PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Justus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Justus comes to the cage accompanied by mario. 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.

Justus
vs
Thiago

174 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Justus!
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, Paulo Thiago!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Thiago does no damage.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Justus.
Justus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Justus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Justus with that takedown attempt.
Thiago tries to close the distance and clinch up but Justus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Justus takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A punch combination from Thiago misses.

Thiago changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Justus looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Justus is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thiago tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Justus throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Justus can't do much from the bottom here.
Justus misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Justus striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Justus is trying to control Thiago's posture but Thiago avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thiago decides to stand up, so the ref orders Justus to his feet.
Thiago lands with a nice combination. Justus backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Michael Justus has been cut.
Thiago works over Justus's head and body with a nice combination.
Thiago swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Justus darts in and clinches Thiago up against the cage.

Thiago manages to break the clinch.
Justus slips a jab and a cross from Thiago.
Thiago tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Justus swivels and escapes.

Thiago bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Thiago wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Justus, who protects the arm well.

Thiago tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Thiago tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thiago has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Justus's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Thiago is putting a hurting on Justus here, landing some big shots from side control.
Justus is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

Thiago is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Justus knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Justus throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thiago looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Justus is trying to control Thiago's posture but Thiago avoids it.
Justus tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

Thiago is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Justus is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Justus struggling a bit here.

Thiago is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Justus has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thiago blocks the strikes from Justus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago in side control lands a decent elbow.
You can see the frustration on Justus's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Thiago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Thiago lands some shots froms side control.
Justus pushes Thiago away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thiago gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Thiago is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Justus is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Justus is not content to let Thiago control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Justus is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Thiago has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Thiago dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Justus's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thiago has managed to clinch.
Thiago is trying to break free.

Thiago has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Justus uses from the top position.
Justus wants to control from the top but Thiago keeps moving.
Thiago throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Thiago wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Justus trying to control but Thiago is working from the bottom.

Thiago is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Justus is looking to work some ground and pound but Thiago has wrist control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Justus wants to control from the top but Thiago keeps moving.
Justus stops Thiago from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thiago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Justus wants to control from the top but Thiago keeps moving.
Thiago doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A lazy left from Justus finds it's target.
Justus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Thiago feints and as Justus raises his hands in defense, Thiago changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thiago wants to control from the top but Justus keeps moving.
Justus trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Justus looking to control but Thiago passes into half guard.
Thiago keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justus wants to get back to his feet.
Justus is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thiago content to control rather than advance.
Justus wants to control but Thiago is keeping busy.

Thiago is looking for a kimura here.

Thiago is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Justus is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Paulo Thiago!