PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edmundo Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Rossi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hugo Rossi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Jr
vs
Rossi

165 cm
19
155 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

173 cm
23
153 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

ANABOLIC **160** LAUNDRY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edmundo Jr!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hugo Rossi!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Jr with that takedown attempt.
Rossi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Jr decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rossi is pressing down on Jr's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jr trying to control but Rossi is working from the bottom.
Jr with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jr stands up over Rossi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Rossi has his foot on Jr's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jr works his way back into a safe position though.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jr's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rossi is keeping the position for now.
Jr postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rossi controlling the position.

Jr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jr postures up in Rossi's guard and throws a big left but Rossi blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jr postures up.
Rossi wants to control the position but Jr says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Rossi wants to control but Jr is keeping busy.
Jr throwing shots but Rossi is blocking nicely.
Jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rossi regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rossi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rossi keeping full guard, as Jr tries to pass.
Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Rossi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rossi working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jr scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jr looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rossi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jr's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rossi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jr keeping full guard, as Rossi tries to pass.
Rossi trying to control the position from guard on top but Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rossi 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.
Rossi stops Jr from standing up.
Rossi trying to control but Jr is working from the bottom.

Rossi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jr is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rossi, into his guard.
Jr throws a big right hand that misses.
Rossi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Rossi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rossi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jr is aware though and is defending well.
Jr throwing strikes from guard but Rossi blocks nicely.
Jr makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jr wants to control from the top but Rossi keeps moving.
Jr controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rossi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Edmundo Jr will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rossi looks for a takedown but Jr sprawls well.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rossi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jr.
Jr closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rossi circles away.
Horrible takedown by Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Rossi which made him look bad.
Edmundo Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jr scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rossi struggling a bit here.
Rossi tries to bench press Jr off him but Jr keeps the position.
Jr connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rossi some visible discomfort.
Rossi sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Edmundo Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jr prevents Rossi from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Jr there.
Jr is trying to control. Rossi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rossi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jr is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jr scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rossi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jr is trying to control. Rossi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jr looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rossi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Jr wants to control but Rossi is keeping him busy.
Rossi trying to control here.
Rossi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rossi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jr is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rossi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rossi trying to keep a closed guard but Jr is proving a slippery customer.
Rossi is looking to sweep but instead, Jr has passed into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jr wants to take a breather but Rossi is having none of it.
Rossi is trying to get back to full guard.
Jr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rossi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi trying to control but Jr postures up.
Rossi tries to roll over but Jr keeps him under control.
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. Jr connects with a nice short shot to Rossi's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rossi is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Jr has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Jr with the ground and pound from mount.
Jr looking to finish Rossi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rossi!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Jr cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Jr has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rossi's face.
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!
Rossi is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jr is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jr landing strikes from the mount and Rossi is in trouble!
Rossi is trying to escape the mount.
Jr is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jr raining down shots from the mount!
Rossi is trying desperately to improve position.
Jr pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jr landing shots from mount.
Jr controlling the pace for now.
Rossi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edmundo Jr dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rossi throws a right hand that Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Jr also avoids with ease.
Rossi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rossi has a takedown stuffed.

Jr throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rossi was covering up waiting for the punch and Jr finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jr trying to control but Rossi is working from the bottom.
Jr looking to sit in guard and control but Rossi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jr manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rossi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Some wild striking there from Rossi.
Jr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rossi as he jumps to the side.
Jr fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi throws a right and a left that Jr avoids nicely.
Jr takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rossi tries to clinch but Jr is having none of it.
Rossi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edmundo Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rossi throws the left hand but Jr avoids the punch easily.
Rossi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jr sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jr slips a jab and a cross from Rossi.
Rossi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rossi shoots in looking for a takedown. Jr tries to sprawl out of it but Rossi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rossi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jr slaps away a takedown attempt from Rossi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rossi as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Jr. No joy for Rossi on that attempt.
Rossi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jr sprawls well. Jr wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rossi gets slowly back to his feet.
Jr fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rossi avoids it really well and circles away.
Jr shoots in looking for a takedown but Rossi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jr's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Jr closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rossi's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jr scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jr 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.
Jr won't allow Rossi to sweep him here.
Jr with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rossi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Jr won't allow Rossi to sweep him here.
Jr is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jr works over Rossi with some ground and pound from guard.
Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Rossi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jr will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Jr. No joy for Rossi on that attempt.

Jr scores a takedown into full mount!
Jr punishing his opponent with strikes.
Jr postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rossi looks a forlorn figure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jr content just to control the position here.
Rossi is desperately trying to improve his position but Jr has a good base and remains in mount.
Jr in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jr raining down hammerfists from mount.
Rossi can't escape the position.
Jr scores with a couple of good head shots there.
BOOM! Jr connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edmundo Jr clearly takes 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.

Jr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rossi as he avoids it easily.
Jr dives in and grabs Rossi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rossi pushes down on Jr's head and hops out.
Jr shoots in for a double leg but Rossi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edmundo Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rossi fails with a takedown attempt.
Rossi has a takedown stuffed.
Jr fails with the takedown.
Rossi looks to land a combination but Jr avoids it well.
Jr fails with the takedown

and Rossi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jr won't be happy with that.
Jr tries to bench press Rossi off him but Rossi keeps the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Jr throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Jr shoots in and bounces Rossi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi is trying to keep Jr in close.
Rossi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jr is one step ahead there.
Jr wants to control from the top but Rossi keeps moving.
Rossi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rossi keeping moving, preventing Jr from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rossi looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jr doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rossi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rossi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jr tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rossi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jr somewhat.
Jr fails with the takedown.

Jr scores with a takedown into Rossi's guard.
Rossi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rossi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Jr throwing strikes from guard but Rossi blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi keeping moving, preventing Jr from controlling successfully.
Rossi looking for a sweep. Not yet Rossi, not yet.
Jr content to stall in guard here.
Jr trying to control but Rossi is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Edmundo Jr just wasn't active enough.
Rossi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jr sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rossi somewhat.
Jr doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jr shoots in but Rossi avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Jr scores with a takedown into Rossi's guard.
Jr trying to control but Rossi is working from the bottom.
Jr is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rossi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rossi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rossi trying to control the action but Jr is working from the bottom.
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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jr manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Rossi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jr is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jr has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Edmundo Jr will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jr shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jr showed some decent athleticism there.
Rossi is looking for a sweep. Jr is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jr is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rossi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jr is working away from the top position though.
Jr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rossi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rossi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jr is working away from the top position though.
Jr wants to take a breather but Rossi is having none of it.
Jr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi manages to get to full guard.
Jr wants to control from the top but Rossi keeps moving.
Jr throws a big elbow that misses.
Rossi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rossi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rossi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rossi pulls Jr in close to prevent any damage.
Jr stopping the sweep attempt from Rossi.
Edmundo Jr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rossi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rossi is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Rossi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jr controls the pace.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

Rossi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jr preventing the sweep.
Rossi is trying to keep Jr in close.
Jr controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rossi managing to control the position.
Rossi keeping moving, preventing Jr from controlling successfully.
Jr has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi doesn't manage to clinch there - Jr circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Rossi. No joy for Jr on that attempt.

Rossi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rossi showed some decent athleticism there.

Rossi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jr tries to roll over but Rossi keeps him under control.
Rossi passes to full mount!
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rossi working for a guillotine from mount but Jr is in no mood to give up.
Hugo Rossi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jr tries to hold on but Rossi pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hugo Rossi.
I think Jr has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 47:48
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 49:46
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a draw!
Edmundo Jr retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!