PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paulinho Polenta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lauro Henrique (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Polenta
vs
Henrique

172 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

WIN! Nutritional Co. - RJ

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, Paulinho Polenta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lauro Henrique!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Polenta gets caught flat footed, as Henrique shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Polenta keeping moving, preventing Henrique from controlling successfully.
Polenta throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Polenta looking for a sweep. Not yet Polenta, not yet.
Henrique wants to pass the guard but Polenta is keeping the position.
Henrique stopping the sweep attempt from Polenta.

Polenta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Henrique gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henrique advances to half guard.

Henrique stands up out of the half guard.
Henrique misses with a takedown attempt - Polenta sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Polenta looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Henrique gets the takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polenta misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Henrique is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Polenta is trying to control Henrique's posture but Henrique avoids it.

Henrique decides to stand back up. Henrique steps back and let's Polenta get back to his feet.
Henrique looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Polenta is fending him off so far but Henrique persists. Nope, Polenta circles away and we're back to standing.
Henrique is looking to clinch but Polenta is avoiding it.

Polenta rushes Henrique and presses him up against the cage.
Henrique fails to pull guard.
Paulinho Polenta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauro Henrique.
Polenta can't get the takedown.
Polenta tries for a takedown. No joy.
Henrique can't get the takedown.
Henrique looks gassed!
Henrique tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Polenta smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polenta with a poor takedown

and Henrique counters with a single leg into guard. Polenta didn't expect that.
Henrique wants to control from the top but Polenta keeps moving.

Polenta is looking for a triangle but Henrique pushes his legs off easily.
Polenta keeping full guard, as Henrique tries to pass.

Polenta working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Henrique doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Henrique manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Henrique working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Henrique lands a couple of digs.

Polenta had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Henrique is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Polenta Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Henrique's back instead.
Henrique breaks Polenta's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henrique pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Polenta is keeping the position for now.

Henrique is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Polenta is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Polenta has escaped and now he's on top!

Henrique is looking for a triangle but Polenta pushes his legs off easily.

Polenta drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Henrique dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polenta will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Henrique trying to control but Polenta is working from the bottom.
Henrique slips nicely into half guard.
Polenta punching from the bottom.

Polenta is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Henrique pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Henrique.
Henrique thows a huge punch but Polenta dodges it nicely.

Polenta actively working from the bottom here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Henrique closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Polenta to the mat! Polenta manages to get full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauro Henrique dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Henrique tries for a takedown but Polenta circles away easily
and Polenta counters with a series of strikes. Henrique will be more careful next time no doubt.
Polenta scores with a nice right hand.
Polenta doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Henrique counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Polenta looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Polenta flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Henrique gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Henrique shoots in and bounces Polenta off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lauro Henrique has got the better of the ground game so far.

Polenta looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Polenta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henrique scoring with punches to the head and body.

Polenta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Henrique gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Henrique trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Henrique drops back looking for a leg! Polenta is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Polenta manages to kick Henrique off! Henrique jumps back into Polenta's guard.
Polenta lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Henrique!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Henrique slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Polenta wants to work for an arm triangle but Henrique is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Polenta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Polenta is looking for a kimura but Henrique is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Polenta to get the leverage.
Polenta throws a strike but Henrique avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Henrique is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Polenta actively working from the bottom here.
Henrique is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Henrique must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polenta is trying to stick to Henrique's back but Henrique is turning into Polenta. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Polenta's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Henrique.
Henrique looking to pass the guard.

Polenta looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Henrique accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Polenta looking for the choke from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Henrique trying to survive by controlling the hands.

Polenta is looking for the choke from the back position but Henrique is controlling his hands well.

Polenta is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Henrique knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Henrique for a finish.
Henrique manages to reverse the position and now he's in Polenta's guard. Nice work there by Henrique.
Polenta trying to strike off his back.
Henrique working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henrique wants to control from the top but Polenta keeps moving.

Polenta has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Henrique can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauro Henrique showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Polenta keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Polenta drives through and clinches with Henrique against the cage.
Henrique jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Polenta walks away with a smile on his face. Henrique gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Henrique looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Henrique is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Polenta doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Henrique.
Henrique wants to pass to mount but Polenta is defending the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Polenta is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Henrique pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polenta manages to get to full guard.
Polenta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Polenta is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Polenta is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Henrique looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Polenta tries to pass the half guard into mount. Henrique knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Henrique is looking for a sweep. Polenta is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Polenta tries to stand and escape but Henrique is controlling the position.
Polenta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Polenta prevents Henrique from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Polenta misses with a wild combination.
Polenta tries to clinch but Henrique is having none of it.

Henrique scores with a takedown into Polenta's guard.

Polenta is looking for a triangle here but Henrique uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Polenta is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henrique scores with punches from side control.
Henrique scores with punches from side control.
Polenta manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Polenta is trying to work for a kimura but Henrique is defending well.
Polenta tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Henrique.
Henrique trying to control but Polenta postures up.
Polenta prevents Henrique from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Polenta doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Henrique counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Lauro Henrique is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polenta has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Henrique is working away from the top position though.
Polenta is looking to improve his position.
Polenta is working hard here to advance position.
Henrique looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Polenta looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Henrique content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Henrique stops Polenta from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lauro Henrique comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henrique winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lauro Henrique!