PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julius Rodrigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rubiao Macarenco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Macarenco has chosen Eye of the Tiger as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rodrigo
vs
Macarenco

170 cm
19
135 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

159 cm
26
135 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julius Rodrigo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rubiao Macarenco!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macarenco tries a head kick but it misses.
Macarenco throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Macarenco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Macarenco throws a head kick that misses.
Macarenco moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Rodrigo has Macarenco up against the cage in a clinch.

Rodrigo has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Macarenco regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rodrigo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rodrigo throws a big elbow that misses.
Rodrigo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rodrigo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Macarenco wants to get back to his feet but Rodrigo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rodrigo tries to free his leg and advance position but Macarenco is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Julius Rodrigo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Macarenco swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Macarenco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Macarenco tries to bum rush Rodrigo with a series of wild strikes but Rodrigo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Rodrigo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Macarenco quickly recovers to half guard.
Rodrigo controlling the action here.
Rodrigo prevents Macarenco from standing back up.
Rodrigo is pressing down on Macarenco's thigh, looking to free his foot. Macarenco is holding on for now.
Rodrigo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rodrigo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo content to control rather than advance.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rodrigo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rodrigo trying to mount his opponent but Macarenco defends it.
Rodrigo drops an elbow to the side of Macarenco's head.
Rodrigo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodrigo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rodrigo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rodrigo winds up and cracks Macarenco with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Macarenco is trying to stand up here but Rodrigo is controlling him well.
Rodrigo is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macarenco has hold of Rodrigo's hands but Rodrigo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rodrigo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rodrigo throwing shots but Macarenco is blocking nicely.
Rodrigo not doing much here.
Rodrigo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Macarenco is trying to stand up here but Rodrigo is controlling him well.
Rodrigo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Macarenco is trying to stand up here but Rodrigo is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rodrigo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rodrigo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rodrigo controlling the action here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Macarenco throws a series of punches but Rodrigo moves out of range.
Rodrigo misses with a low kick.
Macarenco throws a head kick but Rodrigo moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Macarenco tries to sprawl but Rodrigo drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rodrigo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rodrigo controlling the action here.
Rodrigo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Rodrigo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Macarenco throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Julius Rodrigo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Macarenco misses with a jab, cross combination.
Macarenco misses with a double jab.

Rodrigo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Macarenco did well to prevent Rodrigo getting side control.
Rodrigo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Macarenco looks like he's trying to stand up.
Well, if Rodrigo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Macarenco is looking to escape.
Julius Rodrigo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodrigo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Macarenco's head.
Well, if Rodrigo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rodrigo connects with a nice short shot to Macarenco's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigo controlling the action here.
Rodrigo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Macarenco looks like he's trying to stand up.
Macarenco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodrigo.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigo controlling the action here.
Macarenco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodrigo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macarenco is looking to escape.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Macarenco throws a right hand that Rodrigo ducks under and follows up with a left that Rodrigo also avoids with ease.
Macarenco throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodrigo.
Macarenco throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Macarenco is breathing heavily.
Macarenco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Macarenco throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rodrigo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Macarenco can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rodrigo controls the pace.
Macarenco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rodrigo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Rodrigo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rodrigo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rodrigo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rodrigo trying to control the position from guard on top but Macarenco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodrigo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rodrigo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rodrigo prevents Macarenco from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Macarenco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Macarenco is looking to stand up but Rodrigo isn't so interested in that idea.
Rodrigo is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Julius Rodrigo.
A combination from Rodrigo does no damage.
Rodrigo blocks a head kick by Macarenco.
Macarenco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rodrigo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Macarenco throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Macarenco fails to land with a series of punches.

Rodrigo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rodrigo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Rodrigo dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Macarenco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rodrigo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rodrigo misses with a series of wild punches.
Macarenco tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Macarenco.
Rodrigo tries to land a leg kick but Macarenco saw it coming and moves away.
Macarenco throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodrigo.
Macarenco fails to land with a series of punches.
Rodrigo throws a right and a left that Macarenco avoids nicely.
Macarenco throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rodrigo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rodrigo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rodrigo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rodrigo chips away with some ground and pound.
Rodrigo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Macarenco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodrigo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Macarenco can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macarenco is looking to stand up but Rodrigo isn't so interested in that idea.
Macarenco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Macarenco is wriggling around but Rodrigo manages to pass to half guard.
Rodrigo is nestled in close to Macarenco, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rodrigo drops an elbow to the side of Macarenco's head.
Macarenco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Macarenco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rodrigo.
Still in half guard, Rodrigo seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macarenco wants to get back to his feet.
Rodrigo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Macarenco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rodrigo throws an overhand right that lands on Macarenco's shoulder, as Macarenco tries to avoid the shot.
Macarenco rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rodrigo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rubiao Macarenco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Macarenco swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rodrigo fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Macarenco.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodrigo misses with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo slips a jab and a cross from Macarenco.

Rodrigo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Macarenco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Rodrigo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Julius Rodrigo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A lull in the action here.

Julius Rodrigo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rodrigo scores with a takedown into Macarenco's guard.
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!
Rodrigo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo stops Macarenco from standing up.
Rodrigo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Macarenco wants to stand but Rodrigo is controlling the position.
Rodrigo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Julius Rodrigo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rodrigo drives through with a takedown into Macarenco's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julius Rodrigo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodrigo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julius Rodrigo!
Julius Rodrigo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.