PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bernardo Muriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shoei Braz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bernardo Muriel has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Muriel
vs
Braz

187 cm
26
205 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

175 cm
26
205 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bernardo Muriel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shoei Braz!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muriel lands a head kick!
Muriel connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Braz momentarily.
Muriel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Braz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Muriel slaps away a takedown attempt from Braz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Braz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Muriel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Muriel has been working on his boxing with his coaches at THE GYM (20 Elite coaches on the Island !!!) in the buildup to the fight.
Braz takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Braz has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Muriel gets caught napping as Braz dives in and scores a takedown. Muriel manages to retain guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Braz throws a big right hand that misses.
Braz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Braz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Braz postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muriel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Braz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Braz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Muriel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Muriel tries to get out of the position.
Braz postures up in Muriel's guard and throws a big left but Muriel blocks it.
Muriel seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Muriel lands with a straight right. Braz didn't see that one coming.
Bernardo Muriel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Braz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Braz is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Braz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Braz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Braz closes the distance and clinches up with Muriel, looking for a takedown. Braz pushes Muriel against the cage but Muriel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Muriel takes a swing at Braz's ribcage but misses.
Braz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Braz is defended easily by Muriel.
Bernardo Muriel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shoei Braz.
Braz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Muriel.
Muriel seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Braz tries to move into range but Muriel moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Braz fails with the takedown.
Muriel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Muriel cracks Braz with a good jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Braz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Muriel throws a leg kick which misses Braz's front leg but catches the back leg as Braz tries to avoid it.
Muriel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A jab lands there for Muriel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Muriel. Beautiful body shot.
Muriel lands a jab.
Braz walks into a jab.
Muriel is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Muriel scores with a head kick. Braz tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Muriel is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Braz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Muriel cracks the inside of Braz's front leg.
Braz avoids a kick to the body.

Braz dives in and scores a takedown into Muriel's guard.
Braz pushes down on Muriel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Braz trying to mount his opponent but Muriel defends it.
Muriel is refusing to be controlled, as Braz sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muriel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Braz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Braz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Braz lands with a punch from half guard.
Braz wants to take a breather but Muriel is having none of it.

Braz seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Muriel is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Shoei Braz!
Shoei Braz is the new light heavyweight champion!
Shoei Braz thanked the fans post fight for their support.