PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leopoldo Rich (ranked 24410 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Miguel (ranked 4829 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rich
vs
Miguel

179 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 3 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Miguel!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rich instigates a clinch.

Miguel has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rich regains guard immediately.
Rich has Miguel pulled in close to control his posture.
Miguel wants to stand but Rich is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rich seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Rich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Miguel defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Miguel stands up and waves to Rich to follow him.

Rich gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Miguel to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Rich pushes Miguel off and gets back to his feet.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich moves in looking to clinch but Miguel pushes him off.
Nice sprawl there from Miguel as Rich shoots in.
Rich tries for a takedown but Miguel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Miguel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rich trying to control the position.
Rich looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Rich has his foot on Miguel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miguel works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rich is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rich looking for a guillotine here but Miguel defends easily.

Rich has his foot on Miguel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miguel works his way back into a safe position though.
Miguel wanted to stand there but Rich had control of the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rich seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Miguel stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rich gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Miguel to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rich pulls Miguel in to control the position.
Rich is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rich controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miguel has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rich is proving hard to escape from.
Miguel looks winded!

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 pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich trying to control the position here.

Rich working for a triangle but Miguel defends it easily.

Rich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Miguel defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rich is trying to control the position but Miguel postures up.
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 Leopoldo Rich will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Miguel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rich looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rich wants to control but Miguel postures up.
Rich is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Miguel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rich desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Rich's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Miguel stands up and beckons Rich to join him on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rich dives in and grabs Miguel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Miguel pushes down on Rich's head and hops out.

Miguel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rich manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rich trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Miguel is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich has his hands on Miguel's head, controlling the position.

Rich escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Miguel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rich is controlling Miguel's posture.
Rich trying to keep a closed guard but Miguel is proving a slippery customer.
Rich looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

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 punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Miguel preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Miguel throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rich was covering up waiting for the punch and Miguel finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rich seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rich will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich pulls Miguel in to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Rich scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Miguel pushes Rich off but Rich dives into side control.

Rich decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miguel tries to keep at a distance but Rich has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rich pulls guard.
Rich has his hands on Miguel's head, controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rich tries to strike from the bottom.

Rich is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joao Miguel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rich clinches with his opponent.
Rich wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Miguel lands a takedown into guard.
Rich doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Rich throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rich is trying to keep Miguel in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miguel tries to stand but Rich is controlling from the bottom.
Miguel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Miguel defends it easily.
Rich wants to sweep but no luck.

Rich working for a triangle but Miguel defends it easily.
Rich is pulling down on Miguel's head to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Miguel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rich is controlling Miguel's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Rich is looking to improve his position.
Rich keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rich wants to get back to his feet.
Miguel is thwarting Rich's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rich works his way to full guard. Good work.

Rich working for a triangle but Miguel defends it easily.
Rich pulls Miguel in close to his closed guard and prevents Miguel from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Rich instigates a clinch.

Rich jumps guard.
Rich seems keen to control Miguel's posture.

Miguel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rich has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Miguel has managed to get both his arms back between Rich's legs - danger averted.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rich is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leopoldo Rich showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rich has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leopoldo Rich!