PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julius Rodrigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guilhermee Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rodrigo
vs
Almeida

170 cm
18
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julius Rodrigo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Guilhermee Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida tries to clinch up

and Rodrigo counters with a shoot takedown. Almeida fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Rodrigo from controlling successfully.
Almeida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodrigo is one step ahead there.
Rodrigo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Almeida is keeping the position for now.
Rodrigo connects with a couple of short punches.
Rodrigo is working Almeida over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rodrigo stopping the sweep attempt from Almeida.
Rodrigo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rodrigo throws an elbow that misses. Almeida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rodrigo's guard. Nice move by Almeida!
Rodrigo looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodrigo, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida pushes down on Rodrigo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Almeida trying to mount his opponent but Rodrigo defends it.
Almeida sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rodrigo defending well though.
Rodrigo is looking to get back to is feet but Almeida passes into side control.
Rodrigo is looking to reverse the position.
Rodrigo is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Rodrigo regains half guard.

Almeida is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Rodrigo kicks Almeida off and gets back to his feet.
Rodrigo circles away from the clinch attempt

so Rodrigo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Almeida manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rodrigo tries to hold on but Almeida postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodrigo is looking to escape.
Almeida is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rodrigo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rodrigo tries to get out of the position.
Rodrigo is desperately trying to improve his position but Almeida has a good base and remains in mount.
Almeida thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Rodrigo wants to hold on but Almeida pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodrigo is looking to escape.
Rodrigo can't escape the position.
Almeida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodrigo is looking to escape.
Almeida throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rodrigo because Almeida loaded up on that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Almeida working for a submission but Rodrigo is keeping him at bay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Rodrigo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rodrigo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Almeida did well to prevent Rodrigo getting side control.
Almeida avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodrigo.
Rodrigo wants to pass to mount but Almeida is defending the position.
Almeida is looking for a sweep. Rodrigo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Almeida makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Almeida.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Almeida wants to sweep but no luck.
Almeida manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Julius Rodrigo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Almeida looking to finish with strikes here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigo is trying to escape the mount.

Almeida is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rodrigo has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rodrigo!
Almeida looking for a sweep. Not yet Almeida, not yet.
Almeida manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodrigo manages to get himself to full guard.
Almeida looking to pass the guard.
Almeida passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo is pushing Almeida's head away, looking to escape. Almeida manages to hold on to the position though.
Almeida throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rodrigo is trying to control Almeida's posture but Almeida avoids it.

Almeida tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Almeida has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Rodrigo throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Julius Rodrigo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Almeida tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Almeida works his way to full guard. Good work.
Almeida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodrigo is one step ahead there.
Rodrigo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Almeida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Almeida throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rodrigo won't allow Almeida to sweep him here.
Rodrigo lands a couple of elbows.
Rodrigo trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Rodrigo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Almeida takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodrigo misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rodrigo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Almeida is looking for a sweep.
Rodrigo trying to control the position but Almeida is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almeida is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rodrigo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rodrigo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Julius Rodrigo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rodrigo clinches with his opponent.
Almeida is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Rodrigo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rodrigo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rodrigo lands with some strikes.
Rodrigo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Almeida is looking to improve his position but Rodrigo isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rodrigo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodrigo scoring with strikes but Almeida is staying in there.
Almeida is trying to escape the mount.
Almeida tries to lock up and control but Rodrigo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigo lands a heavy elbow.
Rodrigo tries to control but Almeida wriggling away.
Rodrigo punishing his opponent with strikes.
Almeida tries to reverse the position but Rodrigo maintains control.
Rodrigo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rodrigo with shots to the head and body - Almeida looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rodrigo working the ground and pound effectively.

Almeida is rocked!
Rodrigo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Almeida hang on?
Almeida is still in real trouble! Can Rodrigo finish him?
Rodrigo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Almeida?
Rodrigo lands a big shot there that rocks Almeida but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almeida is working to get back to half guard.
Rodrigo loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Almeida scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Rodrigo land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Rodrigo stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Julius Rodrigo!
A relieved looking Julius Rodrigo thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.