PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mick Maurizio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Silvano Assunicao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maurizio comes to the cage accompanied by NMH2: No More Riot. 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.

Maurizio
vs
Assunicao

172 cm
25
210 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

190 cm
26
215 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mick Maurizio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Silvano Assunicao!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assunicao circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick misses from Maurizio.
Assunicao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maurizio tries to avoid it but Assunicao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maurizio to the ground. Maurizio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maurizio tries for a takedown but Assunicao circles away easily

and Assunicao decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maurizio's guard.
Assunicao loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Assunicao trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Assunicao drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Maurizio manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Assunicao has Maurizio in his guard.

Maurizio decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Assunicao, up you get!
Maurizio looks to clinch
and Assunicao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maurizio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maurizio scores with a push kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maurizio doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Assunicao counters with a shoot takedown. Maurizio fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maurizio seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Maurizio wants to sweep here but Assunicao controlling him for the moment.
Assunicao throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maurizio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maurizio wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Assunicao is now in half guard.
Maurizio is trying is best to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Assunicao is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Maurizio moves into full guard.

Maurizio has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Assunicao off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A bone on bone clash there as Maurizio blocks the leg kick.
Maurizio throws a sloppy head kick and Assunicao moves out of range easily.
Assunicao avoids the head kick by Maurizio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Maurizio checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Maurizio has his takedown stuffed

and Assunicao counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mick Maurizio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Assunicao working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Assunicao missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Assunicao throws a big right hand that misses.
Assunicao chips away with some ground and pound.
Assunicao is looking to advance position but Maurizio has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Maurizio lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Maurizio is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Assunicao can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
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!
Maurizio looking to finish Assunicao with some ground and pound. This is bad for Assunicao!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assunicao is squirming around, avoiding Maurizio's attempts to control the action.
Assunicao is in all sorts of trouble here.
Maurizio in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Assunicao is in a horrible position here. Maurizio smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Assunicao sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Maurizio is keen to just control but Assunicao is a slippery customer.
Assunicao tries to get to full guard but Maurizio has control of the leg.
Maurizio throwing shots but Assunicao is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Assunicao tries to get to full guard but Maurizio has control of the leg.
Maurizio working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Silvano Assunicao will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maurizio tries to keep at a distance but Assunicao has taken the fight into the clinch.
Maurizio is pressed up against the cage. Assunicao has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Maurizio down to the mat. Maurizio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Maurizio darts in trying to clinch

and Assunicao counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Assunicao works his way into full mount!
Assunicao thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Assunicao lands a nice shot to the head.
Silvano Assunicao has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assunicao thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Maurizio regains half guard.
Maurizio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Assunicao.
Assunicao lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Assunicao throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Assunicao missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Assunicao lands a nice short elbow.
Assunicao sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Maurizio defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assunicao winds up and cracks Maurizio with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Maurizio wants to get back to full guard.
Assunicao thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Maurizio to regain full guard.
Assunicao postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maurizio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maurizio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maurizio bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Assunicao's guard.
Maurizio trying to control the position from guard on top but Assunicao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Assunicao preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maurizio lands a couple of elbows.

Assunicao is working an open guard so Maurizio takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Assunicao avoids the head kick by Maurizio.
Assunicao circles away from the clinch attempt

and Assunicao holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Maurizio is pressed up against the cage. Assunicao has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Maurizio down to the mat. Maurizio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Both fighters circling a little - Maurizio finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Maurizio shoots and misses

and Assunicao counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maurizio regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Assunicao.
Maurizio is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maurizio is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Assunicao tries a body shot but Maurizio blocks it.
Assunicao is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Maurizio gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mick Maurizio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Silvano Assunicao.
Maurizio lands a left hand that snaps the head of Assunicao backwards.
Assunicao fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Maurizio taking a breather.
Maurizio prevents the takedown attempt.
Maurizio makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Maurizio comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Maurizio is looking to control Assunicao's arms but Assunicao gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maurizio has his back to the cage.
Assunicao takes an elbow to the temple.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maurizio scores a nice knee to the body.
Maurizio lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Maurizio.
Maurizio lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Maurizio has Assunicao pressed against the cage.
Nice elbow from Maurizio.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Silvano Assunicao will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Maurizio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Assunicao swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Maurizio rushes Assunicao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Maurizio creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Maurizio lands an elbow inside.
Assunicao tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maurizio smiles and moves away.
Assunicao takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Maurizio is looking to clinch.
Maurizio tries to clinch up but Assunicao circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Maurizio.
A head kick misses from Maurizio.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maurizio shoots for a takedown but Assunicao saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maurizio is looking to clinch but Assunicao is avoiding it.
Assunicao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assunicao shoots in and drives through. Maurizio sprawls well.
Maurizio has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Maurizio has closed the distance and engaged Assunicao in a clinch.
Maurizio is pressed up against the cage. Assunicao has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Maurizio down to the mat. Maurizio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mick Maurizio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Silvano Assunicao.
Maurizio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maurizio wants to clinch up but Assunicao keeps it at a distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Assunicao.
Assunicao tries to clinch up

and Maurizio counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maurizio with a nice head shot there.

Assunicao working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maurizio doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maurizio manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maurizio has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Maurizio slips nicely into half guard.
Maurizio drops an elbow to the side of Assunicao's head.
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!
Maurizio is trying to control the action in half guard but Assunicao is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Assunicao actively working from the bottom here.
Assunicao is not content to let Maurizio control the position.

Maurizio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Assunicao defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assunicao is looking for a sweep. Maurizio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ground and pound from Maurizio.
Assunicao manages to get to full guard.

Maurizio gets to his feet. Assunicao looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Maurizio just misses with a punch to the body.

Maurizio drives through and clinches with Assunicao against the cage.
Maurizio is pressed up against the cage. Assunicao has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Maurizio down to the mat. Maurizio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Maurizio shoots and misses

and Assunicao counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Maurizio!
Maurizio wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Assunicao.
Maurizio is looking to improve his position but Assunicao isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assunicao landing strikes from the mount and Maurizio is in trouble!
Assunicao in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Assunicao looking to ground and pound but Maurizio is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maurizio is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Mick Maurizio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Assunicao working away from the top, dropping strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mick Maurizio showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Assunicao 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Silvano Assunicao!