PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Venum Knee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigues Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Knee's entrance music is Darude - Sandstorm. A fine choice. The key to victory for Venum Knee has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Knee
vs
Junior

180 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Venum Knee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigues Junior!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knee tries to clinch up but Junior circles away and keeps his distance.
Knee tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Junior counters with a straight right hand.
Knee is looking to clinch.

Knee clinches up with Junior and pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Junior's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Knee - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Knee trying to land knees to the body.
Knee landing knees to the body.
Junior takes a knee right on the jaw!
Junior looks gassed!
Stalling in the clinch from Knee.
Knee lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
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!
Knee connects with a nasty looking knee right to Junior's face.
Junior takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knee with a knee to the head.
Knee comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knee lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Knee.
Knee lands a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Knee throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Junior blocks it with crossed arms.
Knee connects with a nasty looking knee right to Junior's face.
Junior takes an elbow to the temple.
Knee landing knees to the head.
Junior has had enough of the clinch but Knee keeps him there for the moment.
Knee tries a knee to the head but Junior blocks it.
Knee takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knee working Junior over with knees to the body.
Knee trying to stall but Junior improves his position.

Junior's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Knee tries to clinch but Junior is having none of it.
Junior keeps the fight on the outside.
Junior tries a head kick but it misses.
Junior throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knee tries to clinch but Junior is having none of it.
Knee wants to clinch up but Junior keeps it at a distance.
Knee fails with an attempt to clinch.
Knee tries to clinch but Junior is having none of it.
Junior lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Knee wants to clinch up but Junior keeps it at a distance.
Knee is looking to clinch but Junior is avoiding it.

Junior fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knee, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knee misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Junior.
Junior lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Junior is trying to push Knee away but Knee has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Junior wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knee landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knee wants to stall.
Junior tries to stall but Knee uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knee is trying to stall.
Knee trying to land knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Junior.
Knee is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Junior is defending well for now.
Knee has Junior pressed against the cage, preventing Junior from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knees in the clinch landing for Knee.
Knee effectively controlling the action here.
Junior looking to slow down the pace here.
Junior wants a takedown.
Knee stalling against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knee using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Junior looking to slow down the pace here.
Knee landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knee connects with a knee to the head.
Junior tries to circle away but Knee has him pinned against the cage.
Knee tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knee stalling the fight.
Junior lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Junior tries to land a knee to the head but Knee blocks with his arms.
Junior misses with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knees in the clinch landing for Knee.
Knee lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees to the body from Knee.
Junior is trying to break the clinch but Knee has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Junior swats away the attempt to clinch by Knee.
Junior avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Junior manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Knee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Junior throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Knee tries to clinch there but Junior circles away.
Venum Knee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Junior keeps the fight on the outside.

Knee pushes Junior up against the cage in a clinch.
Knee wants to stall.
Knee landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Junior in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Knee with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Knee obliges.
Knee stalling in the clinch but Junior improves position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Knee.
Knee lands a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knee stalls.
Knee crunches a lovely knee into Junior's ribcage.
Knee lands a knee to the body.
Junior is trying to break the clinch but Knee has him pressed against the cage.
Knees to the body from Knee.
Junior can't break the clinch.
Knee lands an elbow just above Junior 's eye.
Knee throws an elbow but it misses.
Junior landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knee unloads a knee to the mid-section. Junior lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
With the fighters up against the cage, Knee throws an elbow but misses.
Knee looking to throw knees to the head but Junior is blocking nicely.
Knee missing with knees to the body.
Junior avoiding damage as Knee throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior is trying to push Knee away but Knee has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Knee is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Junior is defending well for now.
Junior looking to throw knees to the head but Knee is blocking nicely.
Knee with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knee keeps control of Junior as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knee with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Junior breaks the clinch.
Knee fails with an attempt to clinch.
Knee tries to clinch up.
Knee doesn't manage to clinch there - Junior circles away.
Junior swats away the attempt to clinch by Knee.
Junior throws a series of punches but Knee moves out of range.
Knee tries to clinch but Junior is having none of it.
Knee tries to clinch but Junior is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Junior swats away the attempt to clinch by Knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior throws a series of strikes that have Knee backpedaling.

Junior moves into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Knee.
Knee lands a knee to the body.
Venum Knee has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Knee trying to stall but Junior improves his position.
Maybe Knee would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Junior blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knee tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Junior avoids it.

Junior breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knee fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Junior will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Junior keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knee avoids the head kick by Junior.
Knee tries to close the distance and clinch up but Junior swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Junior fails to land with a series of punches.
Knee tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Junior counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Junior misses with a double jab.
Junior swats away the attempt to clinch by Knee.

Knee gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knee keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Junior's efforts to push away.
Knee tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Junior avoiding damage as Knee throws knees to the body.
Knee being controlled against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knee lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Venum Knee dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Knee tries to close the distance and clinch but Junior swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Good shot there by Junior.
Junior misses with a series of wild punches.
Knee tries to clinch but Junior moves out of range.
Knee tries to clinch there but Junior circles away.
Venum Knee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Junior avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knee looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Junior scores with the left hand. Knee knows he should have avoided that one.
Knee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Junior manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Junior fails to land with a series of punches.
Knee wants to clinch up but Junior keeps it at a distance.
Knee tries to clinch there but Junior circles away.
Knee tries to close the distance and clinch but Junior swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knee tries to clinch up.
Knee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knee fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knee tries to clinch there but Junior circles away.
Knee tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Junior paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knee is looking to clinch but Junior is avoiding it.
Knee tries to clinch up but Junior circles away and keeps his distance.
Junior swats away the attempt to clinch by Knee.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Knee fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knee looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knee is looking to clinch but Junior is avoiding it.
Knee tries to close the distance and clinch but Junior swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Junior has managed to clinch.
Knee looking to slow down the pace here.
Junior working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knee working Junior over with knees to the body.
Knee is looking to control Junior's arms but Junior gets an underhook and turns him. Now Knee has his back to the cage.
Knee lands an elbow inside.
Junior throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Knee blocks it with crossed arms.
Knee connects with a knee to the head.
Knee is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Junior is keeping busy.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Knee obliges.
Knee trying to stall but Junior improves his position.
Knee blocks an elbow strike from Junior.
Knee is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Junior with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Knee is trying to stall.
Junior is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Knee is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knee connects with a nasty looking knee right to Junior's face.
Knee using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Junior breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knee is looking to clinch.
Knee takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Junior plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Knee moves in looking to clinch but Junior pushes him off.
Junior avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knee takes a kick to the side of the head.
Junior keeps the fight on the outside.
Knee wants to clinch up but Junior keeps it at a distance.
Knee fails in his attempt to clinch.
Junior connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior circles away from the clinch attempt.
Knee tries to clinch there but Junior circles away.
Junior fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Junior rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knee moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Knee tries to clinch but Junior is having none of it.
Knee tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Junior swinging wildly here.
Knee fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knee tries to clinch up.
Knee tries to clinch up.

Junior fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knee, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knee creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Junior's defenses.
Junior is pushing Knee up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rodrigues Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Venum Knee is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Knee managing to block the knees to the body from Junior.

And that's the end of the fight!
Venum Knee showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Knee 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Venum Knee!
Post fight, Venum Knee stared into the camera and said 'Fuck the Tap Out, Go for the Knock Out'.