PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leopoldo Rich (ranked 7239 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Santos Jr (ranked 7514 p4p, 449 weight class). Leopoldo Rich had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Rich
vs
Santos Jr

179 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
28
146 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leopoldo Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helio Santos Jr!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santos Jr dives in and scores a takedown into Rich's guard.

Rich has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Santos Jr has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Rich tries to pull guard but Santos Jr forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rich tries to pull guard but Santos Jr holds him up against the cage and eventually Rich drops back down to his feet.

Rich ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rich no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Rich looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Santos Jr wants to stand but Rich is controlling his posture from full guard.

Rich working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Santos Jr doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Santos Jr manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Santos Jr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rich seems keen to control Santos Jr's posture.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rich throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich punching from the bottom - just letting Santos Jr know he's still in a fight.

Rich has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Santos Jr has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Rich tries to pull guard but Santos Jr forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leopoldo Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rich tries to pull guard but Santos Jr forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Santos Jr is trying to stall.
Rich tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santos Jr smiles and moves away.
Rich really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rich gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Santos Jr to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rich has Santos Jr pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos Jr would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Rich escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Santos Jr gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rich throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.

Rich is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Santos Jr defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rich continues to stall.
Rich manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Santos Jr manages to get himself to full guard.

Rich prevents Santos Jr from getting back to his feet.
Rich landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rich controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rich stops Santos Jr from standing up.
Rich content to stall in guard here.
Rich has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rich won't allow Santos Jr to get back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rich controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rich drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Santos Jr wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Rich manages to pass to side control.

Rich with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
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.
Santos Jr taking some punishment here, with Rich in his half guard.
Santos Jr has hold of Rich's hands but Rich slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Santos Jr is trying to stand back up but Rich is controlling him
Rich looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rich seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Leopoldo Rich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rich seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Santos Jr for as long as he can get away with.
Rich stops Santos Jr from getting back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Rich trying to control the pace.
Rich is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rich working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Santos Jr is looking to escape.
Rich working Santos Jr over with strikes.
Santos Jr has hold of Rich's hands but Rich slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rich is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos Jr can do to turn this around?

Rich decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Santos Jr closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rich to the mat! Rich manages to get full guard.

Rich manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich is looking to break free of the clinch but Santos Jr has double underhooks.
Santos Jr is trying to stall.
Santos Jr is trying to maintain a safe position but Rich gets an underhook and turns Santos Jr into the cage.
Santos Jr trying to control the position but instead, Rich has worked for underhooks and has pushed Santos Jr into the cage.
Santos Jr seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
The referee calls for Santos Jr to work.
Santos Jr wants to stall.

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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Helio Santos Jr.
Rich throws a sloppy head kick and Santos Jr moves out of range easily.
Santos Jr wants to clinch up but Rich keeps it at a distance.

Rich has closed the distance and engaged Santos Jr in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Santos Jr manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Santos Jr is trying to maintain a safe position but Rich gets an underhook and turns Santos Jr into the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rich jumps guard and drags Santos Jr to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rich is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leopoldo Rich dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rich moves into the clinch successfully.
Rich tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Santos Jr is looking to control Rich's arms but Rich gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santos Jr has his back to the cage.
Santos Jr wants to stall.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Helio Santos Jr.
Santos Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Rich circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos Jr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Santos Jr shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rich's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rich manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Rich is trying to pull guard but Santos Jr turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich tries to pull guard but Santos Jr holds him up against the cage and eventually Rich drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leopoldo Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos Jr doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Santos Jr trying to stall but Rich improves his position.
Rich is trying to pull guard but Santos Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Santos Jr prevents Rich from breaking the clinch.
Santos Jr tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rich is trying to pull guard but Santos Jr turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rich fails to pull guard.
Rich wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Santos Jr has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rich has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rich as Santos Jr tries to tie him up.
Rich is trying to pull guard but Santos Jr turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Santos Jr trying to stall but Rich improves his position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rich is trying to force a seperation but Santos Jr has the dominant position.
Santos Jr is trying to maintain a safe position but Rich gets an underhook and turns Santos Jr into the cage.
Santos Jr is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rich is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos Jr tries to stall but Rich uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Helio Santos Jr.
Santos Jr tries to clinch but Rich moves out of range.
Rich swats away the attempt to clinch by Santos Jr.

Santos Jr drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rich manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Santos Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Santos Jr keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rich's efforts to push away.
Rich fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rich jumps guard.
Rich wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rich striking off his back but it's not causing Santos Jr any problems.

Rich is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Santos Jr tries to stand but Rich is controlling from the bottom.

Rich looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rich is on top in guard.

The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rich won't allow Santos Jr to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leopoldo Rich showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rich has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leopoldo Rich!
The defeated Helio Santos Jr had this to say: 'Ya know, its hard to lose after all the effort being put into this, but ya know sometimes things just don't go your way in there'.