PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sean Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerald Cabuenas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Sean Rice has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Sean Rice seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Rice
vs
Cabuenas

218 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

171 cm
22
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sean Rice!
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, Gerald Cabuenas!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rice doesn't manage to clinch there - Cabuenas circles away.
Cabuenas appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Cabuenas shoots for a takedown but Rice saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rice tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cabuenas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rice wants to clinch
and Cabuenas counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cabuenas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rice tries to avoid it but Cabuenas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rice to the ground. Rice escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cabuenas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rice circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rice misses with a takedown
and Cabuenas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Cabuenas rushes Rice and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice misses with a punch to the body.

Cabuenas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cabuenas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cabuenas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rice tries to counter with a takedown but Cabuenas is quick to defend against it.

Cabuenas clinches with his opponent.
Cabuenas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rice pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sean Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerald Cabuenas.
Cabuenas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rice to keep the fight standing.
Cabuenas utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cabuenas - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cabuenas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gerald Cabuenas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cabuenas shoots for a takedown but Rice saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cabuenas looks for the body kick but Rice saw that one coming.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cabuenas.
Cabuenas closes the distance and clinches up with Rice, looking for a takedown. Cabuenas pushes Rice against the cage but Rice circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cabuenas looks winded!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Cabuenas pulls guard effortlessly.
Cabuenas wants to control but Rice passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cabuenas keeps working.
Cabuenas is looking to improve his position.
Cabuenas looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rice thows a huge punch but Cabuenas dodges it nicely.
Cabuenas tries to roll over but Rice keeps him under control.
Rice thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cabuenas's head.

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.
Rice content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rice not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cabuenas wants to control but Rice is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cabuenas taking some punishment here, with Rice in his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cabuenas is trying to maintain the position but Rice is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cabuenas keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rice slaps away a takedown attempt from Cabuenas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rice appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Rice drives through with a takedown into Cabuenas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rice wants to pass the guard but Cabuenas is keeping the position.
Rice trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabuenas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rice postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabuenas trying to strike off his back.
Cabuenas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cabuenas is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rice is trying to maintain a safe position but Cabuenas gets an underhook and turns Rice into the cage.
Rice prevents the takedown attempt.
Cabuenas blocks an uppercut.

Cabuenas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rice uses from the top position.
Cabuenas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Cabuenas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rice defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabuenas is controlling Rice's posture.
Rice stops Cabuenas from standing up.
Cabuenas wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Cabuenas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rice gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cabuenas is breathing heavily.
Rice tries to clinch but Cabuenas moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabuenas has a takedown stuffed.
Rice tries to counter with a takedown but Cabuenas is quick to defend against it.
Sean Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerald Cabuenas.
Rice shoots in but Cabuenas avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rice gets a clinch.
Cabuenas managing to block the knees to the body from Rice.
Cabuenas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rice is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Cabuenas manages to break the clinch.
Rice really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rice tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cabuenas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rice somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabuenas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rice counters with a single leg into guard. Cabuenas didn't expect that.
Cabuenas keeping moving, preventing Rice from controlling successfully.
Cabuenas managing to control the position.
Sean Rice overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rice wants to control from the top but Cabuenas keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sean Rice will probably get the nod.
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!

Cabuenas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rice but Rice pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cabuenas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rice sprawls well. Rice wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cabuenas gets slowly back to his feet.
Cabuenas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rice sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rice is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Cabuenas.
Sean Rice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerald Cabuenas.
Rice dodges the punch combination from Cabuenas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rice wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabuenas doesn't manage to clinch there - Rice circles away.
Cabuenas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cabuenas tries for a takedown but Rice sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rice darts in looking for a takedown but Cabuenas gets double underhooks and turns Rice into the cage.

Rice tries to keep at a distance but Cabuenas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rice pushes Cabuenas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Cabuenas manages to pull guard.
Rice slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cabuenas keeping moving, preventing Rice from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabuenas seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Cabuenas has his feet on Rice's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rice tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cabuenas defends well and Rice ends up having to push Cabuenas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Rice drives through and clinches with Cabuenas against the cage.
Rice tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cabuenas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cabuenas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rice manages to avoid it.
Cabuenas swats away the attempt to clinch by Rice.
Rice pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cabuenas was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Rice is looking to clinch but Cabuenas is avoiding it.
Rice moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromCabuenas.
Cabuenas goes for a double leg but Rice avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rice continues to drive forward.
Rice leaves Cabuenas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cabuenas is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabuenas fails with the takedown
and Rice counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cabuenas dives in and grabs Rice's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rice pushes down on Cabuenas's head and hops out.

Rice moves into the clinch successfully.
Rice is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cabuenas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The referee calls for Rice to work.
Cabuenas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rice walks away with a smile on his face. Cabuenas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rice tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cabuenas is able to avoid easily.

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 Sean Rice.
I think Rice has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sean Rice!