PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jonathon Rook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oscar Gutierrez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rook
vs
Gutierrez

190 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Jonathon Rook!
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, Oscar Gutierrez!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rook looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Gutierrez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gutierrez lands a few punches from side control.

Gutierrez stands up.
Rook fails to land with a series of punches.
Rook lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gutierrez circles away quickly and effectively.
Rook lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gutierrez circles away quickly and effectively.
Rook will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gutierrez dodges the punch combination from Rook.
Rook misses with the combination.

Gutierrez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gutierrez should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Gutierrez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gutierrez is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rook!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rook is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Gutierrez jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rook manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Rook is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gutierrez has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gutierrez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gutierrez looks gassed!

Gutierrez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rook is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gutierrez asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Gutierrez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rook has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rook wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two 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.
Gutierrez is looking to take a break and control but Rook is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rook wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rook misses with a two punch combination.
Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown but Rook shows good takedown defense.
Rook scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Oscar Gutierrez has been cut.
Rook swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rook lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gutierrez circles away quickly and effectively.
Gutierrez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rook sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rook stalks Gutierrez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gutierrez's face. Gutierrez staggers backwards, shaken.
Rook throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rook throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Gutierrez gets the takedown into side control.

Gutierrez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rook knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gutierrez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rook pushes Gutierrez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gutierrez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gutierrez is putting a hurting on Rook here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rook tries to escape but Gutierrez is in control.
Gutierrez trying to control the action but Rook is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rook tries to bum rush Gutierrez with a series of wild strikes but Gutierrez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gutierrez slips a jab and a cross from Rook.
Rook misses with a series of wild punches.
Jonathon Rook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gutierrez scores with a takedown into Rook's guard.
Gutierrez forces his way into half guard.
Rook is trying to stand up here but Gutierrez is controlling him well.
Rook on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gutierrez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gutierrez prevents Rook from standing back up.
Gutierrez is trying to control the action in half guard but Rook is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gutierrez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Gutierrez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oscar Gutierrez's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gutierrez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rook is trying to defend but Gutierrez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rook is trying to stand back up but Gutierrez is controlling him

Gutierrez decides to stand and escape the position.
Some wild striking there from Rook.
Rook throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rook looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rook throws a series of punches but Gutierrez moves out of range.

Gutierrez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rook pushes Gutierrez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gutierrez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gutierrez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rook keeps working.
Gutierrez working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutierrez wants to control but Rook is keeping him busy.
Rook is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gutierrez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Gutierrez tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rook's legs.
Rook tries to escape but Gutierrez is in control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rook looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rook misses with a wild combination.
Rook looks to land a combination but Gutierrez avoids it well.

Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gutierrez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rook is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Gutierrez has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rook fending off the submission attempt from Gutierrez.
Rook takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Rook holding both Gutierrez 's hands and preventing any damage.

Gutierrez has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Rook trying to get back to his feet but Gutierrez is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez tries to get the hooks in deep but Rook pushed the leg off.
Rook is trying to stand back up.
Rook looking very determined here, making life difficult for Gutierrez.
Gutierrez throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Rook holding both Gutierrez 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
What can Rook do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Gutierrez struggling to land strikes to the head as Rook covers up.
Rook is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Gutierrez is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rook is defending well though. Gutierrez let's go of the attempt for now.
Rook is trying to get back to his feet but Gutierrez has full control of the position and if anything, Rook has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Rook knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gutierrez on the ground.
Gutierrez trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Gutierrez is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Rook has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Gutierrez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Oscar Gutierrez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rook tries to bum rush Gutierrez with a series of wild strikes but Gutierrez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rook rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gutierrez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Gutierrez feints and as Rook raises his hands in defense, Gutierrez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rook is looking to stand up but Gutierrez isn't so interested in that idea.
Rook can't keep his opponent in guard - Gutierrez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Gutierrez postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rook to stand up.
No joy there for Rook, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gutierrez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rook will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No joy there for Rook, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rook gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gutierrez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rook will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rook can't keep his opponent in guard - Gutierrez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gutierrez decides to stand up.
Rook throws a right hand that Gutierrez ducks under and follows up with a left that Gutierrez also avoids with ease.
Gutierrez avoids a punch combination nicely.

Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gutierrez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rook!
Gutierrez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jonathon Rook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez is looking to stand but Gutierrez has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Rook is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Gutierrez unloads with some shots from mount but Rook bucks and avoids them well.
Rook is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Rook is squirming around, avoiding Gutierrez's attempts to control the action.
Rook tries to buck Gutierrez off but he can't manage it.
Gutierrez tries to control but Rook wriggling away.
Gutierrez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rook is trying to stand.
Gutierrez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rook is looking to escape.
Rook wants to try and get back to his feet.
Rook takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rook trying desperately to get to his feet.

Gutierrez stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Gutierrez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gutierrez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rook is not content to let Gutierrez control the position.
Rook is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gutierrez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rook wants to get back to his feet but Gutierrez is dominant here and he's now got Rook's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Will Gutierrez go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Gutierrez misses with an elbow to the head.
Oscar Gutierrez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rook controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Oscar Gutierrez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gutierrez is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Rook is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oscar Gutierrez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gutierrez 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oscar Gutierrez!