PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Bruno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Varjal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruno kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is a vida é desafio. Rick Varjal will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bruno
vs
Varjal

215 cm
19
290 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

174 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Bruno!
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, Rick Varjal!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bruno throws a series of punches but Varjal moves out of range.
Bruno looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Varjal throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Varjal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bruno as he avoids it easily.

Bruno takes the fight into the clinch.
Varjal tries a body shot but Bruno blocks it.
Bruno is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Varjal is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Bruno can't fight it off and eventually Varjal manages to take the fight to the floor. Bruno looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Varjal decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bruno, up you get!
Varjal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bruno is fending him off so far but Varjal persists. Nope, Bruno circles away and we're back to standing.
Varjal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Bruno has managed to clinch.
Varjal tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bruno smiles and moves away.
Daniel Bruno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Varjal.
Varjal looks for the body kick but Bruno saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bruno closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Varjal did well to prevent Bruno getting side control.
Bruno controlling the action here.
Varjal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bruno will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varjal trying to control here.
Bruno trying to control the action but Varjal is working from the bottom.
Varjal tries to get to full guard but Bruno has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bruno is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Varjal trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varjal is trying to get back to full guard.
Varjal is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Varjal is trying to stand up here but Bruno is controlling him well.
Varjal has his hands clasped together around Bruno's back. He's all about the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rick Varjal.
Varjal goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Daniel Bruno has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varjal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Varjal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bruno pinned against the cage. Bruno gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Varjal misses with a takedown attempt

and Bruno holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Varjal 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.
Varjal blocks an elbow strike from Bruno.
Varjal drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bruno gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Varjal is trying to stall.
Varjal effectively controlling the action here.
Varjal is trying to break the clinch but Bruno is controlling him.

Varjal lands a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Varjal dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Bruno's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Varjal lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bruno's sensitive parts.

Bruno gets a clinch.
Varjal is trying to push Bruno away but Bruno has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bruno tries to stall but Varjal uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Varjal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Varjal misses with the combination.
Varjal shoots in but no luck this time.
Varjal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bruno defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Varjal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varjal throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bruno avoids the head kick by Varjal.

Varjal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bruno, pushing him back against the cage.

Varjal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruno swats away the attempt to clinch by Varjal.
Varjal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Daniel Bruno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Varjal.
Varjal lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bruno takes a step back to recover.

Varjal changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bruno looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Varjal is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bruno knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bruno is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Varjal asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruno throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
The referee asks Varjal politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Varjal prefers to stall for the moment though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bruno tries to improve position but can't.
Varjal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bruno. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
An elbow from Varjal crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Varjal tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Varjal tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Bruno is trying to control Varjal's posture but Varjal avoids it.
Varjal is staying tight to Bruno's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Bruno wants to control but Varjal postures up.

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.
Bruno is trying to improve his position.
Varjal working the body and head with strikes.
Bruno is not content to let Varjal control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Varjal content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Varjal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Daniel Bruno'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!

Bruno has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Varjal.
A jab from Varjal finds it's way through Bruno's defenses.
Varjal lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Varjal misses with a head kick.

Varjal throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bruno was covering up waiting for the punch and Varjal finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Varjal trying to control but Bruno is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bruno looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Varjal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varjal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bruno keeping moving, preventing Varjal from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Bruno is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bruno keeping moving, preventing Varjal from controlling successfully.

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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rick Varjal wasn't active enough on the ground.
Varjal tries to clinch but Bruno moves out of range.
Varjal wants to clinch.
Bruno stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bruno wants it to stay on the feet.
Varjal looks to clinch

and Bruno counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Varjal controlling the position well.

Bruno is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Varjal still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Varjal has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruno wants to control but Varjal postures up.
Bruno prevents Varjal from moving into mount.
Varjal wants to control for a moment but Bruno uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Varjal is looking to take a break and control but Bruno is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Varjal has eaten all the pies!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bruno is trying to get back to full guard.
Bruno flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Varjal prevents Bruno from improving his position.

Bruno is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Varjal pulls his head out easily.
Varjal wants to stand up but Bruno is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Varjal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Varjal 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Varjal!