PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Rio (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.

Oliveira
vs
Rio

188 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
207 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\
Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Anderson Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Rio!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliveira is looking to clinch but Rio is avoiding it.
Rio keeps the fight on the outside.
Rio shoots for a takedown but Oliveira saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Oliveira tries to clinch but Rio is having none of it.
Oliveira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Oliveira is looking to clinch.
Rio misses with a body shot.

Rio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Oliveira's half guard.
Rio looks to land a strike but Oliveira avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Rio wanted to stand there but Oliveira had control of the position.
Rio is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rio trying to control the position from guard on top but Oliveira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rio stands and steps away. Oliveira gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Oliveira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rio shoots for a double leg takedown but Oliveira sprawls well. He's pushed Rio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Oliveira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Oliveira with a poor takedown

and Rio counters with a single leg into guard. Oliveira didn't expect that.
Rio trying to control the position from guard on top but Oliveira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rio wants to stand but Oliveira is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rio prevents Oliveira from getting back to his feet.
Oliveira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rio tries to free his leg and advance position but Oliveira is retaining full guard.
Rio trying to control but Oliveira is working from the bottom.
Rio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rio looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rio lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Oliveira tries to clinch
and Rio counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Oliveira tries to clinch but Rio moves away

and Rio counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rio looks gassed!
Oliveira tries to kick Rio off but Rio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rio tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Oliveira.

Rio decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Rio fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Oliveira avoids it really well and circles away.
Anderson Oliveira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rio.
Oliveira tries to clinch

and Rio counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Oliveira's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Oliveira uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Oliveira doesn't manage to clinch there - Rio circles away.
Oliveira tries to clinch but Rio is having none of it.
Oliveira wants to clinch.
Oliveira clinches but Rio breaks the clinch
letting Rio counter with a right hand.
Rio moves in looking to clinch but Oliveira pushes him off.
Rio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horrible takedown by Rio or perhaps it was just good defense by Oliveira which made him look bad.
Oliveira doesn't manage to clinch there - Rio circles away.
Rio keeps the fight on the outside.
Oliveira slips a straight right by Rio.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rio dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Oliveira tries to clinch but Rio moves out of range.
Oliveira wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Oliveira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rio closes the distance and clinches up with Oliveira, looking for a takedown. Rio pushes Oliveira against the cage but Oliveira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Oliveira tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Rio counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Oliveira works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Oliveira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rio is breathing heavily.

Oliveira pushes Rio off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira darts in trying to clinch
and Rio counters with a nice body kick.
Rio closes the distance and clinches up with Oliveira, looking for a takedown. Rio pushes Oliveira against the cage but Oliveira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rio circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rio won't allow Oliveira to get back to his feet.
Rio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rio looking to sit in guard and control but Oliveira gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira wants to stand but Rio is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rio is looking to sweep but instead, Oliveira has passed into half guard.
Rio keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rio wants to control but Oliveira is keeping busy.
Rio is looking to escape.
Rio wants to control but Oliveira is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Oliveira tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rio controls his leg.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Oliveira clinches but Rio breaks the clinch

and Rio counters with a shoot takedown. Oliveira fights it but they end up in guard.
Oliveira wants to stand up but Rio is controlling him.
Rio wants to pass the guard but Oliveira is keeping the position.
Oliveira wants to stand but Rio is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Oliveira wants to clinch but Rio slips to the side
and Rio counters with a big head kick but Oliveira shrugs it off.
Rio shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Oliveira as he avoids it easily.
Rio circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rio counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Oliveira!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oliveira wants to try and get back to his feet.
Rio throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Oliveira because Rio loaded up on that one.
Rio controlling from the full mount.
Oliveira is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Rio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rio trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rio lands a big elbow.

Rio goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Oliveira turns into him and now he's in Rio's guard.
Rio looking to control but Oliveira passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Oliveira stands up and beckons Rio to join him on the feet.
Oliveira closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rio counters with a shoot takedown. Oliveira fights it but they end up in guard.
Rio won't allow Oliveira to get back to his feet.
Rio wants to control from the top but Oliveira keeps moving.
Oliveira wants to get back to his feet but Rio is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rio decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nice takedown defense from Oliveira. No joy for Rio on that attempt.
Oliveira tries to clinch up

and Rio counters with a single leg into guard. Oliveira didn't expect that.
Rio tries to free his leg and advance position but Oliveira is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Oliveira wants to stand but Rio is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rio stands and steps away. Oliveira gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Oliveira wants to clinch up but Rio keeps it at a distance.
Oliveira shoots in and drives through. Rio sprawls well.
Ricardo Rio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Oliveira fails with the takedown.
Oliveira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rio stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rio wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Oliveira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oliveira tries to clinch but Rio is having none of it.
Anderson Oliveira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oliveira tries to clinch up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Rio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rio has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Rio!