PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Murilo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guilherme Kappel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rua
vs
Kappel

180 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Guilherme Kappel!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kappel shoots in but no luck this time.
Rua displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kappel.
Rua shoots in and drives through. Kappel sprawls well.
Kappel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kappel gets slowly back to his feet.
Murilo Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guilherme Kappel.
Kappel scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rua fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice sprawl there from Kappel as Rua shoots in.
Kappel keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua throws a push kick but Kappel slaps the foot to one side.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Kappel keeps the fight on the outside.
Kappel shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kappel's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Rua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rua is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kappel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua throws the left hand but Kappel avoids the punch easily.

Kappel gets a clinch.
Kappel wants a takedown.

Kappel breaks from the clinch.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Kappel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rua's waist but Rua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kappel off to one side.
Kappel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kappel gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murilo Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kappel clinches up against the cage.
Kappel blocks an elbow strike from Rua.
Kappel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rua avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rua tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kappel smiles and moves away.
Rua throws a head kick that misses
and Kappel counters with a nice uppercut.
Kappel closes the distance and clinches up with Rua, looking for a takedown. Kappel pushes Rua against the cage but Rua circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kappel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kappel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Rua.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rua.
Kappel keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kappel stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Kappel looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
Rua shoots in and drives through. Kappel sprawls well.
Kappel shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Kappel fails to land the takedown.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Kappel circles away.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Kappel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kappel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rua is fending him off so far but Kappel persists. Nope, Rua circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua tries for a takedown but Kappel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a looping overhand right but Kappel ducks down to avoid it.
Kappel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horrible takedown by Rua or perhaps it was just good defense by Kappel which made him look bad.
Nice body kick from Kappel.
No luck for Kappel with that takedown attempt.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick
and Kappel counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kappel tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kappel to the ground. Kappel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kappel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kappel!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua keeps the fight on the outside.

Rua moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rua tries to clinch but Kappel moves away
and Kappel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kappel closes the distance and clinches up with Rua, looking for a takedown. Kappel pushes Rua against the cage but Rua circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Kappel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rua is defended easily by Kappel.

Kappel has managed to clinch.
Kappel taking a breather.
Rua goes for a takedown attempt but Kappel pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Murilo Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rua gets tackled into the cage by Kappel. Kappel maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to maintain a safe position but Kappel gets an underhook and turns Rua into the cage.

Kappel gets control of Rua's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kappel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rua throws an elbow that misses. Kappel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rua's guard. Nice move by Kappel!
Kappel content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kappel trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kappel throws a big elbow that misses.

Kappel gets to his feet - Rua follows without any prompting.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kappel pinned against the cage. Kappel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kappel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rua sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kappel throws a body kick that misses.

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rua can't break the clinch.
Kappel blocks an elbow strike from Rua.
Kappel lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rua misses with an elbow over the top.
Rua tries for a takedown but Kappel manages to get underhooks.
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!

Kappel breaks from the clinch.
Kappel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kappel breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to clinch but Kappel slips to the side
and Kappel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rua's knee momentarily.
Kappel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kappel gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Rua fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kappel looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
Rua keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kappel circles away.
Kappel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rua swivels and escapes.
Kappel stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kappel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kappel gets slowly back to his feet.

Kappel drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Kappel drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rua pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rua wants to clinch up but Kappel keeps it at a distance.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kappel prevents a takedown attempt there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kappel jumps into guard, dragging Rua to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilherme Kappel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kappel checks a low kick from Rua.
Rua tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kappel counters with a nice leg kick.
Rua has his takedown stuffed
and Kappel counters with a two punch combo.
Kappel blocks a head kick by Rua.
Kappel lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rua takes a step back to recover.
Kappel fails to land the takedown.
Kappel fails with the takedown.
Kappel shoots for a takedown but Rua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Murilo Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guilherme Kappel.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A low kick from Kappel is predictable there

and Rua counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kappel lands an elbow that stopped Rua in his tracks for a moment.
Rua is trying to stall.
Kappel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Kappel manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kappel has control of Rua's left arm, preventing Rua from doing any damage.
Kappel trying to control the position.
Kappel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a strike but Kappel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kappel trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kappel is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Guilherme Kappel.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Rua tries to clinch up but Kappel circles away and keeps his distance.

Kappel drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua manages to break the clinch.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kappel pinned against the cage. Kappel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kappel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Kappel moves into the clinch.
Come on Kappel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kappel is trying to pull guard but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Rua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rua tries to stall but Kappel uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rua could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rua lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kappel backwards.

Kappel breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murilo Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Nice takedown defense from Rua. No joy for Kappel on that attempt.
Kappel circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kappel counters with a head kick. That will keep Rua thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Guilherme Kappel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua lands with a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guilherme Kappel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kappel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guilherme Kappel!