PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manual Todd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Del Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Del Rio has chosen Radioactive Remix as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Julio Del Rio looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Todd
vs
Del Rio

183 cm
24
193 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

174 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manual Todd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Del Rio!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Del Rio shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Todd wants to get back to full guard.
Todd has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Del Rio is working away from the top position though.

Del Rio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Todd defends it well.
Del Rio looks winded!
The fighters are battling for position here. Todd manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Del Rio won't allow Todd to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Del Rio postures up.
Del Rio is looking to stand up but Todd won't let him.
Todd trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Todd wants to sweep here but Del Rio controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Del Rio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Todd counters with a three punch combo that has Del Rio backing up. Del Rio nods at Todd to acknowledge the strikes.

Del Rio throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Todd was covering up waiting for the punch and Del Rio finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Todd trying to control the position here.
Del Rio trying to control but Todd is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd controls Del Rio momentarily but Del Rio frees himself.

Todd is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Del Rio is aware though and is defending well.
Todd wants to hit a switch here but Del Rio passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Todd there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Del Rio tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Del Rio get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio trying to control but Todd is working from the bottom.
Todd is looking to stand up but Del Rio isn't so interested in that idea.
Del Rio trying to control but Todd is working from the bottom.
Del Rio wants to pass the guard but Todd is keeping the position.
Todd looking for a sweep. Not yet Todd, not yet.
Todd is working hard here to advance position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four 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.

Del Rio 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.
Todd has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Todd wants to sweep but no luck.
Todd is controlling Del Rio's posture.
Todd being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Del Rio passes Todd's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Del Rio dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Del Rio shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Todd napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Todd knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Del Rio on the ground.
Todd is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Todd is trying to control Del Rio's posture but Del Rio avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Todd is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Del Rio taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd is looking to reverse the position.
Del Rio controls the position.
Todd can't do much from the bottom here.
Del Rio is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Del Rio drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd is trying to improve his position.
Del Rio gets to mount! Todd was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Todd can't escape the position.
Del Rio trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Del Rio controlling from mount.
We've been informed that Del Rio has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Todd is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Del Rio stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Del Rio looking to score a takedown here. Todd is defending well but Del Rio drives through and ends up in Todd's guard.
Todd is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Del Rio wants to control but Todd is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Todd is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Del Rio doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Todd.
Del Rio is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are battling for position here. Del Rio manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Todd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Todd has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Todd working some strikes from top position.
Del Rio pulls Todd in close to his closed guard and prevents Todd from doing any damage or advancing position.
Del Rio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Del Rio will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Del Rio working a defensive guard here.
Del Rio thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Del Rio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Todd drives through with a takedown into guard.
Todd with a flurry of punches that miss.

Del Rio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Todd is aware though and is defending well.

Todd drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Todd jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Todd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Del Rio is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Todd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Todd tries to free his leg and advance position but Del Rio is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Todd 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.
Del Rio wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Julio Del Rio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Del Rio.
Del Rio tries to move to mount but Todd blocks the move with his legs.
Todd trying to remain calm as Del Rio controls from the top position.
Del Rio wants to stand but Todd has his arm trapped.
Todd tries to buck Del Rio off but Del Rio is having none of it.
Todd regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Del Rio is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Todd trying to control but Del Rio postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Del Rio performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Todd shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Del Rio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Todd defends well.
Del Rio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Todd.
Todd throws a big elbow that misses.
Del Rio is trying to keep Todd in close.
Del Rio might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Todd haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Todd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Del Rio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Del Rio trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Del Rio trying to keep a closed guard but Todd is proving a slippery customer.

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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Todd closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Julio Del Rio is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Del Rio desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Todd wants to stand up but Del Rio has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Todd is working for a kimura but Del Rio is defending it quite comfortably.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are battling for position here. Del Rio manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manual Todd showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Del Rio has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Del Rio!
A relieved looking Julio Del Rio thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.