PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Rio (ranked 5239 p4p, 5026 weight class) and Jean Yves Theriault (ranked 522 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rio
vs
Theriault

170 cm
19
155
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
169
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Sonny Rio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jean Yves Theriault!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rio shoots in but Theriault avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Good work by Rio as he checks the leg kick.
Rio fails with the takedown.
Rio takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A head kick misses from Rio.
A leg kick checked by Rio.
Rio is looking to counter the offense by Theriault and move into the clinch.
Theriault keeps Rio at a distance using the push kick.
Rio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Theriault throws a body kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Theriault wants to clinch up but Rio keeps it at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rio or perhaps it was just good defense by Theriault, which made it look bad.
Theriault looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Rio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Theriault is looking to clinch.
Rio is looking to counter the offense by Theriault and move into the clinch.
Rio throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Theriault lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rio avoids the head kick by Theriault.
Theriault tries to clinch there but Rio circles away.
Rio seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Theriault displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rio.
Theriault scores with a nice strike.
Rio shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Theriault but Theriault pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rio moves into the clinch successfully.
Theriault goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Theriault leaning his opponent against the cage.

Rio jumps guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Theriault tries to stand but Rio is controlling from the bottom.
Rio has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Theriault has passed into side control.
Rio is breathing heavily.
Rio stops Theriault from passing to mount.
Rio is not content to let Theriault control the position.
Theriault wants to stand but Rio has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Theriault trying to control the position but Rio is working away.
Theriault might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rio haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rio is trying to control Theriault's posture but Theriault avoids it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rio looks for a takedown but Theriault sprawls well.
Theriault throws the left hand but Rio avoids the punch easily.
It looked like Rio was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rio dives in and grabs Theriault's left leg, looking for a takedown. Theriault pushes down on Rio's head and hops out.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Yves Theriault dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Theriault lands a head shot.
Jean Yves Theriault seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Theriault lands with an uppercut that bounces Rio off the cage and back into range.
Theriault scores with a leg kick.
Theriault closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rio shoots in and drives through. Theriault sprawls well.
Theriault lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rio takes a step back to recover.
Rio swats away the attempt to clinch by Theriault.
Theriault throws a sloppy head kick and Rio moves out of range easily.
Rio appears to be looking for a big counter.
Theriault throws a head kick that Rio semi-blocks.
Theriault moves out of range of the body kick from Rio.
Theriault thinks about the counter body kick.

Rio darts in and clinches Theriault up against the cage.

Rio breaks the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Theriault slaps away a takedown attempt from Rio, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Theriault lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rio takes a step back to recover.
Rio sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Rio circles away from the clinch attempt.
That kick from Theriault tenderised Rio's leg. Rio is trying to keep his angry face on.
A chopping leg kick lands by Theriault.
Theriault lands a leg kick that knocks Rio off balance momentarily.
Theriault chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rio takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Theriault has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Theriault tries to clinch up but Rio circles away and keeps his distance.
Rio takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Theriault - that will leave a mark!
Rio moves out of range as Theriault throws a body kick.
Rio went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rio misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Theriault lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rio's sensitive parts.
Theriault fakes the leg kick and cracks Rio in the body.
Rio gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rio misses with a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Theriault.
Rio throws a right and a left that both miss.
Theriault is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rio takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Jean Yves Theriault seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Theriault scores with a spinning back kick!

Theriault has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rio keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Theriault's efforts to push away.
Rio will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Theriault misses with a body punch.
Theriault wants to break free but Rio has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Theriault tries to throw a body punch but Rio avoids it by throwing Theriault back against the cage.
Theriault lands a hook that snaps the head of Rio backwards.
Rio prevents a body shot from Theriault.
Theriault is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Rio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Theriault is trying to break the clinch but Rio is controlling him.
Theriault tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rio's elbow.
Theriault has had enough of the clinch but Rio keeps him there for the moment.
Theriault misses with a short punch on the inside.
Theriault is trying to break free.
Theriault wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rio has him pressed against the cage.
Theriault wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rio has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Theriault's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rio tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Theriault avoids it.
Theriault doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

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.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Theriault slowing the pace effectively.
Theriault misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rio tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Theriault is trying to break free.
Rio has Theriault pressed against the cage, preventing Theriault from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Theriault is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Rio breaks the clinch.

Theriault moves into the clinch.
Rio is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Theriault tries a body shot but Rio blocks it.
Theriault tries to throw a body punch but Rio avoids it by throwing Theriault back against the cage.
Theriault wants to break free but Rio has control.
Rio is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Theriault is defending well.
Nice body punch from Theriault.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Yves Theriault showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

A thudding body kick lands there by Theriault!
Theriault throws a push kick but Rio slaps the foot to one side.
Theriault misses with an uppercut.
Theriault misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Theriault stuffs the takedown attempt from Rio. Rio gets slowly back to his feet.
Rio tries to move into range but Theriault moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Theriault lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rio steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Theriault. That one must have hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rio fails with the takedown
and Theriault counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Theriault goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rio fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Rio. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Theriault throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Theriault throws a hook but Rio blocks it.
Rio blocks the body kick.
Rio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Theriault cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Theriault throws a front kick that sends Rio stumbling back into the cage.
A thudding body kick lands there by Theriault!
Theriault throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Theriault scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rio defending well as Theriault loads up on a big left hand.
Rio takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Theriault tries to clinch up.
Nice body kick from Theriault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rio takes one to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Theriault works the jab nicely.
Some wild striking there from Theriault.
Theriault lands with a kick to the ribs.
Rio takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Theriault pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rio back to the cage. Theriault follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Theriault throws a front kick that sends Rio stumbling back into the cage.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Theriault.
Theriault delivers a nice body kick.
Nice body kick from Theriault.

Theriault has Rio up against the cage in a clinch.
Theriault has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rio tries to stall but Theriault uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Theriault is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Theriault is trying to break the clinch but Rio has him pressed against the cage.
Theriault struggles to land a body shot inside as Rio controls his hands.
Rio changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Theriault fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rio takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Theriault misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rio takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Theriault tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Theriault slams his shin into Rio's torso.
Jean Yves Theriault is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Good leg kick by Theriault.
Theriault scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rio in his tracks.
Jean Yves Theriault is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Theriault lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rio takes a step back to recover.
Theriault tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rio wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Theriault connects with a leg kick.

Theriault clinches.
Theriault throws a head punch that misses.

Rio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rio takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Crunch! Theriault slams his shin into Rio's torso.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rio tries to keep at a distance but Theriault has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sonny Rio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rio keeps control of Theriault as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Yves Theriault comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Theriault 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Jean Yves Theriault!
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Jean Yves Theriault!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Jean Yves Theriault!

Jean Yves Theriault wins by unanimous decision!