PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rowdy Ricky (ranked 4237 p4p, 566 weight class) and Joao Pinto (ranked 24854 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.

Ricky
vs
Pinto

160 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
26
170 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rowdy Ricky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Pinto!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricky shoots in but Pinto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck for Ricky with that takedown attempt.
Ricky shoots and misses
and Pinto counters with a three punch combo that has Ricky backing up. Ricky nods at Pinto to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rowdy Ricky. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ricky shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pinto counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ricky thinking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ricky looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ricky shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pinto counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pinto.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricky wants a takedown but no success here.
Ricky wants a takedown but no success here.
Ricky really is a fat lump.
Ricky is breathing heavily.

Pinto manages to pull guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pinto holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricky throws a strike but Pinto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ricky is working an open guard so Pinto takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ricky looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pinto changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pinto is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Pinto clinches up with Ricky and pushes him back against the cage.
Pinto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ricky avoids it.
Ricky is trying to pull guard but Pinto turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ricky trying to control the position but instead, Pinto has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ricky into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricky tries to pull guard but Pinto forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ricky is pressed up against the cage. Pinto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ricky down to the mat. Ricky avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pinto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ricky changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pinto.
Ricky stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ricky wants it to stay on the feet.
Pinto darts in looking for a takedown but Ricky gets double underhooks and turns Pinto into the cage.
Pinto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ricky fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pinto drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ricky defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ricky circles away.
Pinto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ricky tries to counter by clinching up but Pinto breaks away and moves out of range.
Pinto throws a nice looking combination but Ricky bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ricky looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pinto drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ricky defends it well.
Pinto lands an overhand right.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pinto.
Ricky appears to be looking for a big counter.
Pinto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ricky avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricky misses with a double jab.
Ricky shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pinto pinned against the cage. Pinto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Pinto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ricky was covering up waiting for the punch and Pinto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pinto sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ricky's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pinto shoots for a double leg takedown but Ricky sprawls well. He's pushed Pinto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Pinto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ricky tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pinto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pinto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ricky avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pinto wants to take the fight to the mat but Ricky manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rowdy Ricky has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Pinto.
Pinto content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Pinto wants to take the fight to the mat but Ricky manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ricky tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pinto avoids it.

Pinto decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricky throws a big elbow that misses.
Pinto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ricky stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ricky or perhaps it was just good defense by Pinto, which made it look bad.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pinto closes the distance and clinches up with Ricky, looking for a takedown. Pinto pushes Ricky against the cage but Ricky circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pinto throws a head kick but Ricky moves out of range.
Joao Pinto seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Pinto gets a clinch.

Ricky manages to break the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ricky.
Ricky gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pinto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ricky breaks the clinch.
Pinto slaps away a takedown attempt from Ricky, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pinto stuffs the takedown attempt from Ricky. Ricky gets slowly back to his feet.
Pinto shoots for a double leg takedown but Ricky sprawls well. He's pushed Pinto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Pinto darts in and clinches Ricky up against the cage.

Pinto drags the fight down to the ground.
Pinto has Ricky pulled in close to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pinto is on top in guard.

Joao Pinto has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinto sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pinto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Let's hope that Pinto has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Pinto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ricky can't keep his opponent in guard - Pinto advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ricky avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pinto.

That's four 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.
Pinto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pinto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pinto moves into full mount! Ricky won't be happy about that!

Ricky defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Pinto.
Ricky looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pinto lands a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Pinto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ricky stuffs the takedown attempt from Pinto. Pinto gets slowly back to his feet.
Ricky closes the distance and clinches up with Pinto, looking for a takedown. Ricky pushes Pinto against the cage but Pinto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pinto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pinto wants it to stay on the feet.
Pinto slips under a jab from Ricky.
Pinto fails with a takedown attempt.
Pinto blocks a jab.
Pinto avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pinto scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ricky blocks a head kick by Pinto.
Pinto fails with a takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Ricky on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rowdy Ricky has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Pinto.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto keeps the fight on the outside.
Pinto tries to counter with a clinch but Ricky shakes him off and moves away.
Pinto has a takedown stuffed.
Rowdy Ricky is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pinto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pinto looking for a takedown.
Ricky jumps guard but Pinto stands there with Ricky around his waist. Ricky gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pinto is trying to drag Ricky to the mat but Ricky just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ricky can't find room to land a body shot as Pinto controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinto working hard to break the clinch.
Pinto can't break the clinch.
Ricky is trying to maintain a safe position but Pinto gets an underhook and turns Ricky into the cage.
Ricky gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pinto.
Pinto is looking to take this one to the mat.

Ricky breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ricky misses with a takedown
and Pinto counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinto scores with a hook to the body. Ricky takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A head kick misses from Pinto.
No luck for Ricky with that takedown attempt.
As Ricky backs off Pinto throws a huge counter combo but Ricky manages to avoid it all.

Pinto clinches with his opponent.
Ricky tries to pull guard but Pinto holds him up against the cage and eventually Ricky drops back down to his feet.

Pinto manages to break the clinch.
Pinto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ricky avoids it really well and circles away.
Ricky tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Pinto manages to circle out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pinto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pinto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ricky is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pinto is trying to break free.
Pinto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pinto trying to land knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Pinto breaks from the clinch.
Rowdy Ricky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joao Pinto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pinto.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Pinto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pinto 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Pinto!