PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Henrique Pereira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonn Rusband (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jonn Rusband acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Henrique Pereira
vs
Rusband

177 cm
19
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
302 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manuel Henrique Pereira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jonn Rusband!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pereira throws a head kick that misses.
Pereira throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rusband.
Pereira is looking to slow Rusband down with leg kicks.

Rusband feints and as Pereira raises his hands in defense, Rusband changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rusband wants to control from the top but Pereira keeps moving.
Rusband tries to free his leg and advance position but Pereira is retaining full guard.

Rusband drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pereira looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pereira looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pereira!
Pereira could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rusband is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira tries to move to mount but Rusband blocks the move with his legs.
Rusband is trying to get back to half guard.
Rusband is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pereira off and has taken his back!

Rusband is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Rusband is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Pereira knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Pereira for a finish.
Rusband looks gassed!
Pereira trying to control the hands but Rusband won't let him.

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.

Pereira fending off the submission attempt from Rusband.
Pereira breaks Rusband's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Pereira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rusband is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rusband looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Pereira has picked Rusband up and slammed him! Rusband can't keep hold of the triangle and Pereira manages to pass to side control!
Pereira tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Pereira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rusband keeps working.
Rusband is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Pereira is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Rusband is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rusband tries to lock up and control but Pereira gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rusband is trying to escape the mount.
Pereira tries to control but Rusband wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pereira misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
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 Manuel Henrique Pereira will probably get the nod.
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.

Some bone on bone action there as Rusband checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pereira cracks the inside of Rusband's front leg.
Pereira throws a leg kick that misses.

Rusband shoots in and bounces Pereira off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rusband's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Let's hope that Rusband has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rusband!
Rusband is breathing heavily.
Rusband is working to get back to half guard.

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.
Pereira trying to control but Rusband is having none of it.
Rusband is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rusband is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pereira can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rusband is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereira wants to control but instead Rusband manages to regain half guard.
Rusband is looking for a sweep. Pereira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pereira stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pereira wants it to stay on the feet.
Rusband uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pereira.
Pereira misses with a head kick.

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.
Pereira motions for Rusband to come forward. Pereira throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pereira throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rusband shoots in but Pereira avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rusband shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rusband was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poor strikes thrown by Rusband there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jonn Rusband will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Pereira.
Rusband shoots in for a takedown but Pereira shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pereira misses with a low kick.
Rusband closes the distance and clinches up with Pereira, looking for a takedown. Rusband pushes Pereira against the cage but Pereira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jonn Rusband is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pereira tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Pereira.

Rusband feints and as Pereira raises his hands in defense, Rusband changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusband wants to control from the top but Pereira keeps moving.

Rusband drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pereira manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rusband has Pereira in his guard.
Rusband takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rusband looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pereira passes into half guard.
Pereira is pressing down on Rusband's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rusband is holding on for now.

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.
Pereira prevents Rusband from standing back up.
Rusband is holding on to half guard well.
Pereira is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rusband!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rusband is looking to improve his position but Pereira isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusband wants to hold on but Pereira pushes him away.
Rusband is looking to improve his position but Pereira isn't that keen on the idea.
Pereira looking to control but Rusband is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Rusband is wriggling around trying to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rusband wants to hold on but Pereira pushes him away.
Pereira prevents Rusband from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Manuel Henrique Pereira.
I think Pereira has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel Henrique Pereira!