike but Guimaraes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Karanous trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karanous utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Karanous wants to hit a switch here but Guimaraes passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Karanous there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Guimaraes controlling from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Guimaraes cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Karanous tries to hold on but Guimaraes pushes him away.
Karanous bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karanous is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Guimaraes controls Karanous momentarily but Karanous frees himself.
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 Leos Karanous will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Guimaraes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karanous but Karanous pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Guimaraes instigates a clinch.
Karanous tries to pull guard but Guimaraes forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Karanous changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Guimaraes fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Guimaraes throws a left and a right that both miss

and Karanous counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Guimaraes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Guimaraes is staying active underneath Karanous, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Karanous is looking for a kimura but Guimaraes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Karanous to get the leverage.
Guimaraes tries to kick Karanous off but Karanous keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karanous content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Leos Karanous overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karanous takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Guimaraes wants to get back to full guard.
Karanous stops Guimaraes from getting back to his feet.

Karanous is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Guimaraes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Karanous prevents Guimaraes from improving his position.
Karanous is trying to control. Guimaraes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Karanous is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Karanous working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Guimaraes's thigh. Guimaraes counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karanous engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Karanous scoring with some ground and pound.
Karanous wants to control from the top but Guimaraes keeps moving.
Guimaraes wants to sweep here but Karanous controlling him for the moment.
Guimaraes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Karanous tries to lock up and control but Guimaraes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Karanous is wriggling around trying to escape.
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!
Karanous tries to hold on but Guimaraes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guimaraes with good strikes from the mount here!
Karanous tries to lock up and control but Guimaraes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Guimaraes lands a couple of good shots and Karanous has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Guimaraes lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Karanous hold on?!
Guimaraes is looking to control Karanous but Karanous is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Karanous wants to escape the position.
Karanous is working hard here to advance position.

Guimaraes is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Karanous knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Karanous for a finish.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karanous trying to control but not successfully.
Karanous rolls, trying to escape but Guimaraes keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guimaraes struggling to keep hold of the position.
Karanous wants to control his opponent's hands but Guimaraes gets his hands free.

Karanous showing good submission defense here.
Karanous turns into Guimaraes and is now in his guard.

Karanous drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Guimaraes dives on top into guard.
Karanous looking for a sweep. Not yet Karanous, not yet.

Karanous looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Karanous escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Guimaraes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Guimaraes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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 Leos Karanous will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Guimaraes moves into the clinch.
Karanous prevents a takedown attempt there.

Karanous manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Karanous is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Guimaraes won't allow Karanous to sweep him here.
Guimaraes tries to free his leg and advance position but Karanous is retaining full guard.

Karanous working for a triangle but Guimaraes defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Guimaraes trying to control the position from guard on top but Karanous is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karanous is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guimaraes wants to pass the guard but Karanous is keeping the position.
Guimaraes controls from within his opponent's guard.
Guimaraes lands a couple of elbows.
Guimaraes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Karanous keeping moving, preventing Guimaraes from controlling successfully.
Guimaraes postures up.
Karanous is really struggling to control Guimaraes but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Karanous working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Guimaraes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Guimaraes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Guimaraes trying to control the position from guard on top but Karanous is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guimaraes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Guimaraes trying to control but Karanous is working from the bottom.
Guimaraes stands and throws Karanous's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karanous wants to control but Guimaraes postures up.
Karanous is looking for a sweep.

Guimaraes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Karanous has escaped the position, nice work there.
Karanous is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Guimaraes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karanous wants to control but Guimaraes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Karanous is looking to improve his position.

Guimaraes is working for a kimura but Karanous is defending it quite comfortably.
Karanous controlling the position for now.
Guimaraes wants to stand up but Karanous has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Karanous wants to control but Guimaraes is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karanous wants to get back to full guard.
Karanous wants to control but Guimaraes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Guimaraes trying to mount his opponent but Karanous defends it.
Karanous tries to get to full guard but Guimaraes has control of the leg.
Karanous is holding on to half guard well.
Karanous is trying to control but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Leos Karanous.
Karanous tries to clinch up.
That kick from Guimaraes tenderised Karanous's leg. Karanous is trying to keep his angry face on.

Guimaraes drives through and clinches with Karanous against the ropes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marcelo Guimaraes.
I think Karanous 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight for Marcelo Guimaraes!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Leos Karanous!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!