PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renato Laranja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Italo Hugo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Laranja
vs
Hugo

192 cm
23
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renato Laranja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Italo Hugo!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hugo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Laranja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Hugo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laranja is looking to control Hugo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Laranja avoid being mounted?
Hugo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Laranja with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Laranja tries to get to full guard but Hugo has control of the leg.
Hugo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hugo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hugo working Laranja over with strikes here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hugo working for a guillotine from mount but Laranja is in no mood to give up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laranja takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee warns Laranja that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hugo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Laranja tries to reverse the position but Hugo maintains control.

Hugo jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Laranja manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Laranja gets back to half guard.
Laranja wants to get back to full guard.

Hugo seems to be working for a kimura but Laranja defends the submission attempt.

Hugo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hugo lands a nice short elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hugo wants to free his trapped foot but Laranja is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hugo working over Laranja with some ground and pound. Laranja looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hugo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Hugo wants to work for an arm triangle but Laranja is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Laranja is looking for a sweep. Hugo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Laranja is trying to stand up here but Hugo is controlling him well.
Laranja has hold of Hugo's hands but Hugo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hugo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Hugo is working for a kimura but Laranja is defending it quite comfortably.
Laranja trying to hold on to Hugo's head to control him but Hugo postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hugo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hugo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Hugo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Laranja is just riding it out for now. Hugo eventually gives up the hold.
Hugo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hugo prevents Laranja from improving his position.
Laranja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hugo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Laranja is looking to control Hugo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Laranja avoid being mounted?
Laranja regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hugo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hugo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hugo throwing strikes from guard but Laranja blocks nicely.
Hugo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Laranja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hugo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laranja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Laranja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hugo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hugo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laranja swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hugo postures up.
Hugo looking to pass the guard.
Laranja wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Italo Hugo dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Laranja throws a right and a left that both miss.

Laranja moves into the clinch successfully.

Laranja pulls guard.
Hugo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Laranja looking to control.

Laranja working for a triangle but Hugo defends it easily.
Hugo cracks Laranja with a solid left hand.

Hugo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hugo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hugo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
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!
Hugo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laranja swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laranja controls Hugo momentarily but Hugo frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hugo won't allow Laranja to sweep him here.

Laranja looking for a guillotine here but Hugo defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hugo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Laranja utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hugo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hugo connects with a couple of short punches.
Hugo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Laranja manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Laranja throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hugo suckers Laranja into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Hugo is now in Laranja's guard!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hugo stopping the sweep attempt from Laranja.
Hugo tries to free his leg and advance position but Laranja is retaining full guard.
Hugo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Laranja is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Laranja is looking to pass Hugo's guard but actually Hugo recovers to full guard.

Hugo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hugo looking for a takedown.
Laranja gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hugo.

Laranja gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hugo regains guard.
Laranja trying to control the position from guard on top but Hugo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laranja working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hugo's head.

Hugo is trying to get an arm triangle but Laranja is defending well.
Italo Hugo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hugo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Laranja has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hugo but great work by Laranja.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laranja is trying to ground and pound but Hugo uses the momentary lack of control by Laranja to regain half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laranja prevents Hugo from standing back up.

Laranja wants to work for an arm triangle but Hugo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hugo makes his way to full guard, as Laranja worked for a kimura.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Laranja drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hugo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hugo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hugo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Italo Hugo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Laranja, right into the meat.
Nice takedown defense from Laranja. No joy for Hugo on that attempt.
Hugo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Laranja stuffs the takedown.
Renato Laranja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Italo Hugo.

Laranja shoots in and bounces Hugo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Laranja trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hugo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Hugo preventing the sweep.
Laranja lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hugo!
Hugo is trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laranja avoids the attempt from Hugo to control.
Laranja looking to control but Hugo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hugo tries to lock up and control but Laranja gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Laranja goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Hugo is on top in guard.

Hugo has gone for a leg lock! Laranja slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hugo's guard.
Hugo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laranja throws a big right hand that misses.
Laranja looking to sit in guard and control but Hugo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Laranja utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hugo prevents Laranja from getting back to his feet.
Hugo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hugo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hugo landing some decent shots from 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!

Hugo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hugo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Laranja managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hugo.
Laranja struggling a bit here.
Laranja is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hugo connects with a decent elbow.
Laranja takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Hugo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Laranja bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Laranja closes the distance and clinches up with Hugo, looking for a takedown. Laranja pushes Hugo against the cage but Hugo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hugo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Laranja's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hugo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laranja swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laranja 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.

Laranja kicks Hugo off and gets to his feet.

Hugo drives through with a takedown into Laranja's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Laranja is trying to control the position but Hugo postures up.
Hugo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hugo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hugo lands a couple of elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hugo landing some decent shots from guard.
Hugo passes Laranja's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Renato Laranja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Italo Hugo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Laranja wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Italo Hugo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hugo 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Italo Hugo!