PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Polo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Muniz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Polo
vs
Muniz

195 cm
19
263 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

194 cm
20
242 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marco Polo!
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, Rafael Muniz!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Polo tries to keep at a distance but Muniz has taken the fight into the clinch.

Muniz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Muniz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Polo.
Polo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Muniz as he jumps to the side.

Polo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Muniz to the mat! Muniz manages to get full guard.
Muniz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Polo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Muniz working a defensive guard here.
Muniz wants to stand and escape but Polo is having none of it.
Polo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muniz looking for a sweep. Not yet Muniz, not yet.
Muniz keeping moving, preventing Polo from controlling successfully.
Polo postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Muniz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Polo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Polo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Muniz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Muniz is looking to take a break and control but Polo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Polo is trying is best to control the position here.
Polo is pressing down on Muniz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Muniz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Muniz preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muniz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Polo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Muniz preventing the sweep.

Muniz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Muniz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Polo seems keen to control Muniz's posture.
Polo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Muniz!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Polo is working for a guillotine from mount but Muniz frees his head quite easily.
Polo avoids the attempt from Muniz to control.
Polo controlling the pace for now.
Polo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Polo wants to take Muniz's back here but Muniz is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Muniz sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Still in half guard, Polo seems content to control.
Muniz trying to hold on to Polo's head to control him but Polo postures up.
Muniz tries to get to full guard but Polo has control of the leg.
Polo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Muniz wants to control but Polo is keeping busy.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Muniz wants to get back to his feet.
Muniz is looking to control Polo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Muniz avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muniz wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Polo throws a body kick that misses.
Muniz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Polo circles away quickly and effectively.

Muniz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Muniz looks gassed!
Polo wants to control but Muniz postures up.
Polo is looking to regain half guard here but Muniz keeps moving and retains side control.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Polo is trying to control Muniz's posture but Muniz avoids it.
Muniz controlling the position from side mount.
Polo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Polo trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Muniz manages to pass to mount!

Muniz stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Muniz wants to clinch up but Polo keeps it at a distance.
Muniz throws a right hand that Polo ducks under and follows up with a left that Polo also avoids with ease.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Polo has his takedown stuffed

so Muniz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Muniz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Muniz trying to control the position from guard on top but Polo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Muniz preventing the sweep.
Polo trying to strike off his back.
Muniz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Polo's guard.
Polo wants to sweep here but Muniz controlling him for the moment.
Muniz wants to control from the top but Polo keeps moving.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Polo looking for a sweep. Not yet Polo, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Polo misses with a takedown
and Muniz counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Polo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Muniz closes the distance and pushes Polo back into the cage.
Muniz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Muniz tries for a takedown but Polo manages to get underhooks.

Muniz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Polo scores a takedown into full mount!
Polo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Muniz wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Polo has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Muniz's body.
Muniz is in bad spot here.
Polo controls the position.
Muniz covering up well and avoiding damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rafael Muniz.
Well Muniz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 9:10
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 9:10
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 9:10

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Muniz!