PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricco Torres (ranked 2230 p4p, 240 weight class) and Malaki Lima (ranked 3210 p4p, 367 weight class). Ricco Torres has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Torres
vs
Lima

196 cm
29
275 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

167 cm
30
215 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricco Torres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Malaki Lima!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Torres keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lima shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Torres as he jumps to the side.

Lima changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Torres looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Torres is looking to get back to his feet here but Lima is keeping cool and he's managed to take Torres's back.
My spies in Relentless Gym inform me that Lima has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Torres wants to escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torres manages to reverse the position and now he's in Lima's guard. Nice work there by Torres.
Torres is looking to advance position but Lima has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lima throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Torres because Lima loaded up on that one.
Torres tries to lock up and control but Lima gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Torres can't escape the position.
Torres tries to lock up and control but Lima gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lima lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Torres is desperately trying to improve his position but Lima has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Torres manages to get to full guard.
Torres is pulling down on Lima's head. It's preventing any offense from Lima, at least for the moment.
Torres is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

The fighters are working up against the cage. Torres manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Torres fails to land.
Lima has a couple of punches blocked by Torres.
Torres tries to work over Lima's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lima scores with a nice hook to the head.
Torres fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lima swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Torres.
Lima misses with a short punch on the inside.
Torres misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lima misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lima misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lima tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Torres escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Lima drives through with a takedown into Torres's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Torres is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lima is controlling him.
Torres pulls Lima in close to his closed guard and prevents Lima from doing any damage or advancing position.
Torres wants to sweep here but Lima controlling him for the moment.
Lima passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Malaki Lima will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lima keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Malaki Lima seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lima slips under a jab from Torres.
A slow jab from Torres misses its intended target.
Lima misses with a takedown
enabling Torres to counter with a crisp jab.

Lima darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Torres is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torres is looking to control Lima's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Torres avoid being mounted?
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Torres is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lima's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lima's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Torres goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Lima escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Lima is nestled in close to Torres, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Torres has one foot on Lima's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lima.
Lima throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lima creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Torres manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Torres desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Torres wants to get back to his feet.
Torres pushes Lima off but Lima dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Lima is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Torres is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lima looking to finish with strikes here!
Torres is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Torres holds on for dear life, controlling Lima's posture momentarily.
Torres wants to hold on but Lima pushes him away.
Torres avoids a series of strikes thrown by Lima.
Lima misses with some ground and pound and Torres recovers position to half guard.
Lima not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Malaki Lima will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lima fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Lima with that takedown attempt.

Lima shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Torres is trying to defend but Lima finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lima stops Torres from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torres regains full guard. Nicely done.
Torres trying to keep a closed guard but Lima is proving a slippery customer.
Torres has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lima stopping the sweep attempt from Torres.
Torres trying to keep a closed guard but Lima is proving a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Torres kicks Lima off and gets to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lima.
Ricco Torres has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricco Torres has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malaki Lima.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lima avoids the body shot from Torres.
Torres displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lima.
Torres missing with a left hand there. Lima was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice defenses there by Lima.
Torres throws a right hand that Lima ducks under and follows up with a left that Lima also avoids with ease.
Lima shoots for a takedown but Torres saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lima changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Torres tries to avoid it but Lima manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Torres to the ground. Torres escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lima with a lazy takedown attempt
and Torres cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Torres throws the kick towards the body but Lima avoids it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Torres enables Lima to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Torres manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lima won't allow Torres to sweep him here.
Torres seems keen to control Lima's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Torres is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lima stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Torres swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Torres working a defensive guard but Lima passes into half guard.

Torres kicks off Lima and gets to his feet.
Torres lands a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lima throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Torres tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lima is in Torres's guard.
Malaki Lima has got the better of the ground game so far.
Torres wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Torres manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lima manages to get himself to full guard.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Torres's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Torres chips away with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Torres throwing strikes but missing.
Torres in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricco Torres showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lima has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malaki Lima!