PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Emerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emerson comes to the cage accompanied by Laurent Wolf - No Stress. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Emerson
vs
Ross

185 cm
24
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

179 cm
19
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Emerson!
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, Rick Ross!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emerson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ross.
Ross throws out a loose jab but Emerson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Emerson misses with a double jab
and Ross counters with a nice low kick that buckles Emerson's knee momentarily.
Ross misses with a combination

and Emerson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Emerson.

Emerson drops back looking for a leg! Ross is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ross manages to kick Emerson off! Emerson jumps back into Ross's guard.
Emerson trying to control but Ross is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Emerson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Emerson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ross swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Emerson 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.
Emerson wants to control from the top but Ross keeps moving.

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.
Emerson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ross swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ross keeping moving, preventing Emerson from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ross swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ross throws a leg kick which misses Emerson's front leg but catches the back leg as Emerson tries to avoid it.
A cross from Ross lands.
Emerson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ross lands with a nice combination. Emerson backs away looking to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross misses with a series of wild punches.
Ross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ross scores with a leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Emerson.
Ross misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ross misses with a combination

and Emerson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Emerson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross is looking to stand up but Emerson isn't so interested in that idea.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ross can do anything to dispel that myth.
Emerson tries to free his leg and advance position but Ross is retaining full guard.
Emerson wants to control from the top but Ross keeps moving.
Emerson prevents Ross from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gabriel Emerson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Emerson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Emerson ducks under a wild hook from Ross.
Ross jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Emerson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ross swivels and escapes.
Gabriel Emerson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Emerson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ross throws a leg kick which misses Emerson's front leg but catches the back leg as Emerson tries to avoid it.
Emerson avoids the head kick by Ross.

Emerson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Emerson stops Ross from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emerson is trying to control the action in half guard but Ross is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Emerson is really struggling to control Ross but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Emerson is looking for a kimura here.
Emerson prevents Ross from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Emerson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Emerson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Emerson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ross.
Ross falls off balance throwing a combination

and Emerson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Emerson trying to pass the guard but Ross defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emerson wants to work for an arm triangle but Ross is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Emerson content to control rather than advance.
Ross wants to get back to his feet.
Emerson is looking to advance position but Ross won't allow it.

Emerson seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Ross manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rick Ross is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ross is looking to land body kicks.
A punch combination from Ross misses.
Ross with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Good exchange - Ross coming out on top.
Ross lands a nice leg kick that just misses Emerson's sensitive parts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rick Ross will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. And we move into the final round!

Ross misses with a two punch combination.
Ross paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Emerson avoids the head kick by Ross.
Ross throws a sloppy head kick and Emerson moves out of range easily.
Ross throws a hook but Emerson avoids it easily.

Emerson feints and as Ross raises his hands in defense, Emerson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ross keeping full guard, as Emerson tries to pass.
Ross keeping moving, preventing Emerson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Emerson wants to control from the top but Ross keeps moving.
Ross wants to stand up but Emerson is controlling him.
Emerson trying to control but Ross is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Emerson drops back looking for a leg! Ross is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ross manages to kick Emerson off! Emerson jumps back into Ross's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Emerson looks to land a combination but Ross avoids it well.
Ross lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ross lands a two punch combo.
Ross throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Emerson counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emerson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Emerson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ross dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Emerson. That did some damage!
Ross connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ross connects with a good right hand that stumbles Emerson. Emerson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Emerson shoots in and drives through. Ross sprawls well.
Ross connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A lazy left from Emerson finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ross throws a series of punches but Emerson avoids them all with ease.
A good leg kick by Ross.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ross thumps Emerson with a low kick.
Ross swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Emerson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ross misses with a head kick.
Emerson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ross throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Emerson.
Ross throws a jab when Emerson was well out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Ross comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ross 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 29:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rick Ross!