PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Fedor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Fernandes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Fedor
vs
Fernandes

188 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Fedor!
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, Joe Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fedor looks for a takedown but Fernandes sprawls well.
Fedor swats away the attempt to clinch by Fernandes.

Fernandes rushes Fedor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fernandes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fedor fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fedor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fernandes circles away.

Fernandes moves into the clinch.

Fernandes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fernandes tries to clinch but Fedor is having none of it.
Fedor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Fedor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fernandes gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Fernandes manages to break the clinch.
Fedor circles away from the clinch attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Fernandes.
Fedor parries the strikes from Fernandes easily there. Fernandes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Fedor to escape.

Fernandes tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Fedor is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fernandes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Fedor defends it well.
Fernandes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fedor's head.
Fedor moves into full guard.
Fernandes won't allow Fedor to sweep him here.
Fedor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fernandes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fedor is proving hard to escape from.

Fedor has his feet on Fernandes's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Fedor connects with the punch.
Fedor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fernandes as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fernandes closes the distance and pushes Fedor back into the cage.
Fernandes avoiding damage as Fedor throws knees to the body.
Fernandes is trying to break the clinch but Fedor is controlling him.
Fernandes lands an elbow inside that Fedor shrugs off.
Fedor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fedor stalling in the clinch but Fernandes improves position.
Fernandes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fedor blocks it with crossed arms.
Fernandes looks gassed!
Fernandes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fedor prevents it.
Fernandes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fernandes tries a knee to the head but Fedor blocks it.
Fernandes wants to stall.
Fedor fails to pull guard.
Fedor taking a breather.

Fedor drags the fight down to the ground.
Fernandes thows a big elbow that misses.
Fernandes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fedor. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fedor wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fedor is looking to stand up but Fernandes isn't so interested in that idea.
Fernandes stands up over Fedor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fernandes stands up over Fedor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fedor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fedor is looking to clinch but Fernandes is avoiding it.
Fedor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fernandes defends it nicely.

Fedor tries to keep at a distance but Fernandes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fedor misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Fernandes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fedor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fernandes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fedor pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Fernandes lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch but Fedor keeps him there for the moment.
Fedor is working for takedown but Fernandes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Fernandes scores with a knee to the head.
Fernandes lands with a light punch inside.

Fernandes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Fedor rushes Fernandes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fedor tries to break the clinch but Fernandes is controlling the position.
Fernandes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Fedor drags the fight down to the ground.
Fedor throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Fernandes cracks Fedor with a solid left hand.

Fernandes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fedor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fernandes has managed to get both his arms back between Fedor's legs - danger averted.
Fernandes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fedor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Fernandes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fernandes wants to clinch
and Fedor counters with a two punch combo.
Fernandes shoots for a takedown but Fedor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fedor circles away from the clinch attempt

and Fedor counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fernandes won't be happy with that.
Fernandes is being controlled here.

Fedor tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fedor has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Fernandes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fernandes regains half guard.
Fedor blocks the strikes from Fernandes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Fedor is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Fernandes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fernandes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Fernandes wants to sweep but no luck.
Fernandes keeping moving, preventing Fedor from controlling successfully.
Fernandes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Fernandes trying to control the position here.
Fedor won't allow Fernandes to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fedor is fighting to break Fernandes's control of his arms but Fernandes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Fernandes striking off his back but it's not causing Fedor any problems.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fernandes closes the distance looking to clinch

and Fedor counters with a single leg into guard. Fernandes didn't expect that.
Fedor trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fernandes wants to sweep here but Fedor controlling him for the moment.
Fedor is in close to Fernandes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fernandes trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Fedor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Fernandes darts in and clinches Fedor up against the cage.

Fedor breaks the clinch.
Rodrigo Fedor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fernandes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fernandes gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Fedor turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Fedor manages to end up in side control.
Fernandes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fedor's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Fernandes lands with a few short shots to the body.
Fernandes is not content to let Fedor control the position.
Fedor tries to stand and escape but Fernandes is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes won't allow Fedor to pass to mount.

Fernandes actively working from the bottom here.
Fernandes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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

Fernandes moves into the clinch.
Fedor takes a knee right on the jaw!
Fernandes is pressed up against the cage. Fedor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fernandes down to the mat. Fernandes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fedor tries to clinch up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fernandes wants to clinch
and Fedor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Fernandes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fedor avoids a wild elbow strike from Fernandes.
Fedor blocks an elbow strike from Fernandes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Fedor dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Fedor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Fedor.
Fernandes doesn't manage to clinch there - Fedor circles away.

Fernandes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Fedor jumps into guard, dragging Fernandes to the mat.
Fernandes wants to get up but he can't break Fedor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Fedor working for a triangle but Fernandes defends it easily.
Fernandes is in close to Fedor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fedor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fernandes is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fernandes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fernandes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Fedor's head.
Rodrigo Fedor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fernandes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Fedor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fernandes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fernandes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fernandes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fernandes looking to pass the guard.
Fedor lands some strikes from the bottom.
Fernandes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Fedor is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fernandes is aware though and is defending well.
Fernandes trying to control the position from guard on top but Fedor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fedor has his foot on Fernandes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fernandes works his way back into a safe position though.
Fedor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fernandes's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fedor is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fernandes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Fernandes wriggles free and stands up.

Fernandes clinches up with Fedor and pushes him back against the cage.

Fernandes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fedor shoots for a double leg takedown but Fernandes sprawls well. He's pushed Fedor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Fedor closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Fernandes makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Fedor darts in and clinches Fernandes up against the cage.
Fedor tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fernandes smiles and moves away.
Fernandes tries to clinch up

and Fedor counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fedor.
Fernandes tries to pull guard but Fedor holds him up against the cage and eventually Fernandes drops back down to his feet.
Fedor has had enough of the clinch but Fernandes keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fernandes gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Fedor regains guard.
Fernandes stopping the sweep attempt from Fedor.

Fedor scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Fernandes is looking to clinch but Fedor is avoiding it.
Fernandes darts in trying to clinch
and Fedor counters with a series of strikes. Fernandes will be more careful next time no doubt.

Fernandes rushes Fedor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Fedor manages to break the clinch.
Fernandes tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Fedor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Fedor tries to break the clinch but Fernandes is controlling the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fedor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fernandes swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Fedor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fedor gets a takedown into half guard.

Fernandes manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A punch combination from Fernandes misses.

Fedor rushes Fernandes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fernandes misses with a knee strike.

Fedor gets control of Fernandes's arms and successfully pulls guard. Fedor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fernandes stands up over Fedor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fedor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Fedor scrambles and gets back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fernandes clinches.

Fedor ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Fedor no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Fernandes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Fedor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fedor 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 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Fedor!