PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Agansing Rai (ranked 325 p4p, 343 weight class) and Richard Mesquita (ranked 48 p4p, 51 weight class). Rai's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Break Stuff. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rai
vs
Mesquita

180 cm
32
155
24 - 12 - 1

180 cm
27
163
18 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

The Pharmacy Phuket
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Tempo Athletics
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 24 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Agansing Rai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richard Mesquita!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rai throws a looping overhand right but Mesquita ducks down to avoid it.
Mesquita staying out of range there.
Mesquita throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice defenses there by Mesquita.
Rai moves forwards but Mesquita connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rai throws a looping overhand right but Mesquita ducks down to avoid it.
Mesquita let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rai scores with a punch to the head.
Rai swings widly with a right hand
and Mesquita counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Mesquita closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rai to the mat! Rai manages to get full guard.
Mesquita throws a big right hand that misses.
Mesquita working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mesquita content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mesquita with a nice head shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mesquita keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rai's head.
Mesquita passes into half guard.
Mesquita throwing shots but Rai is blocking nicely.
Mesquita has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mesquita landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rai is trying to stand up here but Mesquita is controlling him well.
Mesquita controlling the pace.

Mesquita trying to work for an americana but Rai has managed to regain full guard.
Mesquita tries to free his leg and advance position but Rai is retaining full guard.

Mesquita has gone for a leg lock! Rai slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mesquita's guard.

Mesquita looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rai is one step ahead there.
Rai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mesquita is proving hard to escape from.

Mesquita escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mesquita can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rai controls the pace.

Mesquita looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rai is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rai wants to get up but he can't break Mesquita's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mesquita lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rai is on top in guard.

Rai stopping the sweep attempt from Mesquita.

Mesquita is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rai is aware though and is defending well.
Mesquita pulls Rai in close to his closed guard and prevents Rai from doing any damage or advancing position.

Rai gets to his feet. Mesquita looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rai throws a big shot that misses.
Rai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mesquita.
Rai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Mesquita gets a double leg takedown into Rai's guard.
Mesquita stands and throws Rai's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rai is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mesquita has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Mesquita is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Check out the look on Mesquita's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Mesquita landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Mesquita dominated that round.
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.

Rai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mesquita misses the jab.
Mesquita takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mesquita sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Mesquita shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rai napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Mesquita is trying to get an arm triangle but Rai is defending well.
Rai gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Mesquita landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mesquita is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rai sees it coming and defends easily.
Mesquita missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rai is looking to escape.
Rai manages to get to full guard.
Mesquita passes Rai's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mesquita working Rai over with strikes.
Mesquita prevents Rai from improving his position.
Richard Mesquita has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rai is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Mesquita jumps into side control!
Mesquita misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai tries to buck Mesquita off but Mesquita is having none of it.
Mesquita throws a strike aimed at the side of Rai's head but Rai avoids it well.
Rai is looking to reverse the position.
Rai takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Mesquita scores with punches from side control.
Rai is trying to improve his position.
Mesquita lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rai down.

Mesquita is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mesquita working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita is putting a hurting on Rai here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rai takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Mesquita lands a decent elbow from side control.

Mesquita is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rai is looking to reverse the position.
Mesquita is looking to take a break and control but Rai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rai is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita cracks Rai with a big elbow.
Rai is trying to control Mesquita's posture but Mesquita avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mesquita is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mesquita landing a few strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mesquita laying and praying for a moment but Rai takes advantage and regains half guard.
Rai taking some punishment here, with Mesquita in his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Mesquita showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rai takes a swing at Mesquita's ribcage but misses.
Agansing Rai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mesquita misses with a takedown attempt - Rai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mesquita blocks a low kick nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Rai. No joy for Mesquita on that attempt.
Rai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rai slips under a jab.
Rai throws a jab when Mesquita was well out of range.
Rai throws out a powerful jab.
Mesquita fails to land the takedown.
Agansing Rai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Mesquita.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rai lands a head kick!
Mesquita tests Rai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mesquita has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rai misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rai takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rai takes a swing at Mesquita's ribcage but misses.
Mesquita swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mesquita bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rai lands a jab.

Mesquita closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rai quickly recovers to half guard.

Rai kicks off Mesquita and gets to his feet.
Rai moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rai lands a nice shot that snaps Mesquita's head back.
Rai misses the body punch
and Rai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rai lands a jab to the head.

Mesquita changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rai looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rai bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Rai throws a body punch but Mesquita moves out of range.
Mesquita might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mesquita throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mesquita is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rai.
Good standup being displayed there by Mesquita as he connects with a hook.
Rai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Mesquita misses the body punch
and Rai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Mesquita scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rai makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rai.
Mesquita postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mesquita wants to control from the top but Rai keeps moving.
Mesquita is looking to work some ground and pound but Rai has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mesquita's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mesquita distracts Rai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mesquita chips away with some ground and pound.
Mesquita scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Mesquita got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mesquita has managed to get both his arms back between Rai's legs - danger averted.
Rai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mesquita is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mesquita trying to control the position from guard on top but Rai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mesquita postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita distracts Rai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mesquita is one step ahead there.
Mesquita is working Rai over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rai keeping moving, preventing Mesquita from controlling successfully.

Mesquita is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Richard Mesquita is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mesquita is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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 Agansing Rai.
I think Mesquita 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Mesquita!