PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Felipe Pontes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rheyder JJ (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.

Pontes
vs
JJ

180 cm
20
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Felipe Pontes!
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, Rheyder JJ!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pontes misses with a straight left.
Pontes throws a shot from downtown. JJ moves away and avoids it.
Pontes throws a lazy right hand but JJ sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pontes misses with a wild combination.
Pontes misses with a looping left.
Felipe Pontes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
JJ slips under a jab.
Pontes moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nice defenses there by JJ.
Pontes throws out a loose jab but JJ uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Pontes does no damage.
JJ showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pontes.
Some wild striking there from Pontes.
Pontes looks to land a combination but JJ avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pontes bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps JJ's head backwards.
JJ slips a straight right by Pontes.
A combination from Pontes does no damage.
Sloppy strikes from Pontes. Those never looked like landing.
JJ avoids a punch combination nicely.
JJ uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pontes.

JJ feints and as Pontes raises his hands in defense, JJ changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

JJ thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pontes keeping moving, preventing JJ from controlling successfully.

JJ drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and JJ jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pontes wants to get back to his feet but JJ is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

JJ thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
JJ prevents Pontes from getting back to his feet.

JJ thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pontes wants to get back to his feet but JJ is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pontes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pontes is breathing heavily.

JJ thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

JJ drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Pontes dives on top into guard.
Pontes wanted to stand there but JJ had control of the position.
Pontes wants to stand and escape but instead JJ has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
JJ won't allow Pontes to get back to his feet.

JJ is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
JJ is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

JJ drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pontes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pontes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pontes!
Pontes wants to stand but JJ has his arm trapped.
Pontes wants to stand but JJ has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pontes is looking to stand up but JJ won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Felipe Pontes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pontes throws an overhand right that lands on JJ's shoulder, as JJ tries to avoid the shot.
Pontes swinging wildly here.
JJ showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pontes.
Pontes throws a big shot that misses.
Pontes fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches JJ on the side of the head.
Pontes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pontes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Pontes misses.
Pontes is really struggling to find his range with his punches. JJ's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
JJ blocks a jab.
JJ avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pontes is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
JJ has his takedown stuffed
and Pontes counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pontes lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
JJ moves away from the strike by Pontes.
Pontes throws a series of punches but JJ avoids them all with ease.
Pontes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. JJ sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Pontes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows JJ to score an easy takedown into full guard.

JJ thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

JJ drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and JJ jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
JJ is breathing heavily.
JJ stops Pontes from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

JJ thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

JJ thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pontes wants to stand up but JJ is controlling him.
JJ trying to control the position from guard on top but Pontes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
JJ won't allow Pontes to get back to his feet.

JJ is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pontes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst JJ is controlling him.

JJ postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Pontes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of JJ, into his guard.

Pontes stands up from JJ's guard - Pontes perhaps looking for a knockout.
Pontes throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
JJ ducks under a wild hook from Pontes.
Pontes misses with a hook. JJ ducked under it nicely.
Pontes jabs JJ right on the nose. JJ blinks but takes it well.
Pontes scores with the left hand. JJ knows he should have avoided that one.
Pontes misses with a two punch combination.
Pontes misses with an uppercut. JJ saw that one coming.
Pontes throws a hook to the side of JJ's head but JJ sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pontes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pontes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pontes throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Pontes dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pontes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Pontes swinging wildly here.
JJ shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pontes cracks JJ with a right hand to the side of the head.
A punch combination from Pontes misses.
Pontes throws the left hand but JJ avoids the punch easily.
A left lands for Pontes.
Pontes throws the left hand but JJ avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Pontes.
Pontes misses with the combination.
JJ closes the distance and clinches up with Pontes, looking for a takedown. JJ pushes Pontes against the cage but Pontes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Felipe Pontes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
JJ takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pontes throws a series of punches but JJ moves out of range.
JJ avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pontes throws a series of punches but JJ avoids them all with ease.
JJ moves away from the strike by Pontes.
Pontes misses with a series of wild punches.
JJ avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pontes throws a series of punches but JJ avoids them all with ease.
JJ bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
No joy there for Pontes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

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.
Pontes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pontes throws a series of punches but JJ moves out of range.
Pontes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Felipe Pontes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pontes scores with a nice strike.

JJ drives through with a takedown into guard.

JJ drops back looking for a leg! Pontes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pontes manages to kick JJ off! JJ jumps back into Pontes's guard.
Pontes is looking to stand up but JJ isn't so interested in that idea.
Pontes trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

JJ drops back looking for a leg! Pontes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pontes manages to kick JJ off! JJ jumps back into Pontes's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

JJ drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and JJ jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pontes wriggles free and stands up.
Good exchange - Pontes coming out on top.
Pontes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pontes throws a jab when JJ was well out of range.
Pontes misses with a series of wild punches.
Pontes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but JJ circles away quickly and effectively.
Pontes scores with a nice strike.

That's four 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.
Pontes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
JJ moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Jab, jab by Pontes - just one landing.
JJ avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A slow jab from Pontes misses its intended target.
Pontes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from Pontes. Those never looked like landing.
Pontes misses with a wild combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pontes darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rheyder JJ has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pontes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felipe Pontes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pontes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felipe Pontes!