PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fredrik Persson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigues comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed - Liberate. Persson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Johnny Cash - Rusty cage. Fredrik Persson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rodrigues
vs
Persson

178 cm
19
164 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

187 cm
21
160 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Rodrigues!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fredrik Persson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Persson looks for a takedown but Rodrigues sprawls well.

Rodrigues scores a takedown into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rodrigues swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Persson is now in Rodrigues's guard. A big mistake from Rodrigues there, giving up the dominant position!

Persson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Persson passes into half guard.
Rodrigues is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Persson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Persson's back!

Rodrigues looking for the RNC.
Rodrigues doesn't have the hooks in and Persson manages to turn into his guard.

Rodrigues looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Persson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Persson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Persson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rodrigues lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Persson!
Persson is trying to escape the mount.
Rodrigues tries to control but Persson wriggling away.
Persson is in all sorts of trouble here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rodrigues is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Persson is surviving well by controlling Rodrigues's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rodrigues seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Persson is holding on tight.
Rodrigues is breathing heavily.
Rodrigues looking to control but Persson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Persson is trying to escape the mount.

Persson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rodrigues.
Persson is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Persson looks a forlorn figure.

Rodrigues wants to finish this one by submission but Persson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rodrigues.
Persson really wants to buck Rodrigues off and get back to his feet.

Rodrigues has control of Persson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Persson regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Rodrigues wants to finish this one by submission but Persson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rodrigues.

Rodrigues looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Persson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rodrigues can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Persson is looking to escape.
Persson regains half guard.

Rodrigues wants to work for an arm triangle but Persson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rodrigues 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.

Persson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rodrigues counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Persson's guard now.
Rodrigues is pushing down on Persson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Persson is fighting to maintain full guard but Rodrigues has managed to sneak the leg through.

Persson is defending against the submission attempts here by Rodrigues.
Rodrigues is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Persson!

Rodrigues is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Persson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Persson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The referee warns Persson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodrigues controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodrigues looking for a guillotine from mount but Persson is having none of it.

Rodrigues get's back to his feet.
Persson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Rodrigues changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Persson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rodrigues tries for a kimura but Persson is defending well.
Rodrigues controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Rodrigues has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Persson!

Rodrigues working for a guillotine from mount but Persson is in no mood to give up.

Rodrigues has control of Persson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Persson regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Persson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Persson!

Rodrigues looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rodrigues is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodrigues 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.

Rodrigues working for a triangle but Persson defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Persson 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.

Rodrigues is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rodrigues trying to keep a closed guard but Persson is proving a slippery customer.
Rodrigues looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodrigues, not yet.
Persson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rodrigues is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodrigues wants to improve his position but instead Persson has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rodrigues 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!

Persson shoots and misses

so Rodrigues counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Persson can't keep his opponent in guard - Rodrigues advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Rodrigues is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Persson defends it well.

Rodrigues is trying to work for a kimura but Persson is defending well.
Persson manages to get to full guard.
Rodrigues trying to control the position from guard on top but Persson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Persson is looking for a triangle but Rodrigues pushes his legs off easily.
Gabriel Rodrigues overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodrigues looking to pass the guard.
Persson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rodrigues passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rodrigues is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Persson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Persson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rodrigues tries for a kimura but Persson is defending well.
Persson gets back to half guard.
Rodrigues is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Persson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues is looking for a triangle but Persson pushes his legs off easily.

Rodrigues keeping busy on the bottom but Persson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rodrigues wants to get back to full guard.
Persson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rodrigues moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Persson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Rodrigues had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Persson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rodrigues Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Persson's back instead.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Rodrigues's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Rodrigues is working for a rear naked choke. Persson is not defending it well and Rodrigues has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Persson refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Persson's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gabriel Rodrigues!