PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mario Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jurica Brekalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rodriguez
vs
Brekalo

204 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
204 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mario Rodriguez!
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, Jurica Brekalo!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodriguez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Brekalo is trying to defend but Rodriguez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rodriguez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Brekalo defending well though.
Brekalo trying to control from the bottom.
Brekalo is trying to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez controlling the action here.
Brekalo wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Rodriguez decides to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brekalo walks into a stiff left hand from Rodriguez.
Brekalo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rodriguez pinned against the cage. Rodriguez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rodriguez shoots in but Brekalo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Brekalo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rodriguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rodriguez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brekalo jumps into guard, dragging Rodriguez to the mat.
Brekalo working a defensive guard but Rodriguez passes into half guard.

Brekalo has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rodriguez is on him like a limpet, forcing Brekalo back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Brekalo throws an elbow but misses.

Rodriguez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brekalo 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.
Brekalo pulls Rodriguez in to control the position.

Brekalo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodriguez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodriguez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Rodriguez connects with a couple of short punches.
Rodriguez throws a big elbow that misses.
Brekalo controls Rodriguez momentarily but Rodriguez frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rodriguez looks to land a right hand but Brekalo moved out of range.

Rodriguez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Brekalo to the ground. Rodriguez is now in Brekalo's guard.
Brekalo is controlling Rodriguez's posture.
Brekalo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to stand but Brekalo is controlling from the bottom.
Brekalo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rodriguez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Brekalo looks winded!
Rodriguez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Brekalo keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodriguez won't allow Brekalo to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Rodriguez dominated that 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.

Rodriguez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Brekalo counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Mario Rodriguez has been cut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodriguez.

Brekalo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Brekalo stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mario Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slapping body kick lands there for Brekalo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brekalo shoots in for a double leg but Rodriguez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Brekalo takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brekalo lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Brekalo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Brekalo trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Brekalo keeps him under control.

Rodriguez is defending against the submission attempts here by Brekalo.
Brekalo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Brekalo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Brekalo working Rodriguez over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brekalo controlling the position easily from mount.
Rodriguez is squirming around, avoiding Brekalo's attempts to control the action.
Brekalo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rodriguez is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Brekalo controlling from mount.
Rodriguez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rodriguez is squirming around, avoiding Brekalo's attempts to control the action.
Rodriguez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brekalo trying to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jurica Brekalo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mario Rodriguez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Brekalo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodriguez, pushing him back against the cage.
Brekalo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Brekalo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Brekalo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Brekalo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rodriguez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Brekalo prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brekalo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Brekalo moves into range and clinches up with Rodriguez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brekalo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rodriguez is keeping busy.
Brekalo stops a takedown attempt from Rodriguez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Brekalo to keep the fight standing.
Rodriguez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Brekalo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Brekalo gets a takedown into half guard.
Brekalo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brekalo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Brekalo is stalling here. Rodriguez is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Brekalo seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rodriguez has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Brekalo tries to buck Rodriguez off but Rodriguez is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but Brekalo manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Brekalo tries to advance to mount but can't.
Brekalo lands an elbow.
Brekalo wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
Rodriguez tries to buck Brekalo off but Brekalo is having none of it.
Brekalo lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brekalo is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
You can see the frustration on Rodriguez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Brekalo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodriguez keeps working.
Brekalo works to advance to full mount. Rodriguez defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A nice elbow there by Brekalo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jurica Brekalo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Brekalo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jurica Brekalo!