PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexandre Riberio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Blanco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Riberio
vs
Blanco

182 cm
26
180 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

178 cm
21
170 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexandre Riberio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Roberto Blanco!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanco throws an overhand right that lands on Riberio's shoulder, as Riberio tries to avoid the shot.
Blanco looks to throw the jab but Riberio is out of range.
Good shot there by Blanco.
Blanco has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Riberio is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Blanco throws a lazy right hand but Riberio sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Riberio looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Riberio slips under a jab from Blanco.
Blanco displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Riberio.
Blanco lands a jab to the nose.
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!
The fight stays on the outside here - Riberio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blanco tries to bum rush Riberio with a series of wild strikes but Riberio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Blanco throws an off balance right hand

and Riberio counters with a shoot takedown. Blanco fights it but they end up in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Riberio is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Riberio advances position into side control!
Blanco regains half guard, as Riberio was trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riberio is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Riberio is looking to advance position but Blanco won't allow it.
Blanco tries to roll over but Riberio keeps him under control.
Riberio controlling the action here.
Riberio passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riberio looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Blanco prevents Riberio from taking his back.
Riberio tries to control but Blanco wriggling away.
Riberio wants to take his opponent's back but Blanco doesn't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riberio jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Blanco manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Riberio wants to control but Blanco is keeping him busy.

Riberio is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blanco is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Blanco is not content to let Riberio control the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riberio is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Blanco has escaped the position, nice work there.
Blanco is not content to let Riberio control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandre Riberio dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Blanco is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riberio.

Blanco looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Riberio!
Blanco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Riberio keeps working.
Riberio is trying to get back to half guard.
Blanco really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Riberio. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Blanco wants to control but Riberio is keeping him busy.
Riberio trying to remain calm as Blanco controls from the top position.
Riberio is not content to let Blanco control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Roberto Blanco hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Riberio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Blanco darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Blanco seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Blanco is keen to just control but Riberio is a slippery customer.
Riberio trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blanco looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riberio really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Blanco controlling from mount.
Riberio is trying desperately to improve position.
Blanco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Alexandre Riberio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riberio tries to hold on but Blanco postures up.
Blanco takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Blanco looking to control but Riberio is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Roberto Blanco.
Blanco lands an overhand right.
Riberio closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blanco circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blanco darts in and clinches Riberio up against the cage.
Blanco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blanco throws a head punch that misses.
Riberio is looking to take this one to the mat.
Blanco throws a punch but it's blocked by Riberio.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riberio is working for takedown but Blanco is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandre Riberio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Riberio jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blanco walks away with a smile on his face. Riberio gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Riberio shoots for a double leg takedown but Blanco sprawls well. He's pushed Riberio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Blanco scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Riberio tries to bench press Blanco off him but Blanco keeps the position.
Riberio is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Blanco is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Riberio will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blanco landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Blanco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Blanco shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Riberio is trying to defend but Blanco finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Blanco is keen to just control but Riberio is a slippery customer.
Riberio is trying to control but can't.
Blanco with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Let's hope that Blanco has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Riberio trying to control here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roberto Blanco was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Riberio closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blanco to the mat! Blanco manages to get full guard.
Riberio is pushing down on Blanco's leg trying to pass to half guard. Blanco is fighting to maintain full guard but Riberio has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco won't allow Riberio to pass to mount.
Riberio is trying to control. Blanco wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Blanco wants to control but Riberio is keeping busy.
Blanco preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Blanco is staying active underneath Riberio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Riberio prevents Blanco from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Riberio keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blanco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanco missing with a left hand there. Riberio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Riberio closes the distance and clinches.

Riberio has hold of one of Blanco's legs. Blanco is fighting the takedown attempt but Riberio gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Blanco is pulling down on Riberio's head to control his posture.
Riberio trying to control the position from guard on top but Blanco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blanco is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Riberio is stalling in the full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Blanco takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Blanco.

Riberio pulls guard successfully.
Riberio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blanco is one step ahead there.

Blanco content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Riberio has locked up a guillotine! Riberio's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Blanco is holding on here and Riberio must be using up a lot of energy. Blanco has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Riberio gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Alexandre Riberio!
Alexandre Riberio was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.