PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Diogo Pinto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucio Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Pinto might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Do you really want to hurt me. Rodrigues has chosen Sandstorm as his entrance music. Diogo Pinto had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Pinto
vs
Rodrigues

189 cm
28
197 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

180 cm
31
197 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diogo Pinto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucio Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pinto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodrigues.
Pinto connects with a solid leg kick.
Rodrigues tries to close the distance and clinch but Pinto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rodrigues fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodrigues darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Pinto bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Rodrigues gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!

Rodrigues is working for a submission of some sort.

Rodrigues is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pinto defends it well.
Pinto works his way to full guard. Good work.
Pinto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Pinto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pinto drops an elbow to the side of Rodrigues's head.
Rodrigues trying to control but Pinto postures up.
Pinto is trying to control the action in half guard but Rodrigues is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pinto controlling the action here.
Rodrigues wants to improve his position but Pinto is controlling well.
Rodrigues is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Rodrigues looking for submissions off his back.
Pinto trying to pass the guard but Rodrigues defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinto is working hard here to advance position.
Rodrigues makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rodrigues.
Pinto tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodrigues is retaining full guard.
Pinto trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rodrigues looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pinto passes into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodrigues is trying to get back to half guard.
Rodrigues tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Rodrigues sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Pinto drops an elbow to the side of Rodrigues's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues wants to control but Pinto is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Pinto moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Rodrigues.
Pinto in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rodrigues tries to bench press Pinto off him but Pinto keeps the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pinto advances nicely into full mount.
Pinto lands a nice shot to the head.
Rodrigues is looking to improve his position but Pinto isn't that keen on the idea.
Pinto wants to control the pace but Rodrigues is squirming around nicely.
Pinto is trying to take his opponent's back.
Rodrigues is squirming around, avoiding Pinto's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues regains half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pinto is looking for a kimura but Rodrigues is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pinto to get the leverage.

Rodrigues looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rodrigues looking for submissions off his back.

Pinto wants to work for an arm triangle but Rodrigues is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pinto trying to pass the guard but Rodrigues defending well.
Pinto is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rodrigues looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Rodrigues is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pinto pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Pinto dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pinto shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rodrigues manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Rodrigues looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Pinto has picked Rodrigues up and slammed him! Rodrigues can't keep hold of the triangle and Pinto manages to pass to side control!
Pinto has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Rodrigues!
Rodrigues working to try and regain half guard.

Pinto has hold of Rodrigues's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rodrigues manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Pinto connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pinto unloading with bombs!
Rodrigues is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto with the ground and pound from mount.
Pinto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pinto lands a nice shot to the head.
Rodrigues bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rodrigues is breathing heavily.
Pinto is trying to keep Rodrigues in close.
Rodrigues preventing the sweep.
Rodrigues must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pinto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rodrigues regains half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rodrigues looking for submissions off his back.
Pinto working Rodrigues over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodrigues does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pinto prevents Rodrigues from improving his position.
Pinto scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pinto scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ground and pound from Pinto.
Pinto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodrigues keeps working.

Rodrigues looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pinto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodrigues keeps working.

Rodrigues actively working from the bottom here.
Pinto sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pinto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pinto's back!
Pinto can't escape the position.
Pinto manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rodrigues's guard. Nice work there by Pinto.

Pinto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pinto lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rodrigues has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pinto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pinto passes into half guard.
Rodrigues is in trouble now - Pinto has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pinto cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Pinto working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rodrigues is in a horrible position here. Pinto smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rodrigues is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pinto lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rodrigues manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rodrigues is looking for a sweep. Pinto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Pinto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rodrigues defends it well.

Pinto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Pinto dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A kick lands to the mid section there for Pinto.

Pinto manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rodrigues on his heels. He'll look to pass Rodrigues's guard now, I'm sure.

Rodrigues working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pinto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pinto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rodrigues looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pinto works over Rodrigues with some ground and pound from guard.
Pinto trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pinto 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.
Pinto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rodrigues takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto tries to move to mount but Rodrigues blocks the move with his legs.
Rodrigues is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Pinto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodrigues can do to turn this around?

Pinto tries for a kimura but Rodrigues is defending well.
Rodrigues prevents Pinto from moving into mount.
Rodrigues is trying to work for a sweep but Pinto has mounted him!
Rodrigues tries to reverse the position but Pinto maintains control.
Pinto lands a big shot there that rocks Rodrigues but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rodrigues sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Pinto tries to pass to full mount but Rodrigues defends it.
Pinto lands strikes from half guard.
Diogo Pinto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pinto in particular looking to stall.
Pinto has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Rodrigues looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Well, if Pinto is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Diogo Pinto wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pinto dives in and grabs Rodrigues's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rodrigues pushes down on Pinto's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues dives in and scores a takedown into Pinto's guard.
Pinto looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pinto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pinto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pinto managing to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rodrigues passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rodrigues working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pinto is looking to regain half guard here but Rodrigues keeps moving and retains side control.

Rodrigues is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pinto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pinto is looking for a sweep.
Lucio Rodrigues has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Rodrigues staying calm.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodrigues misses with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diogo Pinto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pinto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diogo Pinto!
Our winner, Diogo Pinto, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.