PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rod Swagger (ranked 3175 p4p, 3117 weight class) and Lenny Bruce (ranked 410 p4p, 403 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Swagger
vs
Bruce

179 cm
25
178
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
183
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rod Swagger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lenny Bruce!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swagger tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bruce defends well and Swagger ends up having to push Bruce into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bruce is looking for the big counter here.

Bruce escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Swagger moves in looking to clinch but Bruce pushes him off.
Bruce changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Swagger tries to avoid it but Bruce manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Swagger to the ground. Swagger escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Swagger shoots in and gets a takedown into Bruce's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bruce is pulling down on Swagger's head to control his posture.

Bruce throws his legs up looking for a submission but Swagger uses it to pass to side control.
You can see the frustration on Bruce's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bruce is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce is holding Swagger down, trying to stall.
Bruce is trying to control Swagger's posture but Swagger avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swagger is looking to take a break and control but Bruce is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Swagger throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two 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.
Swagger tries to move into full mount but can't pass Bruce's legs.
Bruce wants to get back to his feet but Swagger drags him back down.
Bruce is trying to get back to half guard.
Bruce pushes Swagger away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Swagger gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Swagger shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bruce as he avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Swagger as Bruce shoots in.
Swagger throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bruce's waist but Bruce gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Swagger off to one side.
Bruce tries to counter with a clinch but Swagger shakes him off and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rod Swagger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swagger tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bruce paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruce fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Swagger is out of range.
Bruce bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Bruce scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Swagger wants to control but Bruce postures up.
Bruce lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Bruce has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Bruce fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Swagger sprawls well initially but Bruce persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Swagger trying to control here.
Swagger missing with punches from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swagger has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bruce is working away from the top position though.
Swagger tries to kick Bruce off but Bruce keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Swagger manages to get to full guard.

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

Bruce successfully pulls guard.
Bruce is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bruce looking for a sweep. Not yet Bruce, not yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rod Swagger will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Swagger displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bruce.
Swagger throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bruce stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Bruce clinches up with Swagger and pushes him back against the cage.
Bruce is trying to force a seperation but Swagger has the dominant position.
Bruce lands with a right to the head.
Swagger is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bruce pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Swagger pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swagger throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Bruce in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bruce sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bruce postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swagger working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bruce doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bruce manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Swagger 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.
Bruce in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bruce trying to control the position from guard on top but Swagger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bruce lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two 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.
Bruce tries to free his leg and advance position but Swagger is retaining full guard.

Bruce stands up and waves to Swagger to follow him.
Bruce shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick misses from Bruce.
Bruce throws a head kick that misses.
Bruce tries to clinch there but Swagger circles away.

Bruce tries to keep at a distance but Swagger has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bruce fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rod Swagger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Bruce.
Bruce is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Swagger is defending well.

Swagger manages to pull guard.
Swagger has his hands on Bruce's head, controlling the position.
Swagger continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bruce stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Swagger gets a clinch.
Bruce fails to pull guard.
Swagger avoiding damage as Bruce throws knees to the body.
Swagger is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bruce is defending well.
Bruce is looking to take this one to the mat.
Swagger fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bruce breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rod Swagger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bruce is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Swagger's half guard.
Bruce is controlling the pace.
Bruce sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Swagger defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bruce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bruce is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rod Swagger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bruce wants to lay and pray for a moment but Swagger keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lenny Bruce will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Swagger's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Swagger stuffs the takedown attempt from Bruce. Bruce gets slowly back to his feet.
Swagger misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Bruce scores with a takedown into Swagger's guard.
Bruce throws a strike but Swagger rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bruce looking to hit a scissor sweep but Swagger is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bruce is trying to control the position but Swagger postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce looking to hit a scissor sweep but Swagger is one step ahead there.
Swagger not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Swagger gets to his feet. Bruce looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Swagger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Bruce bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Swagger sneaks back into half guard.
Swagger wants to control but Bruce is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swagger has hold of Bruce's hands but Bruce slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bruce looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Swagger wants to control but Bruce is keeping busy.

Bruce stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swagger shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bruce as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rod Swagger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swagger thumps Bruce with a low kick.
Swagger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Swagger showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bruce.
Swagger uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bruce.

Bruce gets a takedown into half guard.

Bruce is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Swagger doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bruce.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swagger is staying active underneath Bruce, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bruce wants to get back to his feet.

Bruce is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bruce is keen to just control but Swagger is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lenny Bruce comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bruce 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lenny Bruce!