PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diogo Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Araujo
vs
Rodrigues

187 cm
27
191 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Araujo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diogo Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodrigues paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Araujo misses with a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rodrigues! But no joy.
Araujo shoots in for a takedown but Rodrigues shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodrigues throws the kick towards the body but Araujo avoids it.
As Rodrigues tries to get set, Araujo tries to push him back and clinch up but Rodrigues manages to avoid the attempt.
Rodrigues fails with the takedown.
Araujo thinks about countering with a body kick.
Araujo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodrigues.
Araujo looks to land a combination. Rodrigues sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Araujo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodrigues paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodrigues slaps away a takedown attempt from Araujo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rodrigues is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Araujo both land. Nice combination.
Araujo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodrigues as he jumps to the side.
Rodrigues is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Araujo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Araujo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rodrigues napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rodrigues looking for a sweep but Araujo has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Araujo tries to control but Rodrigues wriggling away.
Araujo avoids the attempt from Rodrigues to control.
Rodrigues is desperately trying to improve his position but Araujo has a good base and remains in mount.
Rodrigues blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to reverse the position but Araujo maintains control.
Rodrigues is trying to stand.
Rodrigues sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Araujo is keen to just control but Rodrigues is a slippery customer.
Araujo works his foot free and advances to mount.
Rodrigues is trying to escape the mount.
Araujo content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues holds of for dear life.
Rodrigues is trying to reverse the position but instead Araujo has taken his back - oops!
Rodrigues covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Araujo trying to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Araujo has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Rodrigues.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Can Rodrigues hold on?! Araujo is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Araujo looking for the choke from the back.
Araujo lands a shot to the head.
Araujo is punishing Rodrigues with strikes - can he finish him?!
You can see the frustration on Rodrigues's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Araujo patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Rodrigues fending off the submission attempt from Araujo.
Rodrigues is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Araujo dominated that 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.

Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Araujo.
A nice leg kick lands there from Araujo.

Araujo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rodrigues was covering up waiting for the punch and Araujo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodrigues can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rodrigues looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodrigues, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues keeping moving, preventing Araujo from controlling successfully.
Araujo won't allow Rodrigues to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues keeping moving, preventing Araujo from controlling successfully.
Rodrigues lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rodrigues is stalling in the full guard.
Rodrigues trying to control the position from guard on top but Araujo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Araujo trying to control the position.

Araujo is looking for a triangle but Rodrigues pushes his legs off easily.
Rodrigues stands and throws Araujo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rodrigues wants to control but Araujo is keeping him busy.
Rodrigues wants to stand but Araujo is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues working the body and head with strikes.

Rodrigues is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Araujo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Araujo wants to control but Rodrigues postures up.
Rodrigues really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Araujo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Araujo is not content to let Rodrigues control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Araujo can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level 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.
Araujo shoots in looking for a takedown. Rodrigues tries to sprawl out of it but Araujo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rodrigues manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Carlos Araujo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rodrigues has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rodrigues escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Araujo enables Rodrigues to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Araujo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodrigues trying to control but Araujo is working from the bottom.
Rodrigues must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Rodrigues showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rodrigues moves into range and clinches up with Araujo.
Rodrigues wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rodrigues is working for takedown but Araujo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Araujo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rodrigues is defending well.

Araujo drags the fight down to the ground.
Carlos Araujo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Araujo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rodrigues controls the pace.
Rodrigues cracks Araujo with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araujo looking for a sweep. Not yet Araujo, not yet.
Rodrigues passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Rodrigues prevents Araujo from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues wants to stand up but Araujo has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Araujo actively working from the bottom here.
Rodrigues blocks the strikes from Araujo.
Still in half guard, Rodrigues seems content to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rodrigues is keen to just control but Araujo is a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rodrigues misses with a head kick.
Araujo wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rodrigues tests Araujo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Araujo fails with a takedown attempt.
Araujo scores with a head kick.
Rodrigues misses with a jab, cross combination.

Araujo gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Araujo stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Rodrigues gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rodrigues goes for a takedown attempt but Araujo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rodrigues gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Araujo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Araujo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rodrigues quickly recovers to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Araujo trying to control the action but Rodrigues is working from the bottom.
Rodrigues is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araujo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rodrigues keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Araujo slows the pace down in half guard.
Rodrigues is trying to maintain the position but Araujo is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Diogo Rodrigues.
I think Rodrigues 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

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