PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joao Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and rasan gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigues comes to the cage accompanied by Better Off Alone. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rodrigues
vs
gracie

180 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Rodrigues!
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, rasan gracie!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

gracie gets caught flat footed, as Rodrigues shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rodrigues won't allow gracie to sweep him here.
Rodrigues trying to control the position from guard on top but gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodrigues slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
You can see the frustration on gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
gracie tries to escape but Rodrigues is in control.
gracie is trying to control Rodrigues's posture but Rodrigues avoids it.
Rodrigues passes to full mount! That's big trouble for gracie!
Rodrigues can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as gracie is looking to escape.

Rodrigues looking to secure an arm triangle but gracie defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
gracie gets back to half guard.
gracie looks gassed!
gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
gracie keeping moving, preventing Rodrigues from controlling successfully.
Rodrigues showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rodrigues wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
gracie is thwarting Rodrigues's attempts to control the position.
Nice strikes from gracie there.
Rodrigues is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rodrigues manages to get to full guard.
gracie throwing strikes but missing.
gracie pushing down on Rodrigues's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
gracie wants to take a breather but Rodrigues is having none of it.
gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rodrigues's head.
Rodrigues is in trouble now - gracie has advanced to mount!
Rodrigues really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rodrigues tries to hold on but gracie postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
gracie throwing strikes here but Rodrigues is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rodrigues is bucking up trying to escape but gracie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rodrigues is looking to get to half guard.
Rodrigues is working hard here to advance position.
gracie content just to control the position here.
A nice elbow there by gracie.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodrigues has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of gracie's lack of action.
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 Joao Rodrigues will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

gracie throws a leg kick but Rodrigues sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rodrigues tries to close the distance and clinch but gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
gracie darts in trying to clinch

and Rodrigues counters with a single leg into guard. gracie didn't expect that.
Rodrigues wants to pass the guard but gracie is keeping the position.
Rodrigues won't allow gracie to sweep him here.
Rodrigues pushing down on gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
gracie is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues blocks the strikes from gracie.
gracie wants to control but Rodrigues is keeping busy and won't allow it.
gracie is looking to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rodrigues throws a series of punches but gracie avoids them all with ease.
Rodrigues shoots in and drives through. gracie sprawls well.
gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rodrigues fails with the takedown

and gracie counters by moving into the clinch.

gracie manages to pull guard.
gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodrigues is one step ahead there.
Rodrigues throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rodrigues trying to control but gracie is working from the bottom.
Rodrigues preventing the sweep.
gracie working a defensive guard here.
gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rodrigues's head.

gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Rodrigues is defending well.
Rodrigues tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Rodrigues is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rodrigues is looking to control gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rodrigues avoid being mounted?
Rodrigues is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of gracie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take gracie's back!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rodrigues controlling the positon.
gracie is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

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.
gracie is really stuck here.

gracie manages to stand up with Rodrigues still on his back. Eventually Rodrigues drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Rodrigues with a poor takedown
and gracie counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rodrigues's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Rodrigues. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
gracie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rodrigues missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
gracie wants to get back to his feet.
Rodrigues looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rodrigues is keen to just control but gracie is a slippery customer.
gracie controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Rodrigues is looking to take a break and control but gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Rodrigues dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rodrigues fails with the takedown

and gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Rodrigues didn't expect that.

Rodrigues has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. gracie is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rodrigues.
gracie is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rodrigues's shoulder. That is not cool.
gracie cracks Rodrigues with a big right hand but Rodrigues just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

gracie stands up and beckons Rodrigues to his feet.

gracie shoots in and bounces Rodrigues off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodrigues is retaining full guard.
gracie wants to stand but Rodrigues has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Rodrigues is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rodrigues trying to keep a closed guard but gracie is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rodrigues is staying active underneath gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rodrigues wants to control but gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rodrigues is looking for a sweep. gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rodrigues is not content to let gracie control the position.

Rodrigues looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rodrigues actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to get to full guard but gracie has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rodrigues shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rodrigues showed some decent athleticism there.
gracie misses with some strikes from the bottom.
gracie gets full guard.
gracie can't keep his opponent in guard - Rodrigues advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for gracie.
Rodrigues loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
gracie throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rodrigues working some strikes from top position.
gracie keeping moving, preventing Rodrigues from controlling successfully.
Rodrigues postures up and lands a big shot to gracie's brow.
rasan gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
gracie throws a combination that misses

and Rodrigues counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rodrigues is looking to take a break and control but gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodrigues passes to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to rasan gracie.
I think Rodrigues 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Rodrigues!