PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Rau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Tennant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that David Tennant was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Rau
vs
Tennant

185 cm
20
197 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Rau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, David Tennant!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rau shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tennant as he jumps to the side.
Tennant tries to clinch but Rau is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tennant looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
David Tennant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tennant looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rau swats away the attempt to clinch by Tennant.
Rau swings for the body but Tennant moves out of range.
Tennant fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rau decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rau is thwarting Tennant's attempts to control the position.

Rau seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rau is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tennant sees it coming and defends easily.
Nice strikes from Rau there.
Rau passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tennant!
BOOM! Rau connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rau trying to control but Tennant is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rau throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rau working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tennant holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rau tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rau putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rau sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Rau looking for a guillotine from mount but Tennant is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tennant really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rau with good strikes from the mount here!
Rau misses with a head shot.
Rau lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Tennant hang on?
Rau breaks from Tennant's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tennant is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rau is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tennant is surviving well by controlling Rau's body position as best he can.
Rau is breathing heavily.
Rau connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tennant trying desperately to get to his feet.
Rau landing strikes from the mount and Tennant is in trouble!
BOOM! Rau connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rau looking to secure an arm triangle but Tennant defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Rau dominated that round.
That's time! Rau's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tennant doesn't manage to clinch there - Rau circles away.
Tennant stuffs the takedown.

Rau shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tennant's guard.
Rau lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rau throws a big right hand that misses.
Tennant keeping full guard, as Rau tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rau throws and elbow that misses. Tennant uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rau's guard. Nice move by Tennant!
Rau 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rau escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tennant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rau is striking from the bottom but Tennant uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Tennant tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rau.

Rau looking for submissions off his back.

That's two 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.
Tennant trying to pass the guard but Rau defending well.
Rau tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rau moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Rau has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tennant can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rau doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rau trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rau working for a triangle but Tennant defends it easily.
Tennant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rau is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tennant slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Rau dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tennant throws a head kick but Rau moves out of range.
Rau looks to score with a jab to the body but Tennant is just out of range.
Tennant tries to clinch but Rau moves out of range.
Rau keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by Rau or perhaps it was just good defense by Tennant which made him look bad.
Tennant tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rau looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tennant is fending him off so far but Rau persists. Nope, Tennant circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rau swats away the attempt to clinch by Tennant.
Tennant wants to clinch.
Rau fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Rau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rau loads up on a big right hand but Tennant slips the punch.
Tennant tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rau closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tennant to the mat! Tennant manages to get full guard.
Rau landing with the ground and pound.

Tennant looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rau passes into half guard.
Rau is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rau dominating with strikes here.

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

Rau looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tennant has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rau is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rau looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tennant passes into half guard.
Rau flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rau moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rau tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.

Rau working for a triangle but Tennant defends it easily.
Rau looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rau trying to strike off his back.
David Tennant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Rau is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rau working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tennant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tennant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Rau showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rau, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:26
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Rau!