PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Matielli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Marques (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruno Matielli looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Matielli
vs
Marques

185 cm
19
235 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
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, Bruno Matielli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Marques!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matielli looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Matielli looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Matielli shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marques but Marques pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Marques rushes Matielli and presses him up against the cage.

Matielli is fighting off a takedown attempt but Marques is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Matielli to the mat. Matielli regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Marques is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
I looks like Marques might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Marques 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.
Matielli could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Marques pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matielli is keeping the position for now.
Marques slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Matielli isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Marques stacks Matielli on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Marques!
Matielli is trying to escape the position but Marques is controlling the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rafael Marques just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Marques feints and as Matielli raises his hands in defense, Marques changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Marques looking to pass the guard.
Marques stays in close to Matielli's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marques tries to free his leg and advance position but Matielli is retaining full guard.
Marques controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four 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.
Marques's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Matielli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marques gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marques changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Matielli looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Marques slows the pace down.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rafael Marques just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marques lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Marques throws a nice head kick!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Marques drives through with a takedown into guard.

Matielli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Matielli might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Marques content to stall in guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Matielli looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marques content to stall in guard here.
Marques pushing down on Matielli's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Matielli looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Matielli looking for submissions off his back.

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.
Matielli tries to roll over but Marques keeps him under control.
Marques controlling the pace.
Marques is looking to advance position but Matielli won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marques takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Matielli is trying to stand up here but Marques is controlling him well.
Matielli throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marques lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Matielli at a distance.

Marques moves into the clinch successfully.

Marques drags the fight down to the ground.
Marques really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matielli. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Matielli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marques swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marques controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matielli is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marques is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marques has escaped and now he's on top!

Matielli is looking for a triangle here but Marques uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The referee asks Marques politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Marques prefers to stall for the moment though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Marques showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Marques throws a shot to the body.
Marques lands a jab to Matielli's midsection.

Marques fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Matielli sprawls well initially but Marques persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rafael Marques has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marques trying to mount his opponent but Matielli defends it.
Marques takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Marques moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Matielli.
Matielli is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matielli looks to move to half guard but instead Marques has passed into mount! Damn!
Marques takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Marques takes Matielli's back, avoiding a couple of desperation strikes from the bottom.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
I really don't envy Matielli right now.

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.
Matielli is working hard here to advance position.
Marques is riding his opponent, not letting Matielli buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matielli is trying to break free.
Matielli turns into Marques and is now in his guard.
Matielli looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Matielli misses with a series of wild punches.

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.

Marques shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Matielli's guard.

Matielli looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Marques is defending well. Matielli quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Marques has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Matielli celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bruno Matielli!