PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maria Aguilar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armando Faso (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.

Aguilar
vs
Faso

155 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maria Aguilar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Armando Faso!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faso has his takedown stuffed

and Aguilar counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Aguilar.

Faso manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Faso seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Let's hope that Faso 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aguilar throws a big elbow that misses.
Aguilar throws a big elbow that misses.
Faso is pulling down on Aguilar's head to control his posture.
Aguilar throws a strike but Faso rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aguilar is keeping the position for now.
Aguilar working a defensive guard but Faso manages to pass into side control anyway.
Aguilar is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Faso is controlling him well.
Aguilar is trying to get back to half guard.
Aguilar is trying to work for a sweep but Faso has mounted him!
Aguilar tries to buck Faso off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faso tries to control but Aguilar wriggling away.
Aguilar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Faso looking to control and managing it successfully.
Aguilar is trying to stand.
Aguilar is trying to reverse the position but instead Faso has taken his back - oops!
Good control from Faso.
Aguilar really is a fat lump.
Aguilar is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aguilar breaks Faso's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Aguilar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aguilar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aguilar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Faso has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Faso looking to control.
Aguilar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Faso scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aguilar is not content to let Faso control the position.
Aguilar is looking for a sweep.
Faso staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armando Faso 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.

Aguilar throws an off balance right hand
and Faso counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Aguilar gets tackled into the cage by Faso. Faso maintains the clinch.
Aguilar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Aguilar jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Faso walks away with a smile on his face. Aguilar gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Aguilar gets tackled into the cage by Faso. Faso maintains the clinch.
Aguilar creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Aguilar lands a nice elbow.

Aguilar gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Faso regains guard.
Aguilar might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Aguilar is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Aguilar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aguilar postures up in Faso's guard and throws a big left but Faso blocks it.
Aguilar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Armando Faso has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faso utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aguilar lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Aguilar scoring with punches to the head and body.
Faso looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aguilar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Faso has closed the distance and engaged Aguilar in a clinch.
Faso wants a takedown but no success here.
Aguilar is trying to pull guard but Faso turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maria Aguilar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aguilar lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Faso tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faso stops a takedown attempt from Aguilar.
Faso avoids the elbow strike from Aguilar, against the cage.
Aguilar lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Faso is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Aguilar to keep the fight standing.
Aguilar working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Aguilar is trying to pull guard but Faso turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Faso jumps guard but Aguilar stands there with Faso around his waist. Faso gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Aguilar tries to pull guard but Faso forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Faso takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aguilar is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Faso to keep the fight standing.
Aguilar tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Faso smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aguilar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A solid leg kick lands there for Faso.
Faso looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aguilar is fending him off so far but Faso persists. Nope, Aguilar circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown attempt by Faso or perhaps it was just good defense by Aguilar, which made it look bad.
Faso is breathing heavily.
Aguilar throws a head kick but Faso moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faso tries to score a power double leg takedown but Aguilar sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Faso somewhat.
Aguilar stuffs the takedown attempt from Faso. Faso gets slowly back to his feet.
Faso doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Aguilar counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Aguilar.

Aguilar jumps guard and drags Faso to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aguilar is striking from the bottom but Faso uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Aguilar wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maria Aguilar dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Aguilar darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Aguilar is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Faso still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Faso has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Faso in side control, just content to control the action for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aguilar keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aguilar is looking to regain half guard here but Faso keeps moving and retains side control.
Faso has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Aguilar!
Aguilar working to try and regain half guard.
Faso can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aguilar is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aguilar tries to buck Faso off but Faso takes his back!

Aguilar defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Faso trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Aguilar doesn't escape.
Faso keeps control of the position as Aguilar tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faso has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Aguilar's body.
Aguilar is trying to stand back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Faso keeps control of the position as Aguilar tries to break free.
Faso trying to control momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aguilar wants to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armando Faso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Faso has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armando Faso!