PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juan Piligracio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rasgard Thenga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Piligracio
vs
Thenga

185 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
24
142 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Piligracio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rasgard Thenga!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Piligracio with a poor takedown
and Thenga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Piligracio throws a nice looking combination but Thenga bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Piligracio has his takedown stuffed
and Thenga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Thenga has managed to clinch.
Piligracio tries to break the clinch but Thenga is controlling the position.
Thenga lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thenga missing with knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thenga.
Piligracio is trying to break free.

Thenga has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Piligracio uses from the top position.
Thenga seems keen to control Piligracio's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rasgard Thenga hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Piligracio misses with a takedown attempt

and Thenga counters with a single leg into guard. Piligracio didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Piligracio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thenga controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rasgard Thenga.
Piligracio shoots and misses

and Thenga counters by clinching up.
Piligracio can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thenga lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Piligracio wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thenga has him pressed against the cage.
Thenga lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Thenga breaks from the clinch.

Piligracio tries to keep at a distance but Thenga has taken the fight into the clinch.
Piligracio wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Piligracio really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Thenga manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Piligracio won't allow Thenga to sweep him here.

Piligracio has gone for a leg lock! Thenga slips out almost immediately though and dives into Piligracio's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piligracio looking to control.
Thenga is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Thenga must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Piligracio escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thenga gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thenga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Let's hope that Thenga has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Thenga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rasgard Thenga.
Piligracio gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thenga counters by clinching up.
Thenga lands with a right to the head.
Piligracio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four 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.
Piligracio working hard to break the clinch.
Thenga dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Thenga's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Piligracio has had enough of the clinch but Thenga keeps him there for the moment.
Piligracio is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Piligracio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thenga avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Thenga breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasgard Thenga dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thenga shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Piligracio is working to get back to half guard.
Thenga tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Piligracio tries to lock up and control but Thenga gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thenga connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Thenga content just to control the position here.
Piligracio is trying to escape the mount.
Thenga controlling the pace for now.
Thenga with the ground and pound from mount.
Piligracio working to try and regain half guard.
Thenga controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thenga avoids the attempt from Piligracio to control.
Piligracio tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thenga controlling the pace for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Piligracio is in all sorts of trouble here.
Piligracio is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Thenga controlling the pace for now.

Thenga jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Piligracio manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Piligracio being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Piligracio struggling a bit here.
Piligracio tries to improve position but can't.
Piligracio being controlled for a moment.
Piligracio tries to bench press Thenga off him but Thenga keeps the position.
Thenga staying calm.
Piligracio takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piligracio is looking for a sweep.
Thenga is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Piligracio's shoulder. That is not cool.
Piligracio tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A lull in the action here.
Piligracio tries to bench press Thenga off him but Thenga keeps the position.

Thenga decides to stand back up. Thenga steps back and let's Piligracio get back to his feet.
Thenga misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rasgard Thenga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Piligracio connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thenga instigates a clinch.
Thenga gets through Piligracio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Piligracio can't get the takedown.
Thenga keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Piligracio's efforts to push away.

Thenga gets control of Piligracio's arms and successfully pulls guard. Thenga will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Thenga has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Piligracio postures up and lands a big shot to Thenga's brow.

Piligracio postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thenga is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Piligracio, into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasgard Thenga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Piligracio fails with the takedown

and Thenga holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Thenga - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Piligracio wants a takedown but no success here.
Piligracio working hard to break the clinch.
Piligracio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thenga lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Piligracio backwards.
Thenga scores with a shot to the side of Piligracio's head.
Thenga tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Piligracio avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thenga gets through Piligracio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Thenga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Piligracio gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thenga counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Piligracio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Piligracio is pushing Thenga's head away, looking to escape. Thenga manages to hold on to the position though.
Thenga working away.
A lull in the action here as Thenga stalls from top position.
Piligracio takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Thenga staying calm.
Piligracio tries to buck Thenga off but Thenga is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Piligracio's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thenga is chipping away with strikes.
Thenga remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Thenga working away.
Piligracio tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thenga taking a breather here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rasgard Thenga wasn't active enough on the ground.
Piligracio fails with the takedown

and Thenga counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Piligracio's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thenga scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Thenga.
Thenga lands a nice shot to the body.
Thenga stalling.
Juan Piligracio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Piligracio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Piligracio wants a takedown but no success here.

Thenga ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thenga no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Thenga tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thenga trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Thenga lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Piligracio!
Piligracio tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thenga cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Thenga lands a nice shot to the head.
Thenga lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Thenga avoids the attempt from Piligracio to control.
Thenga controlling the pace for now.
Thenga is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rasgard Thenga is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Piligracio working to try and regain half guard.
Thenga takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rasgard Thenga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thenga has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

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