PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shoot Hop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Ranallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hop
vs
Ranallo

150 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Shoot Hop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Ranallo!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Ranallo with that takedown attempt.
Ranallo wants to clinch.

Hop drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ranallo is on top in guard.

Hop is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ranallo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hop working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hop has a closed guard, preventing Ranallo from standing up.
Hop is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ranallo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hop wants to sweep but no luck.
Hop is working hard here to advance position.
Hop controls Ranallo momentarily but Ranallo frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ranallo stopping the sweep attempt from Hop.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hop working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Shoot Hop wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hop shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ranallo defends it nicely.
Hop attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ranallo tries a head kick but it misses.
Hop rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ranallo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hop tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ranallo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ranallo gets caught flat footed, as Hop shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ranallo is pulling down on Hop's head to control his posture.
Ranallo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hop has passed into side control.
Hop looking to control but instead Ranallo has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Hop knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ranallo on the ground.
Ranallo wants to improve his position but Hop is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hop stalling away here and it's allowed Ranallo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hop trying to control the position from guard on top but Ranallo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ranallo wants to get back to his feet but Hop is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hop would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ranallo looking for a guillotine here but Hop defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hop looking to sit in guard and control but Ranallo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shoot Hop dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hop goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Ranallo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ranallo is looking to take a break and control but Hop is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hop tries to improve position but can't.
Hop wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hop can't do much from the bottom here.
Hop is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hop tries to control but Ranallo manages to take his back.
Ranallo has the hooks in. Hop is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Can Hop hold on?! Ranallo is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Hop looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Good control from Ranallo.

Ranallo is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Hop is defending well though. Ranallo let's go of the attempt for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ranallo looking for the choke from the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hop avoids the strikes from Ranallo.
Ranallo controlling well, preventing Hop from escaping the position.
Hop tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Ranallo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hop flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hop is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hop is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranallo landing strikes from the mount.
Ranallo 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.
Ranallo raining down shots from the mount!
Hop is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Ranallo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ranallo trying to control but Hop is having none of it.
Hop really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Ranallo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ranallo looking to control but Hop is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ranallo prevents Hop from getting the reversal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ranallo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Ranallo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hop is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hop and Ranallo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Ranallo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ranallo misses with a low kick.

Hop forces Ranallo back against the cage and clinches.

Hop turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Hop tries to score with some ground and pound. Ranallo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Hop trying to control the action but Ranallo is working from the bottom.
Ranallo controls the position for a moment.
Hop in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranallo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Hop stands up.
Ranallo with a poor takedown

and Hop counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hop.
Fernando Ranallo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ranallo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ranallo uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hop throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ranallo.
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!

Ranallo tries to keep at a distance but Hop has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hop will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ranallo up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hop escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ranallo with a poor takedown
and Ranallo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Hop closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ranallo to the mat! Ranallo manages to get full guard.
Hop with a flurry of punches that miss.

Hop gets to his feet - Ranallo follows without any prompting.

Hop closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hop lands in his opponent's guard.
Hop pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ranallo is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hop wants to control from the top but Ranallo keeps moving.
Hop works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hop is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Hop has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ranallo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ranallo wants to stand but Hop is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ranallo keeping moving, preventing Hop from controlling successfully.

Ranallo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hop is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ranallo.

Hop stands up and beckons Ranallo to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hop throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ranallo was covering up waiting for the punch and Hop finishes the takedown easily into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shoot Hop showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hop has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shoot Hop!