PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Guido Turturro (ranked 2002 p4p, 1410 weight class) and Zenzo Rai (ranked 285 p4p, 211 weight class). Turturro comes to the cage accompanied by Wrong hole - DJ Lube. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Turturro
vs
Rai

177 cm
28
169
15 - 9 - 0

183 cm
29
180
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear

FF Gear

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Guido Turturro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zenzo Rai!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Turturro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Turturro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rai counters with a left to the body.
Turturro shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guido Turturro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Turturro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Turturro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rai as he jumps to the side.
Turturro looks for a takedown but Rai sprawls well.
Rai scores with a nice right hand.
Rai tries to land a front kick but Turturro steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Turturro throws a quick counter kick to the body but Rai avoids it.
Turturro looks for a takedown but Rai sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turturro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Turturro stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rai.
Guido Turturro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Turturro's sensitive parts.
Rai has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Turturro shoots in for a takedown but Rai shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rai fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rai works Turturro's body with a nice hook.
Rai cracks a nice hook into Turturro's ribs.
Turturro shoots in for a double leg but Rai sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rai tries a head kick but it misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Turturro.

Turturro drives through with a takedown into Rai's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rai is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rai pulls Turturro in close to prevent any damage.
Turturro won't allow Rai to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai has his hands on Turturro's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rai wants to improve his position but instead Turturro has moved into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rai controlling the position for now.
Turturro trying to control from half guard but Rai is working away.
Rai tries to get to full guard but Turturro has control of the leg.
Rai keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rai is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rai preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Rai tries to roll over but Turturro keeps him under control.
Rai trying to hold on to Turturro's head to control him but Turturro postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rai is looking to improve his position.
Rai controlling the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rai wants to slow Turturro down by chopping away at his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
No luck for Turturro with that takedown attempt.
Turturro takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rai misses with a looping right.
Rai lands a two punch combo.
Turturro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rai circles away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rai enables Turturro to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rai manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rai's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rai chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Turturro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Turturro fails with the takedown.
Turturro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guido Turturro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rai's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rai duly obliges.
Rai scoring well with a low kick there.
Rai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Turturro shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rai but Rai pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turturro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rai appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Rai digs a good hook to Turturro's body.
An inside leg kick lands from Rai.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rai. Turturro shrugs it off though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Turturro. That did some damage!
Turturro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rai counters with a slapping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rai slaps away a takedown attempt from Turturro, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Turturro tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Turturro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rai defends it nicely.
Rai stuffs the takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Turturro or perhaps it was just good defense by Rai, which made it look bad.
Rai with the inside leg kick.
Turturro stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rai.
Zenzo Rai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A left and a right from Rai both land. Nice combination.
Rai connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turturro on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rai. Rai obviously looking to wear him down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zenzo Rai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Turturro shoots in looking for a takedown. Rai tries to sprawl out of it but Turturro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rai manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Turturro looks for a takedown but Rai sprawls well.
A punch lands to the side of Turturro 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rai connects with an inside leg kick.
Rai is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Turturro rather than just go for the knockout.
Crunch! Rai slams his shin into Turturro's torso.
Rai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice takedown defense from Rai. No joy for Turturro on that attempt.
Rai with the inside leg kick.
Rai scores with a leg kick.
Turturro takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rai stuffs the takedown.
Turturro avoids the head kick by Rai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turturro closes the distance and clinches up with Rai, looking for a takedown. Turturro pushes Rai against the cage but Rai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Turturro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rai scores with a nice right hand.
Rai throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Turturro on the side of the head.
Rai throws a leg kick which misses Turturro's front leg but catches the back leg as Turturro tries to avoid it.
Rai swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Turturro.
Turturro has been working on his balance at Alpha Brasil, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Rai.
Rai thumps Turturro with a low kick.
Rai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rai misses with a head kick.
Turturro avoids the head kick by Rai.
Turturro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rai as he jumps to the side.
Rai throws a head kick that misses.
Turturro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rai lands the left hand.
Turturro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rai is fending him off so far but Turturro persists. Nope, Rai circles away and we're back to standing.
Rai feints a counter leg kick.
Rai lands with a kick to the ribs.
Turturro shoots for a takedown but Rai saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rai feints a counter leg kick.
Rai scoring well with a low kick there.
Rai lands a front kick.
Rai cracks Turturro with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
That kick from Rai tenderised Turturro's leg. Turturro is trying to keep his angry face on.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rai.
Turturro shoots and misses
and Rai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rai connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rai lands with a nice body punch.
Turturro misses with a takedown attempt - Rai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rai throws out a counter right but Turturro avoids it with no problem.
Rai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Turturro has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zenzo Rai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Turturro shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rai sprawls well. Rai wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Turturro gets slowly back to his feet.
A slow jab from Rai misses its intended target.
Turturro closes the distance and clinches up with Rai, looking for a takedown. Turturro pushes Rai against the cage but Rai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Turturro shoots in looking for a takedown but Rai manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Turturro's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guido Turturro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Turturro tries to move into range but Rai moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rai connects with a solid leg kick.
Rai fakes the leg kick and cracks Turturro in the body.
Turturro is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rai sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rai feints and then cracks Turturro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Turturro down.
Turturro goes for a double leg but Rai avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rai continues to drive forward.
A short left from Rai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rai lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rai lands a body punch.
Rai stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Turturro is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rai to keep the fight standing.
Turturro jumps guard but Rai stands there with Turturro around his waist. Turturro gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rai lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Turturro's elbow.
Rai throws a head punch that misses.
Turturro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Turturro tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rai just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rai has a couple of punches blocked by Turturro.
Rai working aggressively here.
Turturro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Turturro tries to pull guard but Rai forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Turturro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Turturro fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rai misses with a punch on the inside.
Turturro tries to pull guard but Rai won't allow it.

Rai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Turturro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rai lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Turturro takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turturro shoots in for a takedown but Rai shows good takedown defense.
Rai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Turturro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rai feints a counter leg kick.
Turturro's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Rai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rai throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Turturro's head.

It looks like Guido Turturro has been cut.
Rai feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Turturros jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Turturro fails with a takedown attempt.
Rai fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Turturro.
Turturro takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turturro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rai can pounce on him.
Turturro takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Turturro shoots in looking for a takedown. Rai tries to sprawl out of it but Turturro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rai manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Turturro tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rai connects with a high kick.
Rai missing with a left hand there. Turturro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Turturro dives in and grabs Rai's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rai pushes down on Turturro's head and hops out.
Rai was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Rai lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rai throws a head kick that half lands.
Rai lands with a kick to the ribs.
Rai with a nice calf kick.
Rai fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Turturro fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rai scores with a leg kick.
Rai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Turturro's sensitive parts.
Rai comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rai works Turturro's body with a nice hook.
Turturro on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rai. Rai obviously looking to wear him down.
Rai scores with a hook.
Rai lands with a slapping head kick.
Rai scores with a nice strike.
Turturro fails to land the takedown.
Rai appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Turturro is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rai throws a good cross that connects.
Rai works the jab nicely.
Turturro will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Turturro shoots in for a takedown but Rai shows good takedown defense.
Turturro shoots in looking for a takedown. Rai tries to sprawl out of it but Turturro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rai manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zenzo Rai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 25:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 25:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zenzo Rai!
Zenzo Rai tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.