PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gustavo Luiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Mallett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gustavo Luiz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Luiz
vs
Mallett

180 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Luiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Mallett!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luiz tries to clinch there but Mallett circles away.

Mallett looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Luiz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mallett gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mallett stays in close to Luiz's body and controls the position.
Mallett tries to free his leg and advance position but Luiz is retaining full guard.

Luiz working for a triangle but Mallett defends it easily.
Mallett connects with a couple of short punches.
Mallett postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mallett controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mallett wants to control from the top but Luiz keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mallett might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Luiz kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Mallett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Mallett 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.
Mallett wants to pass the guard but Luiz is keeping the position.
Mallett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Luiz has his foot on Mallett's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mallett works his way back into a safe position though.
Mallett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Luiz's head.

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

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Luiz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mallett doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mallett manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Luiz is breathing heavily.
Mallett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mallett passes Luiz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mallett working over Luiz with some ground and pound. Luiz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Luiz is refusing to be controlled, as Mallett sits in half guard.
Mallett is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Luiz!
Mallett controlling from the full mount.

Luiz defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Mallett.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luiz in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Luiz is in a horrible position here. Mallett smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mallett controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mallett with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mallett cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mallett looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Mallett landing shots from mount.
Mallett lands a big elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mallett is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Mallett extends the arm and Luiz is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ryan Mallett!