PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Murilo Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinicius Markus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murilo Ninja has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ninja
vs
Markus

182 cm
24
221 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
204 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Enjoys gardening

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Ninja!
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, Vinicius Markus!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Markus enables Ninja to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Markus manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Markus doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Ninja got a little sloppy there for a moment and Markus has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ninja has managed to get both his arms back between Markus's legs - danger averted.
Ninja slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Markus prevents Ninja from improving position.

Ninja working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ninja tries to advance position but instead Markus slips a leg back in to half guard.

Ninja seems to be working for a kimura but Markus defends the submission attempt.
Ninja stops Markus from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markus is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ninja's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ninja's back!
Ninja covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Ninja holding both Markus 's hands and preventing any damage.
Ninja staying busy and making it hard for Markus to control.
Markus might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ninja kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

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.
Ninja has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Markus.
Markus trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Ninja wants to get back to his feet.

Markus looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Ninja is controlling Markus 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ninja trying to control but Markus is working from the bottom.
Markus keeping full guard, as Ninja tries to pass.
Markus trying to keep a closed guard but Ninja is proving a slippery customer.
Markus can't keep his opponent in guard - Ninja advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Markus missing with punches from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ninja blocks the strikes from Markus.

Ninja is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Markus is just riding it out for now. Ninja eventually gives up the hold.

Ninja is looking for a kimura here.
Markus wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ninja is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murilo Ninja dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ninja changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Markus looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Markus is not content to let Ninja control the position.
Ninja working away.
Sloppy strikes there by Ninja.
Markus is not content to let Ninja control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markus manages to get back to half guard.

Ninja is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ninja thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ninja trying to pass the guard but Markus defending well.

Ninja looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Markus trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ninja wants to control but Markus is keeping him busy.
Markus is looking for a sweep. Ninja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ninja wants to pass to mount but Markus is defending the position.
Markus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ninja.
Markus is trying to maintain the position but Ninja is very close to passing his half guard.
Ninja seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Markus does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ninja missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ninja wants to pass to mount but Markus is defending the position.
Markus is looking to escape.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Ninja is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Markus wants to control but Ninja is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markus won't allow Ninja to pass to mount.

Ninja is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ninja trying to control from Markus's half guard. Markus has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Ninja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ninja throwing strikes but missing.
Markus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ninja is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Markus trying to keep a closed guard but Ninja is proving a slippery customer.
Ninja looking to pass the guard.
Ninja controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ninja looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vinicius Markus wasn't active enough on the ground.
Markus looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murilo Ninja dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Markus gets caught flat footed, as Ninja shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Markus is trying to keep Ninja in close.
Ninja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ninja accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ninja is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ninja got a little sloppy there for a moment and Markus has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ninja has managed to get both his arms back between Markus's legs - danger averted.
Markus controls Ninja momentarily but Ninja frees himself.
Ninja looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Markus looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ninja trying to control the position from guard on top but Markus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ninja pushes down on Markus's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ninja throwing shots but Markus is blocking nicely.
Ninja is taking a breather. Markus says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ninja is looking to advance position but Markus won't allow it.
Ninja is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markus really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Ninja looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Markus keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ninja throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Ninja working for a guillotine from mount but Markus is in no mood to give up.
Ninja unloads with some shots from mount but Markus bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markus is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Markus is looking to get to half guard.
Ninja throws some wild stikes that Markus manages to avoid easily.
Ninja will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Markus wants to hold on but Ninja pushes him away.
Ninja trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ninja punching from mount but Markus doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Ninja goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Markus turns into him and now he's in Ninja's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Markus trying to control the position from guard on top but Ninja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

We're going to have a standup here because Murilo Ninja wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Ninja rushes Markus and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Markus is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ninja is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Markus to the mat. Markus regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Markus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ninja's guard.
Markus trying to control but Ninja is working from the bottom.
Vinicius Markus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murilo Ninja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markus throwing strikes from guard but Ninja blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murilo Ninja showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ninja 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murilo Ninja!