PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Ranallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Maldini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocco Ranallo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ranallo
vs
Maldini

189 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

176 cm
18
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rocco Ranallo!
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, Jose Maldini!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maldini fails with a takedown attempt.
Ranallo takes a swing at Maldini's ribcage but misses.
Ranallo keeps the fight on the outside.
Maldini fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ranallo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maldini but Maldini pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Maldini doesn't manage to clinch there - Ranallo circles away.
Ranallo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Maldini moves out of range of the body kick from Ranallo.
Maldini fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rocco Ranallo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Maldini.
Maldini will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ranallo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ranallo wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maldini gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ranallo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ranallo trying to control the position from guard on top but Maldini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ranallo content to stall in guard here.
Ranallo trying to control but Maldini is working from the bottom.
Ranallo looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rocco Ranallo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ranallo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maldini circles away quickly and effectively.
Maldini shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ranallo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldini has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ranallo is working away from the top position though.
Ranallo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ranallo throws a strike but Maldini avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Maldini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ranallo throwing strikes but missing.
Maldini trying to control the position here.
Maldini working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranallo controlling from the top position.

Maldini escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ranallo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ranallo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maldini on the ground.
Ranallo tries to stand but Maldini is controlling from the bottom.
Ranallo is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maldini has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ranallo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ranallo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ranallo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ranallo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ranallo wants to pass the guard but Maldini is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maldini wants to stand but Ranallo is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Ranallo dominated that round.
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.

No luck for Maldini with that takedown attempt.
Maldini circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maldini moves out of range as Ranallo throws a body kick.
Ranallo throws a leg kick but Maldini sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ranallo has a takedown stuffed.
Ranallo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maldini checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ranallo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Ranallo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Maldini wants to sweep but no luck.
Maldini is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranallo tries to stand but Maldini is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maldini looking for a sweep. Not yet Maldini, not yet.
Maldini has Ranallo pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ranallo looking to sit in guard and control but Maldini gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maldini slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ranallo is trying to escape the position but Maldini is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ranallo tries to buck Maldini off but Maldini is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ranallo is working hard here to advance position.
Maldini lands a nice forearm strike.
Maldini wants to control but Ranallo is keeping him busy.
Ranallo is trying to improve his position.
Maldini is looking to take a break and control but Ranallo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maldini is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ranallo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maldini working away.
Maldini is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Maldini tries to score with some ground and pound. Ranallo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Maldini is looking to take a break and control but Ranallo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini throws an elbow but Ranallo slips to the side and avoids it well.

Maldini tries for a kimura but Ranallo is defending well.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Ranallo defending against the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Maldini decides to stand back up. Maldini steps back and let's Ranallo get back to his feet.
Maldini pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maldini shoots in but Ranallo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Maldini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Maldini tries for a takedown but Ranallo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Ranallo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Maldini was covering up waiting for the punch and Ranallo finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Ranallo stands up from Maldini's guard - Ranallo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rocco Ranallo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ranallo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maldini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maldini leaves Ranallo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maldini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Maldini.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maldini fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ranallo avoids it really well and circles away.
Rocco Ranallo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Maldini.
Ranallo is looking to clinch but Maldini is avoiding it.

Ranallo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ranallo trying to control the action but Maldini is working from the bottom.
Maldini makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maldini.

Maldini is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ranallo wants to get up but he can't break Maldini's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Maldini trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ranallo postures up and lands a big shot to Maldini's brow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maldini manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Maldini controlling from mount.
Maldini wants to control the pace but Ranallo is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranallo avoids a series of strikes thrown by Maldini.
Maldini thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Maldini controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ranallo is squirming around, avoiding Maldini's attempts to control the action.
Ranallo is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini controlling from mount.
Ranallo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maldini looking to control and managing it successfully.
Maldini trying to control but Ranallo is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poor strikes thrown by Maldini there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jose Maldini.
I think Maldini 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Maldini!