PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brett Sellers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Sellers
vs
Ribeiro

190 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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, Brett Sellers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sellers missing with a left hand there. Ribeiro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ribeiro looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Ribeiro shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sellers as he avoids it easily.
Ribeiro shoots and misses

and Sellers holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Sellers pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gabriel Ribeiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ribeiro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sellers throws a right and a left that Ribeiro avoids nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Sellers scores with a four punch combination!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sellers moves into the clinch.

Sellers ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sellers no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sellers trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Sellers throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sellers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ribeiro is one step ahead there.

Sellers working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ribeiro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ribeiro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sellers controls Ribeiro momentarily but Ribeiro frees himself.

Ribeiro got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sellers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ribeiro has managed to get both his arms back between Sellers's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Sellers is looking for a triangle but Ribeiro pushes his legs off easily.

Sellers working for submissions but it's allowed Ribeiro to get to half guard.
Ribeiro not doing much here.
Ribeiro tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sellers controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ribeiro wants to stand up but Sellers manages to regain full guard.
Sellers bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ribeiro's guard.

Ribeiro looking to control.
Sellers makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro has his foot on Sellers's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sellers works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ribeiro wants to sweep but no luck.
Sellers is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sellers scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sellers's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

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

Sellers moves into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Sellers.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brett Sellers dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sellers has closed the distance and engaged Ribeiro in a clinch.
Ribeiro is trying to break the clinch but Sellers has him pressed against the cage.

Sellers breaks from the clinch.
Sellers throws a right hand that Ribeiro ducks under and follows up with a left that Ribeiro also avoids with ease.
Ribeiro shoots in but no luck this time.
It looked like Sellers was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Ribeiro is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sellers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sellers changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ribeiro checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sellers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ribeiro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ribeiro is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sellers manages to break the clinch.
Sellers tries to bum rush Ribeiro with a series of wild strikes but Ribeiro uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A clash of legs there as Ribeiro blocks the low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Ribeiro is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sellers is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ribeiro to the mat. Ribeiro regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ribeiro is trying to hold Sellers in close to prevent damage but Sellers has managed to pass into half guard.
Sellers trying to control the pace.
Ribeiro is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sellers is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ribeiro sees it coming and defends easily.

Sellers is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ribeiro has managed to free his arm - good work.
Brett Sellers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sellers is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is trying to get back to full guard.
Sellers is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sellers prevents Ribeiro from standing back up.

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

Sellers wants to work for an arm triangle but Ribeiro is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ribeiro is trying to escape back to his feet but Sellers uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Sellers has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Sellers throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sellers has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brett Sellers dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Ribeiro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sellers sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ribeiro somewhat.
Sellers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ribeiro can do to turn this around?
Sellers throws a right and a left that Ribeiro avoids nicely.
Sellers moves in looking to clinch but Ribeiro pushes him off.
Sellers throws a series of punches but Ribeiro avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sellers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sellers wants it to stay on the feet.
Ribeiro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sellers clinches up with Ribeiro and pushes him back against the cage.
Sellers fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Sellers breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sellers tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ribeiro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ribeiro tries a head kick but it misses.

Sellers has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sellers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sellers throws a nice looking combination but Ribeiro bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sellers misses with a wild combination.
Sellers is looking to chop away at Ribeiro's legs.
Ribeiro wants to counter with a clinch but Sellers pushes him away.

Ribeiro moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sellers jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ribeiro walks away with a smile on his face. Sellers gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sellers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ribeiro shoots in for a takedown but Sellers shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Brett Sellers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Ribeiro.
Sellers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ribeiro feints the counter takedown.
Some wild striking there from Sellers.
Sellers stuffs the takedown.
Sellers tries to clinch there but Ribeiro circles away.

Sellers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sellers is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ribeiro drags the fight down to the ground.

Ribeiro working for submissions but it's allowed Sellers to get to half guard.
Ribeiro wants to improve his position but Sellers is controlling well.
Ribeiro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sellers's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sellers's back!
Will Ribeiro go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sellers is really stuck here.
Ribeiro scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Sellers can't escape the position.
Ribeiro controlling from the back.
Ribeiro gets his hands free as Sellers looks to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
I really don't envy Sellers right now.

Ribeiro looking for the choke from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Brett Sellers.
Well Sellers has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brett Sellers!
The defeated Gabriel Ribeiro had this to say: 'Lutamos bem, mas não pudemos trazer a vitória. Agora é treinar mais e se preparar para a próxima'.