PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcelinho Lima (ranked 5392 p4p, 495 weight class) and Francis Ngannou (ranked 4608 p4p, 446 weight class). Marcelinho Lima has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Lima
vs
Ngannou

202 cm
20
270 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

191 cm
26
265 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelinho Lima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Francis Ngannou!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ngannou takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ngannou takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ngannou keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lima tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ngannou manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ngannou unleashes a big counter combination but Lima bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A punch combination from Ngannou misses.
Ngannou throws a right hand that Lima ducks under and follows up with a left that Lima also avoids with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lima.
Lima pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ngannou avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Lima throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ngannou was covering up waiting for the punch and Lima finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lima trying to control but Ngannou is working from the bottom.
Lima will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Lima is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lima thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Lima drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lima jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lima passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ngannou is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Lima asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ngannou is not content to let Lima control the position.
Lima moves into full mount!

Lima looking to secure an arm triangle but Ngannou defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lima is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ngannou is surviving well by controlling Lima's body position as best he can.
Ngannou really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lima. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lima can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ngannou is looking to escape.
Lima looking to finish with strikes here!
Lima moves to take his opponent's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ngannou won't enjoy being in this position. Lima looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Ngannou is tapping - it's over boys! Lima picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Marcelinho Lima!