PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo da Cunha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Mars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). da Cunha comes to the ring accompanied by Racionais MC's - Negro Drama. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

da Cunha
vs
Mars

170 cm
18
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodrigo da Cunha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ethan Mars!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mars displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from da Cunha.
Mars doesn't manage to clinch there - da Cunha circles away.
da Cunha shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mars as he jumps to the side.
Mars circles away from the clinch attempt.
da Cunha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

da Cunha closes the distance and pushes Mars back into the ropes.
da Cunha is trying to drag Mars to the mat but Mars just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo da Cunha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
da Cunha keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mars's efforts to push away.

da Cunha turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Mars is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
da Cunha wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mars keeps working.
da Cunha is really struggling to control Mars but he's trying to hold on to the position.
da Cunha prevents Mars from improving his position.
Mars is not content to let da Cunha control the position.

da Cunha is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
da Cunha is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
da Cunha tries for a takedown but Mars sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Mars has closed the distance and engaged da Cunha in a clinch.
da Cunha wants a takedown but no success here.
Mars tries to stall but da Cunha uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
da Cunha is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
da Cunha changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mars fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mars closes the distance but da Cunha moves to the side
and da Cunha counters with a series of strikes. Mars will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Cunha shoots for a takedown but Mars saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mars doesn't manage to clinch there - da Cunha circles away.
Rodrigo da Cunha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mars stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mars wants it to stay on the feet.
Mars tries to close the distance and clinch but da Cunha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mars moves in looking to clinch but da Cunha pushes him off.
da Cunha keeps the fight on the outside.
Mars tries to clinch up.

Mars has taken the fight to the clinch.
da Cunha wants a takedown.

Mars pulls guard effortlessly.
Mars looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mars 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.
da Cunha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mars is keeping the position for now.
Mars is trying to keep da Cunha in close.
Mars manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Mars jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… da Cunha is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by da Cunha and Mars has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Mars tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mars has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Mars dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

da Cunha misses with a body kick.
Mars keeps the fight on the outside.
Mars fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mars tries to clinch up but da Cunha circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mars displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from da Cunha.
da Cunha shoots in looking for a takedown. Mars tries to sprawl out of it but da Cunha keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Mars manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mars gets the takedown into side control.

Mars wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by da Cunha, who protects the arm well.
da Cunha is looking for a sweep.
da Cunha struggling a bit here.

Mars is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but da Cunha is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mars is looking to take a break and control but da Cunha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
da Cunha can't do much from the bottom here.
da Cunha tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mars wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mars misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
I wouldn't like to be where da Cunha is right now.
da Cunha is looking to reverse the position.
da Cunha sneaks back into half guard.
Mars wants to pass the guard but da Cunha is defending well.
da Cunha wants to control the action here but instead Mars manages to pass to full mount!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
da Cunha is squirming around, avoiding Mars's attempts to control the action.
da Cunha is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mars throwing strikes here but da Cunha is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Mars looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Mars tries to control but da Cunha wriggling away.
da Cunha is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mars misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mars avoids the attempt from da Cunha to control.
da Cunha is trying to escape the mount.
da Cunha has given up his back.

That's four 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.
Mars missing with strikes.

da Cunha defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
da Cunha tries to break free.

Mars tightening his grip on da Cunha, looking for the choke.
Mars is breathing heavily.
da Cunha tries to escape but Mars has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
da Cunha looking very determined here, making life difficult for Mars.

Mars is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
da Cunha trying to control but not successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Mars showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mars gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows da Cunha to score an easy takedown into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mars is on top in guard.
da Cunha controls Mars momentarily but Mars frees himself.

da Cunha has his foot on Mars's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mars works his way back into a safe position though.
Mars pushing down on da Cunha's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mars is thwarting da Cunha's attempts to control the position.

Mars maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! da Cunha could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Mars has cracked it and da Cunha is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Mars!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ethan Mars!