PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Deep Bluez (ranked 3862 p4p, 3854 weight class) and Rulon Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Bluez
vs
Gardner

188 cm
25
266
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
250
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Deep Bluez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rulon Gardner!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bluez shoots in for a takedown but Gardner shows good takedown defense.
Bluez looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Gardner shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bluez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee asks Gardner politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gardner prefers to stall for the moment though.
Bluez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gardner is looking to take a break and control but Bluez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardner landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Gardner lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gardner lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
A lull in the action here.
Gardner is working Bluez over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gardner is looking to take a break and control but Bluez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gardner working the head with strikes.
Gardner tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Gardner thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gardner is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bluez will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bluez prevents Gardner from moving into mount.
Gardner takes a little break here. Bluez wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Gardner cracks Bluez with a big right hand but Bluez just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Gardner controls the position.
Let's hope that Gardner has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gardner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bluez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bluez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bluez moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner feints a jab promting Bluez to slip. Gardner then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bluez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Bluez slips a straight right by Gardner.
Gardner throws a head kick but Bluez moves out of range.

Gardner decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gardner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gardner trying to mount his opponent but Bluez defends it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gardner controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gardner wants to work for an arm triangle but Bluez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rulon Gardner dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gardner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bluez throws a body punch but Gardner moves out of range.
Bluez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gardner.
Bluez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gardner defends it nicely.

Gardner shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bluez is trying to defend but Gardner finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardner is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bluez!
Gardner controlling his opponent.
Gardner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gardner controlling his opponent.
Gardner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gardner unloading with bombs!
Gardner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gardner content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gardner tries to control but Bluez wriggling away.
Gardner controlling the pace for now.
The referee warns Bluez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gardner tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gardner lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner with a couple of short strikes.
Gardner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bluez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gardner lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Gardner controlling his opponent.
Gardner unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Bluez wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Gardner celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rulon Gardner!
Rulon Gardner decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
Deep Bluez was interviewed post fight and said 'I Will be back. '.