PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rui Rodrigo Germano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holy War (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Germano comes to the cage accompanied by HIM - Don't Fear The Reaper. This should be fireworks!

Rodrigo Germano
vs
War

182 cm
30
208 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

197 cm
37
212 lbs
24 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

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 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rui Rodrigo Germano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Holy War!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
War connects with a solid leg kick.

War has managed to clinch.
War fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
War blocks a body shot from Germano.
A left hand lands to the body for Germano.
Germano lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of War backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Germano.
War misses with a hook to the ribs.

Germano manages to break the clinch.
Germano swinging wildly here.
War throws an overhand right that lands on Germano's shoulder, as Germano tries to avoid the shot.
War avoids the body shot from Germano.
War wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
War misses with a straight left.
Germano wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Germano misses the shot to the body.
Germano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from War.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
War looks to score with a jab to the body but Germano is just out of range.
Germano appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Germano swings widly with a right hand
and War counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
War dodges the punch combination from Germano.
Germano throws a poor cross that misses
and War counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
War tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Germano was well out of range. Poor timing from War.

War clinches up against the cage.
War lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Rui Rodrigo Germano has been cut.
War throws a punch but it's blocked by Germano.
A short body shot lands from War as the two fighters clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Germano.

Germano manages to break the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Germano. War does a little dance to reset his feet.
War only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Germano blocks a head kick by War.
Germano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
War swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
War will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
War throws a push kick but Germano slaps the foot to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
War connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
War moves out of range as Germano strikes.
Germano fails to land with a series of punches.
Germano looks to land a left hand but War moved out of range nicely.
Germano throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
War comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Germano misses with a wild body shot.
War throws out a counter right but Germano avoids it with no problem.
War misses with a body shot.
War takes a swing at Germano's ribcage but misses.
Holy War seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
War throws a leg kick that is checked

and Germano counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for War!
Germano tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Germano working the ground and pound from side control.

Germano working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Germano wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by War, who protects the arm well.
War stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
We've been hearing that Germano has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The ground and pound from Germano seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Germano wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by War, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
You can see the frustration on War's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Germano looking to punish the body of his opponent here but War is avoiding damage well.
Germano 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.
An elbow from Germano crashes against the mat.
Germano throwing shots but missing, from side control.
An elbow from Germano crashes against the mat.
Germano is looking to take a break and control but War 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.

That was a close round but I would say that Rui Rodrigo Germano will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rui Rodrigo Germano's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

War scores with a jab to the body.
Germano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. War sees it coming and avoids it easily.
War appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Holy War seems to be getting the better of the standup.
War throws a leg kick that misses.
Germano avoids the body shot from War.
Germano throws a combination that misses
and War counters with a nice body shot.
War motions for Germano to come forward. War throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
War connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Germano's hands.
War pivots, looking for a leg kick but Germano is out of range and War settles back down.
Sloppy strikes from Germano. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Germano is defended easily by War.
A clash of legs there as Germano blocks the low kick.
Germano has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from War.

That's one minute gone in the round.
War scores with a leg kick.
Holy War is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
War lands a slapping body shot.
War misses the jab.
A low kick from War misses

and Germano decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in War's guard.
War controlling the position.
War keeping moving, preventing Germano from controlling successfully.
Germano scoring with punches to the head and body.
Germano wants to control from the top but War keeps moving.
Germano throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
War tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Germano lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
War keeping moving, preventing Germano from controlling successfully.
Germano scoring with punches to the head and body.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Germano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Germano working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of War's head.
War working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Germano.
Germano trying to control but War is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
War wants to sweep but no luck.
Germano trying to control but War is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
War scores with a nice strike.
War ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Germano moves away.
War throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Germano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Germano attempts a counter takedown but War avoids it well and moves away.
Germano shoots in for a takedown but War shows good takedown defense.
War takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
War connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
War bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
War is looking to chop away at Germano's legs.
Germano thuds his right hand into War's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
War is looking to slow Germano down with leg kicks.
Germano checks a low kick from War.
Germano attempts a counter takedown but War avoids it well and moves away.
War connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Germano throws out a loose jab but War uses good head movement to avoid it.
Germano lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
War wants to clinch.
Germano closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Holy War will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rui Rodrigo Germano's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Decent striking displayed by War there.
War wants to clinch but Germano slips to the side

and Germano counters with a nice double leg into side control. War won't be happy with that.
Germano misses with the ground and pound.

Germano looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
War dodges the ground and pound from Germano.
Germano throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Germano sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but War is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Germano wants to lay and pray for a moment but War keeps working.
Germano working the strikes but War uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Germano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Germano looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Germano throwing shots but War is blocking nicely.
Ground and pound from Germano.
War avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Germano.
Germano with the ground and pound but War uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Germano is looking to pass into half guard but War pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now War is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

War got a little sloppy there for a moment and Germano has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, War has managed to get both his arms back between Germano's legs - danger averted.
Germano looking to control.
Germano wants to sweep here but War controlling him for the moment.
War stays in close to Germano's body and controls the position.
War looking to pass the guard.

Germano is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
War controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
War's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
War is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
War cracks a nice hook into Germano's ribs.
Good work by Germano as he checks the leg kick.
Germano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
War cracks Germano with a right hand to the side of the head.
War tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
War scores with a leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from War lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Germano has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Germano and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Germano takes one to the chin there.
Germano doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
War looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Germano swings widly with a right hand
letting War counter with a right hand.
War fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Germano on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
War looks to land a body kick but Germano moved away.
War keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Germano's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Germano duly obliges.

It looks like Holy War has been cut.
War avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
War appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Germano swats away the attempt to clinch by War.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Holy War.
I think War 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Holy War!
After the fight, Holy War was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.