PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rasgard Thenga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Acelino POPO (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.

Thenga
vs
POPO

183 cm
23
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Rasgard Thenga!
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, Acelino POPO!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thenga has POPO up against the cage in a clinch.
POPO misses with a body punch.
Thenga looking to throw knees to the head but POPO is blocking nicely.
Good body shot from Thenga.
Thenga lands a left hand that snaps the head of POPO backwards.

Thenga pulls guard.
Thenga is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thenga working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from POPO.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
POPO trying to control but Thenga is working from the bottom.
POPO wants to pass the guard but Thenga is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thenga is pulling down on POPO's head. It's preventing any offense from POPO, at least for the moment.

Thenga escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. POPO gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
POPO stopping the sweep attempt from Thenga.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thenga leaves POPO with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

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.
POPO wants to clinch

and Thenga counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Thenga wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Still in the clinch, Thenga scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thenga prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stalling in the clinch from POPO.
POPO tries to pull guard but Thenga won't allow it.
Rasgard Thenga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Acelino POPO.
Thenga with a knee to the head.

It looks like Acelino POPO has been cut.
Still in the clinch, Thenga scores with a nice short uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on POPO's face as he tries to break the clinch.
POPO is trying to force a seperation but Thenga has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thenga throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thenga cracks POPO with a nice body shot.

Thenga jumps into guard, dragging POPO to the mat.
Thenga wants to stand and escape but POPO is having none of it.
POPO controlling from the top position.
Thenga is looking to stand up but POPO isn't so interested in that idea.
POPO thows a big elbow that misses.
Thenga keeping moving, preventing POPO from controlling successfully.
Thenga wants to get back to his feet but POPO is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

Thenga wriggles free and stands up.
POPO closes the distance but Thenga moves to the side

and Thenga counters by moving into the clinch.
Thenga taking a breather.
Thenga lands a hook that snaps the head of POPO backwards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thenga lands a shoulder strike.
POPO misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Thenga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasgard Thenga dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Acelino POPO'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.

Thenga drives through and clinches with POPO against the cage.
Thenga lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
POPO takes a shot to the head.
POPO fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thenga drops down looking for an ankle pick but POPO pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thenga really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
POPO keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thenga drives through and clinches with POPO against the cage.
Thenga misses with a knee to the head.
POPO jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thenga walks away with a smile on his face. POPO gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thenga fails with the takedown
and POPO counters with a nice uppercut.
POPO tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thenga makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A left and a right from Thenga both land. Nice combination.
Thenga lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Thenga.
POPO darts in trying to clinch
and Thenga counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
POPO is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
POPO swats away the attempt to clinch by Thenga.

Thenga pushes POPO up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Thenga.
POPO misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thenga lands a body shot.

Thenga has picked POPO up - he's going for a ride! Thenga dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Thenga in particular looking to stall.
Thenga throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thenga looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rasgard Thenga.
POPO tries to clinch but Thenga moves away
and Thenga counters with a stiff right hand.
Thenga misses with a two punch combination.

Thenga moves into the clinch.
Thenga lands a left hand that snaps the head of POPO backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
POPO misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thenga lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
POPO wants a takedown.
Rasgard Thenga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Acelino POPO.
A short uppercut from Thenga.
Thenga scores with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Thenga - that landed with a thud.

Thenga pulls guard.
Thenga looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thenga throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Thenga is adopting a defensive guard.
Thenga lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for POPO!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasgard Thenga dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Acelino POPO's cut.
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!

Thenga moves into the clinch.
POPO tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thenga's elbow.
A shot in the inside from Thenga.
Nice body punch from Thenga - that landed with a thud.

Thenga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
POPO with a poor takedown

and Thenga counters by moving into the clinch.
POPO takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thenga putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has POPO in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A short right from Thenga.
POPO is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thenga lands a body shot in the clinch.
Thenga unloads a knee to the mid-section.

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

Thenga closes the distance and pushes POPO back into the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Thenga.

Thenga pulls guard successfully.
Thenga has his hands on POPO's head, controlling the position.
Thenga wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thenga is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thenga decides to return to a standing position.

Thenga pushes POPO up against the cage in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Thenga scores with a nice short uppercut.

POPO has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thenga uses from the top position.
Thenga controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Thenga decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on POPO, up you get!
Thenga lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thenga fails to land with a series of punches.
Horrible takedown by Thenga or perhaps it was just good defense by POPO which made him look bad.
Thenga misses with a wild combination.

Thenga closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thenga lands a body shot.
Thenga blocks a body shot from POPO.
Thenga using the Thai plumb to throw knees but POPO has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Thenga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four 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.
Thenga misses with a wild combination.

Thenga pushes POPO up against the cage in a clinch.
Acelino POPO has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
POPO fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thenga lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rasgard Thenga is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Thenga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thenga wants to clinch up but POPO keeps it at a distance.

Thenga moves into range and clinches up with POPO.
POPO trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rasgard Thenga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thenga has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:26
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rasgard Thenga!