PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reese Rhoni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gonzala Kerrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kerrison comes into a darkened arena with his song building. "The Unforgiven III"-Metallica kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Gonzala Kerrison is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rhoni
vs
Kerrison

190 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Reese Rhoni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gonzala Kerrison!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kerrison scores with a takedown into Rhoni's guard.
Kerrison must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rhoni looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rhoni really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rhoni 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.
Kerrison tries to stand but Rhoni is controlling from the bottom.
Rhoni keeping moving, preventing Kerrison from controlling successfully.
Rhoni looking for a sweep. Not yet Rhoni, not yet.
Rhoni wants to control but Kerrison passes easily into half guard.

Kerrison stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rhoni to get to his feet.
Rhoni closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Gonzala Kerrison has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhoni with a poor takedown

and Kerrison counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kerrison postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kerrison wants to control from the top but Rhoni keeps moving.
Rhoni controls Kerrison momentarily but Kerrison frees himself.

Rhoni has his foot on Kerrison's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kerrison works his way back into a safe position though.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rhoni is on top in guard.
Rhoni tries to stand but Kerrison is controlling from the bottom.
Kerrison looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rhoni is one step ahead there.
Rhoni controlling from the top position.
Rhoni won't allow Kerrison to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerrison looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rhoni puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rhoni is looking to advance position but Kerrison won't allow it.
Kerrison looks gassed!
Rhoni sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kerrison trying to control from the bottom.
Kerrison is trying to stand back up but Rhoni is controlling him

Rhoni gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Kerrison gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rhoni counters with a low kick, right behind Kerrison 's knee.

Rhoni bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerrison tries to bench press Rhoni off him but Rhoni keeps the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kerrison manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kerrison wants to improve his position but Rhoni is controlling well.
Kerrison makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kerrison.
Kerrison looking for a sweep. Not yet Kerrison, not yet.
Kerrison is looking to sweep but instead, Rhoni has passed into half guard.
Rhoni prevents Kerrison from improving his position.
Kerrison is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rhoni is tying to control. Kerrison wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kerrison tries to kick Rhoni off but Rhoni keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kerrison slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

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.
Kerrison lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rhoni!
Rhoni is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rhoni is squirming around, avoiding Kerrison's attempts to control the action.
Rhoni is looking to improve his position but Kerrison isn't that keen on the idea.
Rhoni holds on for dear life, controlling Kerrison's posture momentarily.
Rhoni is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kerrison throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rhoni because Kerrison loaded up on that one.
Kerrison looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gonzala Kerrison will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gonzala Kerrison's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kerrison has his takedown stuffed

and Rhoni counters by moving into the clinch.
Kerrison tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rhoni smiles and moves away.
Kerrison tries to clinch up

and Rhoni counters with a single leg into guard. Kerrison didn't expect that.
Rhoni showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rhoni's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhoni advances to half guard.
Reese Rhoni overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rhoni seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rhoni wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kerrison keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerrison has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rhoni is working away from the top position though.
Rhoni keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rhoni is pressing down on Kerrison's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kerrison is holding on for now.
Rhoni stops Kerrison from getting back to his feet.

Kerrison actively working from the bottom here.
Rhoni passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kerrison!
Rhoni wants to get back to his feet but Kerrison is holding on tight.
Kerrison is trying to escape the mount.
Rhoni looking to control but Kerrison is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two 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.
Kerrison working to try and regain half guard.
Kerrison flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Rhoni fails to take his opponent's back.
Kerrison tries to lock up and control but Rhoni gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rhoni looking to control but Kerrison is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kerrison tries to hold on but Rhoni pushes him away.
Kerrison sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kerrison makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kerrison.
Rhoni postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhoni has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kerrison is proving hard to escape from.
Rhoni trying to control but Kerrison is working from the bottom.
Kerrison looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rhoni is one step ahead there.
Kerrison doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rhoni stopping the sweep attempt from Kerrison.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kerrison tries to clinch

and Rhoni decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kerrison's guard.
Rhoni stopping the sweep attempt from Kerrison.
Kerrison trying to control the position.
Kerrison is looking to stand up but Rhoni isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rhoni stands up and waves to Kerrison to follow him.

Kerrison gets the takedown into side control.
Rhoni is being controlled here.
Kerrison lands an elbow.
Kerrison lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rhoni down.
Kerrison passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rhoni!
Kerrison looking to control but Rhoni is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kerrison is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Kerrison shoots in and drives through. Rhoni sprawls well.
Reese Rhoni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gonzala Kerrison.
Rhoni tries for a takedown but Kerrison circles away easily

and Kerrison counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rhoni won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Reese Rhoni will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gonzala Kerrison's cut.
That's time! Rhoni's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Rhoni has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rhoni wants a takedown but no success here.
Kerrison prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rhoni unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kerrison lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rhoni can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reese Rhoni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kerrison is trying to stall.
Kerrison misses with a punch on the inside.
Rhoni can't get the takedown.
Rhoni tries a knee to the head but Kerrison blocks it.
Rhoni tries to pull guard but Kerrison won't allow it.
Rhoni avoiding damage as Kerrison throws knees to the body.
Kerrison takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rhoni goes for a takedown attempt but Kerrison pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kerrison steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rhoni. That one must have hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhoni tries to clinch but Kerrison moves out of range.
Rhoni misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Rhoni pushes Kerrison up against the cage in a clinch.
Kerrison is pressed up against the cage. Rhoni has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kerrison down to the mat. Kerrison avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kerrison moves out of range of the body kick.
Kerrison throws a head kick that misses
and Rhoni counters with a one-two to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rhoni.

Kerrison clinches up with Rhoni and pushes him back against the cage.

Kerrison has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rhoni is trying to keep an underhook but Kerrison manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rhoni has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kerrison is working away from the top position though.
Kerrison tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rhoni knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kerrison controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhoni is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kerrison has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rhoni tries to lock up and control but Kerrison gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rhoni reaches up and holds on to Kerrison to control the position.
Rhoni tries to lock up and control but Kerrison gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rhoni regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhoni controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Kerrison tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rhoni knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rhoni is controlling Kerrison's trapped leg to prevent Kerrison from advancing to side control.
Kerrison trying to control the action but Rhoni is working from the bottom.
Kerrison thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rhoni's head.
Rhoni keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rhoni wants to improve his position but Kerrison is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rhoni is working hard here to advance position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rhoni shoots in but Kerrison avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rhoni moves in looking to clinch but Kerrison pushes him off.

Rhoni takes the fight into the clinch.

Kerrison drags the fight down to the ground.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kerrison holds on and takes a little breather.
Rhoni won't allow Kerrison to get back to his feet.
Kerrison looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kerrison working a defensive guard here.
Rhoni has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kerrison is proving hard to escape from.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gonzala Kerrison.
I think Kerrison 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gonzala Kerrison!