PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Muniz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Rico could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rafael Muniz's chin.

Rico
vs
Muniz

200 cm
27
275 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

194 cm
23
242 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johnny Rico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Muniz!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Rico or perhaps it was just good defense by Muniz which made him look bad.
Rico blocks a head kick by Muniz.
Rico will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Muniz moves into range and clinches up with Rico.
Rico is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Muniz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Rico. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muniz stops a takedown attempt from Rico.
Rico wants to get back to striking at distance but Muniz won't allow it.
Muniz lands an elbow just above Rico 's eye.
Muniz stops a takedown attempt from Rico.

Muniz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rico shoots in for a takedown but Muniz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Rico shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Muniz's guard.
Rico trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rico throwing strikes from guard but Muniz blocks nicely.
Muniz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rico is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Muniz controls Rico momentarily but Rico frees himself.
Rico loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Muniz has control of Rico's left arm, preventing Rico from doing any damage.
Rico throws and elbow that misses. Muniz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rico's guard. Nice move by Muniz!
Rico throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Muniz won't allow Rico to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muniz trying to control the position from guard on top but Rico is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rico striking off his back but it's not causing Muniz any problems.
Rico is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rico utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rico looking to hit a scissor sweep but Muniz is one step ahead there.
Rico trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rico tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Muniz to counter with a crisp jab.

Rico feints and as Muniz raises his hands in defense, Rico changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rico is looking to work some ground and pound but Muniz has wrist control.
Rico trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rico trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rico is working Muniz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rico throws a big right hand that misses.
Rico throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rico postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rico postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rico throws a strike but Muniz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muniz preventing the sweep.
Muniz pushes down on Rico's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Muniz prevents Rico from improving his position.
Rico trying to control but Muniz postures up.
Rico punching from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johnny Rico will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rico with a poor takedown

and Muniz counters by clinching up.

Rico gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rico throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rico throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Muniz tries to roll over but Rico keeps him under control.
Rico wants to take a breather but Muniz is having none of it.
Muniz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rico scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rico thows a huge punch but Muniz dodges it nicely.
Rico takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rico trying to control from Muniz's half guard. Muniz has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Muniz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rico trying to control the position from guard on top but Muniz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rico controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rico seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Muniz for as long as he can get away with.
Rico throws and elbow that misses. Muniz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rico's guard. Nice move by Muniz!
Rico keeping moving, preventing Muniz from controlling successfully.
Rico doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rico wants to sweep but no luck.
Rico keeping moving, preventing Muniz from controlling successfully.
Rico looking for a sweep. Not yet Rico, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rico shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Muniz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rico looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Muniz is avoiding damage well.
Rico in side control, throwing shots but Muniz defends.
Muniz avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rico.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico wants to control but Muniz is keeping him busy.
Muniz dodges the ground and pound from Rico.
Muniz takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Muniz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Rico grinds an elbow into Muniz's temple.
Muniz defending against the ground and pound.
Muniz takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Muniz taking a bit of punishment here - Rico scoring with strikes.
Rico grinds an elbow into Muniz's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico is chipping away with strikes.
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!
Rico misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rico looks up at the clock and then as Muniz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rico smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The strikes coming from Rico are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rico scoring with punches and elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rico misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Muniz trying to remain calm as Rico controls from the top position.
Rico grinds an elbow into Muniz's temple.
Rico connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Muniz some visible discomfort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rico is chipping away with strikes.
Muniz taking a bit of punishment here - Rico scoring with strikes.
Muniz wants to control but Rico postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Rico dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Some wild striking there from Muniz.
Rico fails to land with a series of punches.
Rico tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Muniz moves into the clinch.
A hook to the body from Muniz.
Muniz swings wildly with an uppercut but Rico uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rico is pressed up against the cage. Muniz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rico down to the mat. Rico avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rico shoots and misses

and Muniz counters with a shoot takedown. Rico fights it but they end up in guard.
Rico looking to hit a scissor sweep but Muniz is one step ahead there.
Rico throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rico is striking off his back. Muniz thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Rico misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Muniz blocks the strikes from Rico.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Muniz moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Rico.
Muniz slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Rico.
Rico srikes from the bottom but he's lost position and has given up his back.
Rico wants to control his opponent's hands but Muniz gets his hands free.
Muniz is trying to stick to Rico's back but Rico is turning into Muniz. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Muniz's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rico.
Rico trying to control the position from guard on top but Muniz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rico throwing strikes from guard but Muniz blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico throws a big right hand that misses.
Rico thows a big elbow that misses.
Johnny Rico overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rico postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rico with a lazy takedown attempt

and Muniz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Muniz slips nicely into half guard.
Rico is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rico wants to control but Muniz is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico wants to control the action here but instead Muniz manages to pass to full mount!
Rico is working to get back to half guard.
Rico is trying to reverse the position but instead Muniz has taken his back - oops!

Muniz working for the choke.
Muniz trying to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Muniz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rico 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Johnny Rico!