PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Matos Viana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lebron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matos Viana
vs
James

188 cm
20
229 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Rodrigo Matos Viana!
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, Lebron James!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matos Viana stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
Rodrigo Matos Viana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lebron James.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matos Viana's waist but Matos Viana gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
Nice takedown defense from Matos Viana. No joy for James on that attempt.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Matos Viana.
Nice takedown defense from Matos Viana. No joy for James on that attempt.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lebron James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James looks gassed!
Matos Viana stuffs the takedown.
Matos Viana with a lazy takedown attempt

and James counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Matos Viana trying to control from the bottom.
James should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
James throws a strike but Matos Viana avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos Viana wants to control the position but James says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Matos Viana moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Matos Viana doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Matos Viana bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.
James keeping moving, preventing Matos Viana from controlling successfully.
James is trying to keep Matos Viana in close.
Matos Viana wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Matos Viana postures up.

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.
Matos Viana chips away with some ground and pound.
Matos Viana won't allow James to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matos Viana trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
James misses with a takedown attempt

and Matos Viana counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Matos Viana stays in close to James's body and controls the position.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Matos Viana trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matos Viana is working James over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matos Viana wanted to stand there but James had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
James keeping moving, preventing Matos Viana from controlling successfully.
Matos Viana postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James with a poor takedown

and Matos Viana counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
Matos Viana avoids the strikes from the bottom by James.
James tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

Matos Viana with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Matos Viana blocks James's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
James tries to hold on but Matos Viana pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Matos Viana wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
James tries to lock up and control but Matos Viana gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
James swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Matos Viana looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James working to try and regain half guard.
Matos Viana trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
James perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
James thows a huge punch but Matos Viana dodges it nicely.
James is figuring out what he wants to do next.
James is trying to control the action in half guard but Matos Viana is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Matos Viana manages to get to full guard.

Matos Viana is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! James has his hands clasped together but Matos Viana extends an breaks James's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Matos Viana.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rodrigo Matos Viana!