PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Neymar Ricardo (ranked 5477 p4p, 5872 weight class) and Neho Rozales (ranked 299 p4p, 310 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ricardo
vs
Rozales

150 cm
25
130
0 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
146
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Northern Zombie

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Neymar Ricardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Neho Rozales!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Alyssa Summers and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ricardo.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Rozales has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Ricardo shoots in for a double leg but Rozales sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Rozales has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rozales manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ricardo trying to control but Rozales is working from the bottom.
Ricardo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ricardo throws a big right hand that misses.
Ricardo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ricardo preventing the sweep.
Ricardo controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricardo tries to free his leg and advance position but Rozales is retaining full guard.
Ricardo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ricardo won't allow Rozales to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricardo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ricardo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ricardo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rozales won't allow Ricardo to pass to mount.
Rozales is trying to get back to full guard.
Ricardo trying to control from half guard but Rozales is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ricardo is really struggling to control Rozales but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Ricardo throwing shots but Rozales is blocking nicely.
Rozales is looking to escape.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ricardo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo thows a huge punch but Rozales dodges it nicely.
Ricardo wants to take a breather but Rozales is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rozales looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ricardo is fending him off so far but Rozales persists. Nope, Ricardo circles away and we're back to standing.

Rozales closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ricardo's guard.
Rozales showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rozales loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Ricardo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rozales defends it easily.
Rozales preventing the sweep.
Rozales keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ricardo's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ricardo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rozales lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rozales lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ricardo 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.
Rozales makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rozales lands a couple of elbows.
Rozales scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rozales's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rozales controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ricardo has momentary wrist control but Rozales slips an elbow through the middle.
Ricardo has momentary wrist control but Rozales slips an elbow through the middle.
Rozales postures up and lands a big shot to Ricardo's brow.
Rozales scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ricardo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rozales distracts Ricardo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Ricardo working for a triangle but Rozales defends it easily.
Ricardo is breathing heavily.
Rozales stands up over Ricardo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rozales with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Rozales avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rozales postures up and lands a big shot to Ricardo's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rozales stays in close to Ricardo's body and controls the position.
Ricardo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rozales closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ricardo to the mat! Ricardo manages to get full guard.
Rozales lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rozales sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ricardo wants to get back to his feet but Rozales is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rozales controlling from the top position.
Rozales lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rozales is working Ricardo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rozales's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Ricardo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ricardo throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rozales connects with a couple of short punches.
Rozales really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ricardo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rozales is working Ricardo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rozales scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Ricardo working for a triangle but Rozales defends it easily.
Rozales postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ricardo has momentary wrist control but Rozales slips an elbow through the middle.
Rozales content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rozales has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rozales not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ricardo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rozales lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo wants to sweep here but Rozales controlling him for the moment.
Rozales trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricardo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rozales scoring with some ground and pound.
Rozales passes into half guard.
Ricardo taking some punishment here, with Rozales in his half guard.
Neho Rozales has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ricardo won't allow Rozales to pass to mount.
Rozales drops an elbow to the side of Ricardo's head.
Ricardo is looking to improve his position.
Rozales is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rozales is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rozales scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rozales takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rozales is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ricardo is trying to maintain the position but Rozales is very close to passing his half guard.

Ricardo actively working from the bottom here.
Ricardo is not content to let Rozales control the position.

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.
Rozales wants to get back to his feet.
Ricardo taking some punishment here, with Rozales in his half guard.
Rozales takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rozales seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ricardo tries to kick Rozales off but Rozales keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rozales landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rozales is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rozales trying to control the action but Ricardo is working from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Rozales.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rozales is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ricardo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rozales is thwarting Ricardo's attempts to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Neho Rozales showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rozales shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ricardo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rozales lands a couple of elbows.
Rozales tries to free his leg and advance position but Ricardo is retaining full guard.
Rozales makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Ricardo looking for a guillotine here but Rozales defends easily.
Rozales looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricardo looking for a sweep. Not yet Ricardo, not yet.

Rozales avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rozales preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricardo keeping moving, preventing Rozales from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rozales stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ricardo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rozales slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rozales lands some shots froms side control.
Ricardo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rozales lands a nice short elbow.
Rozales landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ricardo is looking to improve his position.

Rozales is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ricardo defends it well.
Ricardo tries to get to full guard but Rozales has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rozales sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rozales takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rozales in particular looking to stall.
Rozales seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ricardo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ricardo gets back to full guard.
Rozales works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ricardo wants to control but Rozales is keeping busy.
Rozales is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rozales drops an elbow to the side of Ricardo's head.
Ricardo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rozales scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rozales is nestled in close to Ricardo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rozales is pressing down on Ricardo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ricardo is holding on for now.
Rozales winds up and cracks Ricardo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rozales looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ricardo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Ricardo is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Rozales frees his head nicely. Oh but Ricardo has switched to an armbar! Rozales is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Neymar Ricardo!