PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rendo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucho Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Rodriguez

176 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
24
146 lbs
3 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Rendo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucho Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Rodriguez misses.
A low kick from Gracie misses
and Rodriguez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Rodriguez stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodriguez stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rodriguez is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Rodriguez circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rendo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez scores with a body shot.
Rodriguez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A good leg kick by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rodriguez throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rodriguez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rodriguez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lucho Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt.

Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodriguez moves away.
Rodriguez misses with the combination.
Rodriguez looks gassed!
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rodriguez's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Rodriguez won't let him.
Rodriguez can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Gracie stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rodriguez to get to his feet.
Rodriguez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez defends it nicely.
Rodriguez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a series of strikes that have Gracie backpedaling.
Rodriguez connects with a leg kick. Gracie looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rodriguez blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gracie slips a jab from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez digs a good hook to Gracie's body.
Rodriguez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Rodriguez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Rodriguez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gracie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rodriguez goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rodriguez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gracie.
Rodriguez works Gracie's body with a nice hook.
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!
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Rodriguez cracks a nice hook into Gracie's ribs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rodriguez avoids the body shot from Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rodriguez misses with the combination.
Rodriguez throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodriguez. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Rodriguez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gracie misses with a leg kick
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez jabs at Gracie's body.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Gracie keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rodriguez's efforts to push away.
Rodriguez has Gracie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gracie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie prevents a takedown attempt there.

Gracie jumps guard and drags Rodriguez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rendo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.

Gracie clinches.

Gracie turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Gracie is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Gracie with good strikes from the mount here!
Gracie looking to control but Rodriguez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez can't escape the position.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to buck Gracie off but he can't manage it.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gracie cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie trying to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rendo Gracie dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Rodriguez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rodriguez wants it to stay on the feet.
Rodriguez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gracie's head.
Gracie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Gracie pushes Rodriguez up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie jumps guard but Rodriguez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rodriguez is trying to pull guard but Gracie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gracie is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rendo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodriguez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Gracie gets control of Rodriguez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gracie will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
Gracie throws a couple of heel strikes.
Gracie looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez stops Gracie from standing up.

Rodriguez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rodriguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A good leg kick by Rodriguez.
Good leg kick by Rodriguez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.

Rodriguez gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.

Gracie gets to his feet. Rodriguez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rodriguez scores with a leg kick.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Rodriguez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rodriguez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rodriguez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rodriguez throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Rodriguez avoids them all with ease.
Gracie is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gracie slips a straight right by Rodriguez.
Gracie throws a solid leg kick but Rodriguez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gracie.

Rodriguez gets tackled into the cage by Gracie. Gracie maintains the clinch.
Rodriguez has Gracie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gracie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Gracie throws a head kick but Rodriguez moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez misses with a head kick.
Rodriguez throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Rodriguez, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Rodriguez against the cage but Rodriguez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rendo Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gracie 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rendo Gracie!