PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Finalizador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valdema Severino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Finalizador
vs
Severino

188 cm
18
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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, Ricardo Finalizador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Valdema Severino!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Severino closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Finalizador is being controlled here.
Finalizador tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A lull in the action here as Severino stalls from top position.
The ground and pound from Severino seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Severino slows the pace down.
You can see the frustration on Finalizador's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severino throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Severino is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Severino tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Severino has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
A lull in the action here as Severino stalls from top position.
Finalizador is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Severino working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Finalizador tries to buck Severino off but Severino is having none of it.
Severino happy to just control the position for now.

Despite being in the dominant position, Valdema Severino just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Finalizador is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Severino postures up.
Severino is stalling in the full guard.
Severino pushing down on Finalizador's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Severino with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Severino looks gassed!
Finalizador is trying to maintain the position but Severino is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Finalizador looking for submissions off his back.
Severino controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Severino wants to pass the guard but Finalizador is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdema Severino dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Severino feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Finalizador being controlled here, momentarily.
Let's hope that Severino 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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Valdema Severino just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Finalizador shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Severino counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Severino.
Severino stays in close to Finalizador's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severino stopping the sweep attempt from Finalizador.
Severino wants to pass the guard but Finalizador is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Finalizador not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Severino controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Finalizador working a defensive guard here.
Severino slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador can't keep his opponent in guard - Severino advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Severino trying to mount his opponent but Finalizador defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finalizador tries to roll over but Severino keeps him under control.
Severino is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Severino looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Severino passes the guard and advances to mount!
Severino controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdema Severino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Finalizador is working an open guard so Severino takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Finalizador misses with a takedown

and Severino counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Finalizador's guard now.
Severino stays in close to Finalizador's body and controls the position.
Severino's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Severino trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severino throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Severino looking to pass the guard.
Severino sitting in guard here, content to control.
Severino wants to pass the guard but Finalizador is keeping the position.
Finalizador working a defensive guard here.
Severino trying to control the position from guard on top but Finalizador is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Severino looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Finalizador is looking for a sweep. Severino is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Severino wants to lay and pray for a moment but Finalizador keeps working.
Severino is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Finalizador is trying to maintain the position but Severino is very close to passing his half guard.
Severino content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Finalizador is not content to let Severino control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Severino not doing much here.
Finalizador has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Severino is working away from the top position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Finalizador closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Severino to the mat! Severino manages to get full guard.
Severino has his hands on Finalizador's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador stopping the sweep attempt from Severino.
Severino working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Finalizador.
Severino pulls Finalizador in close to prevent any damage.
Severino is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valdema Severino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Severino has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valdema Severino!