PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rui Rodrigo Germano (ranked 1949 p4p, 285 weight class) and Izuagbe Ugoh (ranked 2467 p4p, 337 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Germano might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to HIM - Don't Fear The Reaper. Ugoh is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rocky Dawuni - African Thriller. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rodrigo Germano
vs
Ugoh

182 cm
37
208 lbs
18 - 20 - 0

191 cm
28
207 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rui Rodrigo Germano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Izuagbe Ugoh!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Germano misses its intended target.
Germano thows a left - swing and a miss!
Germano changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ugoh avoids the body shot from Germano.
Ugoh steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Ugoh scores with a shot to the body.
Germano with a jab.
Ugoh throws a sloppy head kick and Germano moves out of range easily.
Germano takes a swing at Ugoh's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Germano misses.
Ugoh misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ugoh throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Germano counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Germano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ugoh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ugoh controlling Germano's posture.
Ugoh preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Germano working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Germano wants to control from the top but Ugoh keeps moving.
Ugoh preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Germano is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Germano is looking to work some ground and pound but Ugoh has wrist control.
Germano throws a big right hand that misses.
Germano is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Germano trying to control the position from guard on top but Ugoh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ugoh keeping full guard, as Germano tries to pass.
Germano throws an elbow that misses. Ugoh uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Germano's guard. Nice move by Ugoh!

Germano has his foot on Ugoh's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ugoh works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Germano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Germano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ugoh is one step ahead there.
Ugoh engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ugoh must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ugoh stands and throws Germano's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ugoh working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Germano manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ugoh's best efforts.
Germano is trying to control but Ugoh passes into side control!
Germano is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ugoh working away.
Germano is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rui Rodrigo Germano 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.

Ugoh takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ugoh tries to land a front kick but Germano steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ugoh.
Germano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ugoh moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Donk. Germano catches Ugoh right on the button with a cross.
Germano blocks a head kick by Ugoh.
Germano on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Germano fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Germano looks to throw the jab but Ugoh is out of range.
Ugoh is looking for the big counter here.
Ugoh staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Germano avoids the head kick by Ugoh.
Germano feinted with a counter takedown.
Germano throws a body shot but no joy.
Ugoh scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ugoh misses with a head kick.
Rui Rodrigo Germano is winning the standup battle so far.
Ugoh is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Germano.
Germano throws a lazy uppercut
and Ugoh counters with a stiff right hand.
Ugoh slips a jab from Germano.
Ugoh is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Germano with a body shot.
Ugoh throws a jab when Germano was well out of range.
Germano scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Germano scores with a hook to the body. Ugoh takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Germano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ugoh tries a quick counter leg kick but Germano is wise to it.
Nice defenses there by Germano.
Ugoh throws a body shot but no joy.
Germano throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ugoh counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ugoh misses the shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ugoh throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ugoh avoids the body shot from Germano.
Nice defenses there by Germano.
Germano loads up on a big right hand but Ugoh slips the punch.
Germano shoots for a double leg takedown but Ugoh sprawls well. He's pushed Germano's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Some wild striking there from Germano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Germano misses.
Germano misses with a double jab.
Ugoh works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

It looks like Rui Rodrigo Germano has been cut.
Ugoh throws a solid leg kick but Germano takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ugoh.
Germano drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ugoh sprawls and moves away.
Germano connects with a body shot that sends Ugoh's belly button to the back.
Ugoh connects with a jab.
Ugoh misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ugoh darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ugoh connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ugoh misses with a low kick.
Germano drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ugoh sprawls and moves away.
Germano throws a big shot that misses.
Ugoh is looking to land body kicks.
Ugoh staying out of range there.
Ugoh throws a front kick aimed at Germano's knee but Germano avoids it well.
Germano tries to counter with a takedown but Ugoh is quick to defend against it.
Germano fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ugoh looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Germano misses with the combination.
Ugoh scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Izuagbe Ugoh will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rui Rodrigo Germano's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ugoh tries a low kick but Germano avoids it.
Germano drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ugoh sprawls and moves away.
Germano swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ugoh counters with a series of strikes. Germano will be more careful next time no doubt.
Germano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ugoh looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Germano moves out of range as Ugoh throws a body kick.
A big left from Ugoh misses.

Germano closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Germano looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ugoh is avoiding damage well.
Germano working the strikes but Ugoh uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Germano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ugoh keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ugoh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Germano.
Germano has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ugoh is not content to let Germano control the position.
Ugoh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Germano.
Ugoh trying to hold on to Germano's head to control him but Germano postures up.
Ugoh regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Germano.
Germano trying to control the position from guard on top but Ugoh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Germano works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Germano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ugoh defending well though.
Germano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Germano is thwarting Ugoh's attempts to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Germano is working for a submission of some sort.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Ugoh.
Germano misses with a hook
and Ugoh counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Germano shoots in but no luck this time.
Germano scores with a hook.
Germano misses with a shot to the body
and Ugoh connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Germano misses with a double jab
and Ugoh cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Germano misses with a looping left.
Germano throws a right and a left that Ugoh avoids nicely.
Germano misses the body punch
letting Ugoh counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Germano misses the body punch
and Ugoh counters with a good low kick that Germano was not able to check.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Germano takes a swing at Ugoh's ribcage but misses.
Ugoh throws a big shot that misses.
Germano attempts a counter takedown but Ugoh avoids it well and moves away.
Germano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A countering left hand to the body from Ugoh misses.
Ugoh throws a leg kick which misses Germano's front leg but catches the back leg as Germano tries to avoid it.
Germano blocks a jab.
Ugoh looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Germano misses with a double jab.
A little jabbing left from Ugoh on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ugoh changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Izuagbe Ugoh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ugoh has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Izuagbe Ugoh!
A very excited looking Izuagbe Ugoh made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.