PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesperro Knudsen (ranked 4264 p4p, 4548 weight class) and Juliusz Cezar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Juliusz Cezar was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Knudsen
vs
Cezar

200 cm
23
270
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
23
265
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jesperro Knudsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juliusz Cezar!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knudsen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Cezar closes the distance and clinches.
Cezar is trying to pull guard but Knudsen has him pressed against the cage.
Cezar tries to land knees in the clinch but Knudsen avoids the damage to the body.
Knudsen is trying to pull guard but Cezar has him pressed against the cage.
Knudsen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cezar is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Cezar gets control of Knudsen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cezar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Cezar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knudsen tries to stand but Cezar is controlling from the bottom.
Knudsen trying to control but Cezar is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knudsen stays in close to Cezar's body and controls the position.
Knudsen wants to control from the top but Cezar keeps moving.
Cezar wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Knudsen is now in half guard.

That's two 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.

Knudsen is working for a kimura but Cezar is defending it quite comfortably.

Knudsen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cezar is looking for a sweep. Knudsen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cezar keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Cezar dives in for a single leg takedown but Knudsen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cezar scores with a hook.
Cezar goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cezar fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Knudsen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Knudsen pushes Cezar up against the cage in a clinch.
Knudsen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cezar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesperro Knudsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cezar fails with a takedown attempt.
Knudsen lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knudsen tries to close the distance and clinch but Cezar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cezar drives through and clinches with Knudsen against the cage.
Knudsen tries to pull guard but Cezar won't allow it.

Knudsen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knudsen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cezar to score with a decent uppercut.
No luck for Cezar with that takedown attempt.
Knudsen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cezar tries to avoid it but Knudsen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cezar to the ground. Cezar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cezar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knudsen gets underhooks to prevent Cezar's takedown attempt.
Knudsen stops a takedown attempt from Cezar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Knudsen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cezar as he avoids it easily.

Knudsen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cezar sprawls well initially but Knudsen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Knudsen prevents Cezar from standing back up.
Cezar holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Knudsen throwing shots but Cezar is blocking nicely.
Cezar tries to roll over but Knudsen keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knudsen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cezar trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knudsen is taking a breather. Cezar says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cezar comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cezar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knudsen dives in and grabs Cezar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cezar pushes down on Knudsen's head and hops out.
Cezar tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Knudsen defends well and Cezar ends up having to push Knudsen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Knudsen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cezar counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesperro Knudsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cezar fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knudsen, pushing him back against the cage.

Cezar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cezar shoots in looking for a takedown. Knudsen tries to sprawl out of it but Cezar keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knudsen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knudsen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cezar on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Knudsen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knudsen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cezar sprawls well. Cezar wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Knudsen gets slowly back to his feet.
Knudsen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cezar defends well and Knudsen ends up having to push Cezar into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And Cezar tries to counter it with a takedown but Knudsen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Knudsen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cezar gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cezar is trying to pull guard but Knudsen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cezar tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knudsen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cezar tries to pull guard but Knudsen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Knudsen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Come on Knudsen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Knudsen has Cezar pressed against the cage, preventing Cezar from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cezar throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knudsen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cezar gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cezar's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

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.
Knudsen wants to take the fight to the mat but Cezar manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Cezar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cezar wants to clinch
and Knudsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Cezar shoots in and drives through. Knudsen sprawls well.
Knudsen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Knudsen throws a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cezar clinches.

Cezar jumps guard.
Knudsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Cezar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Juliusz Cezar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Knudsen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Knudsen or perhaps it was just good defense by Cezar, which made it look bad.
Knudsen throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Knudsen darts in and clinches Cezar up against the cage.
Knudsen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cezar is defending well.
Knudsen just leaning against Cezar, taking a breather.
Cezar is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Knudsen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cezar drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Knudsen gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Cezar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knudsen throws a wild body kick that Cezar sees coming a mile off.
Cezar is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Knudsen checks a low kick from Cezar.
Knudsen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Knudsen wants it to stay on the feet.
Jesperro Knudsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juliusz Cezar.
Cezar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cezar closes the distance and clinches up with Knudsen, looking for a takedown. Cezar pushes Knudsen against the cage but Knudsen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Knudsen tries to counter by clinching up but Cezar breaks away and moves out of range.
Cezar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knudsen scores with a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Knudsen.
Knudsen shoots in for a takedown but Cezar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cezar dives in and grabs Knudsen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Knudsen pushes down on Cezar's head and hops out.
Knudsen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cezar but Cezar pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knudsen shoots in but no luck this time.
Knudsen fails with a takedown attempt.
Cezar appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Cezar instigates a clinch.

Knudsen jumps guard and drags Cezar to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cezar trying to control but Knudsen is working from the bottom.
Cezar is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knudsen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cezar can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cezar stands up and waves to Knudsen to follow him.

Cezar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Knudsen wants a takedown.

Knudsen jumps guard and drags Cezar to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cezar is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cezar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cezar decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cezar dives in and grabs Knudsen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Knudsen pushes down on Cezar's head and hops out.
Knudsen has a takedown stuffed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cezar has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jesperro Knudsen.
I think Cezar 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Juliusz Cezar!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Juliusz Cezar!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Juliusz Cezar!

Juliusz Cezar wins by unanimous decision!