PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Liam Picken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigue Minotoauro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Picken
vs
Minotoauro

189 cm
18
267 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Liam Picken!
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, Rodrigue Minotoauro!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minotoauro takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Rodrigue Minotoauro has been cut.
Minotoauro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Minotoauro takes one on the button.
Picken will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Picken gets caught napping as Minotoauro dives in and scores a takedown. Picken manages to retain guard.
Picken is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Picken could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Minotoauro sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Minotoauro lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minotoauro wants to pass the guard but Picken is keeping the position.
Minotoauro is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Minotoauro is stalling in the full guard.
Minotoauro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Minotoauro looking to sit in guard and control but Picken gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Picken trying to control but Minotoauro is working from the bottom.
Picken has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Minotoauro is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Picken in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Minotoauro is looking to stand up but Picken isn't so interested in that idea.
Minotoauro managing to control the position.
Picken might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Picken uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Minotoauro.

Minotoauro shoots in and bounces Picken off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Minotoauro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Minotoauro distracts Picken with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Minotoauro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Minotoauro won't allow Picken to sweep him here.
Minotoauro trying to control but Picken is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rodrigue Minotoauro wasn't active enough on the ground.

Minotoauro shoots in and gets a takedown into Picken's guard.
Picken looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minotoauro trying to control the position from guard on top but Picken is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Minotoauro throws a big elbow that misses.
Picken looking to control.
Picken is breathing heavily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Liam Picken.
A swing and a miss from Picken.
A slow jab from Minotoauro misses its intended target.

Picken moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Minotoauro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Picken is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Minotoauro to keep the fight standing.

Minotoauro is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Picken can't fight it off and eventually Minotoauro manages to take the fight to the floor. Picken looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigue Minotoauro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigue Minotoauro's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Minotoauro throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Picken tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Minotoauro is in Picken's guard.
Minotoauro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Minotoauro really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Picken. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Minotoauro trying to control the position from guard on top but Picken is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Picken trying to keep a closed guard but Minotoauro is proving a slippery customer.
Picken doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Minotoauro won't allow Picken to sweep him here.
Minotoauro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Picken swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Picken is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minotoauro wants to control from the top but Picken keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Minotoauro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Minotoauro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Picken misses with the combination.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Minotoauro. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Picken tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Minotoauro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Picken misses with a left hand

and Minotoauro counters with a single leg into guard. Picken didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Picken utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Picken trying to keep a closed guard but Minotoauro is proving a slippery customer.
Minotoauro lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minotoauro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Picken is keeping the position for now.
Picken being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Minotoauro stands and throws Picken's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Minotoauro grinds an elbow into Picken's temple.
Minotoauro controls the position.
Rodrigue Minotoauro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Minotoauro working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minotoauro controlling the position from side mount.
Minotoauro looks up at the clock and then as Picken takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Minotoauro smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Picken stops Minotoauro from passing to mount.
Picken wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Picken manages to work his way to half guard, despite Minotoauro's best efforts.
Picken moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minotoauro tries to free his leg and advance position but Picken is retaining full guard.
Minotoauro content to stall in guard here.
Minotoauro postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Minotoauro with a nice head shot there.

Picken working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Minotoauro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Minotoauro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Minotoauro lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigue Minotoauro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rodrigue Minotoauro's cut.
That's time! Picken's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Minotoauro 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.

Picken working for a triangle but Minotoauro defends it easily.
Minotoauro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Picken swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Minotoauro landing some decent shots from guard.
Picken 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.
Minotoauro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Minotoauro stands up over Picken, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minotoauro wants to pass the guard but Picken is keeping the position.
Picken has momentary wrist control but Minotoauro slips an elbow through the middle.
Picken keeping moving, preventing Minotoauro from controlling successfully.
Picken can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Minotoauro controls the pace.
Minotoauro scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Picken working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Minotoauro.
Minotoauro sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rodrigue Minotoauro wasn't active enough on the ground.

Minotoauro closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Picken did well to prevent Minotoauro getting side control.
Minotoauro looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Picken with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Minotoauro is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Picken reverses the position - he's now on top in Minotoauro's guard.
Minotoauro has his hands on Picken's head, controlling the position.
Picken advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minotoauro can't do much from the bottom here.
Picken wants to stand but Minotoauro has his arm trapped.
Minotoauro can't do much from the bottom here.
Picken wants to control but Minotoauro is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Picken stands up and beckons Minotoauro to his feet.
Picken on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Picken shoots in and drives through. Minotoauro sprawls well.

Minotoauro manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Picken on his heels. He'll look to pass Picken's guard now, I'm sure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minotoauro looking to pass the guard.
Picken looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Minotoauro controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Picken is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Liam Picken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rodrigue Minotoauro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Minotoauro passes easily into side control. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigue Minotoauro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Minotoauro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigue Minotoauro!