PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emporio Armando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gandalf Mithrandir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Gandalf Mithrandir enters the cage!

Armando
vs
Mithrandir

183 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

194 cm
21
219 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emporio Armando!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gandalf Mithrandir!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Armando shoots in and bounces Mithrandir off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armando throws a big right hand that misses.
Armando working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mithrandir is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Armando is controlling him.
Armando trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mithrandir is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Armando is controlling him.
Armando scoring with some ground and pound.
Armando throwing strikes but missing.
Armando lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Armando might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armando prevents Mithrandir from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Armando accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Armando postures up in Mithrandir's guard and throws a big left but Mithrandir blocks it.
Mithrandir is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Armando is controlling him.
Armando postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Armando throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mithrandir works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Armando lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Armando throws a big right hand that misses.
Armando is looking to work some ground and pound but Mithrandir has wrist control.
Armando throws a big right hand that misses.
Armando prevents Mithrandir from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armando throwing strikes from guard but Mithrandir blocks nicely.
Armando missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Armando accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Armando has a takedown stuffed.
Mithrandir tries to clinch but Armando moves out of range.

Armando looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Armando throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mithrandir works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mithrandir wants to stand but Armando is controlling the position.

Mithrandir is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Armando wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mithrandir creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Armando's defenses.
Mithrandir lands an elbow just above Armando 's eye.
Armando is breathing heavily.
Mithrandir gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mithrandir creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Armando's defenses.
Mithrandir comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mithrandir comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mithrandir prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emporio Armando. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mithrandir's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mithrandir lands a damaging elbow.
Mithrandir is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mithrandir lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mithrandir working Armando over with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Mithrandir.
Mithrandir lands a knee to the head.
Mithrandir gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Armando takes an elbow to the forehead.

Mithrandir breaks from the clinch.

Mithrandir gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mithrandir landing knees to the body.
Mithrandir slows down the pace here.
Mithrandir continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Mithrandir lands a nice elbow.
Mithrandir lands an elbow inside that Armando shrugs off.
Armando is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mithrandir pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mithrandir taking a breather.

Mithrandir breaks from the clinch.
Mithrandir scores with a three punch combo!
Mithrandir misses with a takedown attempt

and Armando counters with a nice double leg into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Armando trying to control but Mithrandir is working from the bottom.
Armando won't allow Mithrandir to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gandalf Mithrandir will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mithrandir.

Mithrandir closes the distance and clinches.
Mithrandir gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mithrandir is pressed up against the cage. Armando has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mithrandir down to the mat. Mithrandir avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Mithrandir closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Armando to the mat! Armando manages to get full guard.
Armando is trying to keep Mithrandir in close.
Mithrandir is fighting to break Armando's control of his arms but Armando is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mithrandir trying to control the position from guard on top but Armando is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Armando lands a decent shot there.
Armando has a closed guard, preventing Mithrandir from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armando looking to control.
Mithrandir would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Armando looking to control.
Armando 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mithrandir doesn't manage to clinch there - Armando circles away.
Mithrandir is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Armando shoots and misses

and Mithrandir counters by moving into the clinch.

Mithrandir pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mithrandir is looking to clinch but Armando is avoiding it.
Mithrandir moves in looking to clinch but Armando pushes him off.
Mithrandir tries to bum rush Armando with a series of wild strikes but Armando uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mithrandir is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two 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.
Mithrandir tries to close the distance and clinch but Armando swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mithrandir tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mithrandir gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Armando to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mithrandir wants to stand but Armando is controlling the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Armando's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Armando postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mithrandir is looking to stand up but Armando isn't so interested in that idea.
Armando lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mithrandir manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Armando is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mithrandir sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emporio Armando. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Armando shoots in looking for a takedown. Mithrandir tries to sprawl out of it but Armando keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mithrandir manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mithrandir doesn't manage to clinch there - Armando circles away.
Mithrandir tries to clinch but Armando is having none of it.
Mithrandir tries to clinch there but Armando circles away.
Mithrandir is looking to clinch.
Armando circles away from the clinch attempt

and Armando decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mithrandir's guard.
Mithrandir is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armando in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Armando postures up and lands a big shot to Mithrandir's brow.
Mithrandir is looking to stand up but Armando isn't so interested in that idea.
Armando with a nice head shot there.
Armando with a flurry of punches that miss.
Emporio Armando overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Armando missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Armando accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Armando chips away with some ground and pound.
Armando lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Armando tries to free his leg and advance position but Mithrandir is retaining full guard.
Armando prevents Mithrandir from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emporio Armando dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Armando looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Armando missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Armando prevents Mithrandir from getting back to his feet.
Mithrandir keeping moving, preventing Armando from controlling successfully.
Mithrandir wants to stand up but Armando is controlling him.
Armando throws a big right hand that misses.
Mithrandir utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mithrandir wants to stand and escape but Armando is having none of it.
Mithrandir utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Armando displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mithrandir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armando tries for a takedown but Mithrandir circles away easily

and Mithrandir counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Armando's guard now.
Mithrandir is pushing down on Armando's leg trying to pass to half guard. Armando is fighting to maintain full guard but Mithrandir has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mithrandir is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Armando is trying to get back to full guard.

Mithrandir is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Armando is looking for a sweep. Mithrandir is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mithrandir tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Armando has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mithrandir is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mithrandir gets a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mithrandir.
Mithrandir unloads a knee to the mid-section. Armando lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mithrandir creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Armando's defenses.
Mithrandir lands a nice knee to the body.
Mithrandir leaning against his opponent.
Nice elbow from Mithrandir.
Mithrandir is looking to control Armando's arms but Armando gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mithrandir has his back to the cage.
Armando has Mithrandir pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mithrandir manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mithrandir throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mithrandir is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mithrandir lands a damaging elbow.
Mithrandir stalling in the clinch but Armando improves position.
Armando tries for a takedown but Mithrandir manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emporio Armando. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mithrandir gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mithrandir missing with knees to the body.
Mithrandir tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Armando avoids it.
Armando has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mithrandir avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mithrandir trying to control the position but instead, Armando has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mithrandir into the cage.
Mithrandir gets underhooks to prevent Armando's takedown attempt.
Come on Mithrandir - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Mithrandir creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Armando's defenses.
Mithrandir is stalling here.
Mithrandir lands a nice elbow.
Armando tries for a takedown. No joy.
Armando is working for takedown but Mithrandir is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mithrandir scores with a knee to the head.
Mithrandir lands an elbow that stopped Armando in his tracks for a moment.

Mithrandir breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mithrandir misses with a few strikes there.

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.
Mithrandir wants to clinch up but Armando keeps it at a distance.

Armando shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mithrandir's guard.
Armando lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Armando connects with a couple of short punches.
Armando lands a couple of digs.
Mithrandir wants to stand up but Armando is controlling him.
Armando throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mithrandir wants to stand and escape but Armando is having none of it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Armando's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Armando won't allow Mithrandir to get back to his feet.
Mithrandir utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mithrandir misses with a takedown

and Armando counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gandalf Mithrandir.
I think Mithrandir 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gandalf Mithrandir!