PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brendon Rocha Freire Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murilo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Rocha Freire Junior
vs
Rua

182 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

176 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brendon Rocha Freire Junior!
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, Murilo Rua!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rua.
Rua has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rua controlling from the full mount.
Rua trying to control but Rocha Freire Junior is having none of it.
Rocha Freire Junior is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to control but Rocha Freire Junior wriggling away.
Rocha Freire Junior is looking to get to half guard.
Rua looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rua can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rocha Freire Junior is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rocha Freire Junior?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rua tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Murilo Rua just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rocha Freire Junior stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rocha Freire Junior.
Rua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rocha Freire Junior's waist but Rocha Freire Junior gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rua off to one side.

Rocha Freire Junior shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rua manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rua looks gassed!
Rocha Freire Junior won't allow Rua to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is controlling Rocha Freire Junior's posture.
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.
Rocha Freire Junior has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rua seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rocha Freire Junior is looking to stand up but Rua won't let him.

Rocha Freire Junior got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rua has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rocha Freire Junior has managed to get both his arms back between Rua's legs - danger averted.
Rua keeping full guard, as Rocha Freire Junior tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rua has a closed guard, preventing Rocha Freire Junior from standing up.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rocha Freire Junior's guard.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocha Freire Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocha Freire Junior throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Rua working some strikes from top position.
Rua advances position into side control!
Rua wants to control but Rocha Freire Junior is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murilo Rua dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rua takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rua shoots and misses
and Rocha Freire Junior counters with a head kick.
Rua darts in trying to clinch

and Rocha Freire Junior counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Rocha Freire Junior is proving a slippery customer.
Rua is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rua wants to stand up but Rocha Freire Junior is controlling him.
Rocha Freire Junior wants to get up but he can't break Rua's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua wriggles free and stands up.
Rua fails with the takedown
and Rocha Freire Junior counters with a straight right hand.
Rua misses with a takedown
and Rocha Freire Junior cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Brendon Rocha Freire Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Rua.
Rocha Freire Junior throws a series of strikes that have Rua backpedaling.

Rua closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rocha Freire Junior did well to prevent Rua getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha Freire Junior is in trouble now - Rua has advanced to mount!
Rua lands a big shot there that rocks Rocha Freire Junior but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Rua is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rocha Freire Junior has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rua takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rua tries to control but Rocha Freire Junior wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rocha Freire Junior kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rua prevents Rocha Freire Junior from getting the reversal.
Rua controlling from the full mount.
Rocha Freire Junior working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rua controlling his opponent.
Murilo Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rocha Freire Junior tries to lock up and control but Rua gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rocha Freire Junior wants to try and get back to his feet.
Rua controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Murilo Rua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rua has his takedown stuffed

and Rocha Freire Junior counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rua is doing well to control the position and prevent Rocha Freire Junior from advancing to side control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Murilo Rua just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Rocha Freire Junior sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A shot to de liver by Rocha Freire Junior. Beautiful body shot.
Rua is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rocha Freire Junior sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Brendon Rocha Freire Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Rua.
Rocha Freire Junior connects with a high kick.

Rocha Freire Junior closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rocha Freire Junior lands in his opponent's guard.
Rua is trying to keep Rocha Freire Junior in close.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rocha Freire Junior!
Rua breaks from Rocha Freire Junior's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rocha Freire Junior is desperately trying to improve his position but Rua has a good base and remains in mount.
Rua controlling from mount.
Rocha Freire Junior wants to hold on but Rua pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rocha Freire Junior can't escape the position.
Rua sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rocha Freire Junior is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Rocha Freire Junior tries to hold on but Rua pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to control and managing it successfully.
Murilo Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rua's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Brendon Rocha Freire Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Murilo Rua just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua tries for a takedown but Rocha Freire Junior circles away easily
and Rocha Freire Junior counters with a right hand to the body.
Rocha Freire Junior lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brendon Rocha Freire Junior showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rua 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murilo Rua!