PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zues Juice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Rapide (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Juice
vs
Rapide

185 cm
25
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
184 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zues Juice !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lyoto Rapide!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Juice closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rapide is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rapide blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rapide tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Juice just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rapide pushes off an throws an elbow but Juice leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rapide misses with the head strike.

Rapide manages to break the clinch.
Rapide darts in trying to clinch

and Juice counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Juice can't break the clinch.
Rapide working aggressively here.
Juice changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rapide fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rapide has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rapide looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Juice .
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Juice jumps guard and drags Rapide to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rapide with a flurry of punches that miss.
Juice is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rapide throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rapide would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Juice looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Juice seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rapide postures up in Juice 's guard and throws a big left but Juice blocks it.
Juice keeping moving, preventing Rapide from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rapide throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Juice works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Juice wants to sweep here but Rapide controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rapide moves in looking to clinch but Juice pushes him off.

Juice closes the distance and clinches.
Juice is looking to break free of the clinch but Rapide has double underhooks.
Rapide is trying to drag Juice to the mat but Juice just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zues Juice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Rapide.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A short left from Rapide.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juice stays in close to Rapide's body and controls the position.
Rapide wants to get back to his feet but Juice is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Juice slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Juice scoring with punches to the head and body.
Juice has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rapide is proving hard to escape from.
Juice pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rapide is keeping the position for now.
Juice won't allow Rapide to sweep him here.

Rapide has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Juice has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Rapide misses with a body punch.
Rapide is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Juice lands a takedown into guard.
Juice is standing up over Rapide. Rapide looks to escape but Juice dives into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Juice is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rapide has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rapide manages to get back to half guard.
Juice is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Juice seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rapide is trying to stand back up but Juice is controlling him
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 Zues Juice will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Juice fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rapide, pushing him back against the cage.

Juice tightens his grip and picks Rapide up, before dumping him to the ground. Rapide manages to land in guard.
Zues Juice overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Juice advances to half guard.
Rapide is trying to stand back up but Juice is controlling him

Juice gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Rapide is looking to clinch.
Rapide misses with a takedown attempt - Juice sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rapide doesn't manage to clinch there - Juice circles away.
Juice looks to land a body kick but Rapide moved away.
Rapide darts in trying to clinch

and Juice holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rapide throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juice is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Rapide's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rapide throws a head kick that misses.
Juice swats away the attempt to clinch by Rapide.
Rapide tries to clinch

and Juice counters with a crisp one two that drops Rapide! Juice thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Rapide to his feet! Rapide is in big trouble!

Rapide is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Juice tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rapide takes the fight into the clinch.
Rapide fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rapide is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Juice to keep the fight standing.
Zues Juice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Rapide.
Juice pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Juice just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rapide's brow.
A head punch on the inside from Rapide fails to land.
Rapide prevents Juice from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Juice - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rapide working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Juice is looking to break free of the clinch but Rapide has double underhooks.

Juice pulls guard successfully.
Rapide tries to stand but Juice is controlling from the bottom.
Juice looking to control.
Rapide working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rapide accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Juice is adopting a defensive guard.
Rapide looking to sit in guard and control but Juice gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapide looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Juice postures up.
Juice not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Juice seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rapide for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Zues Juice .
Rapide shoots in but no luck this time.
Rapide is breathing heavily.
Juice scores with a nice strike.
Rapide looks to clinch

and Juice holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rapide is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Juice is keeping busy.
Rapide tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juice can't break the clinch.
Juice is trying to break free.
Rapide jumps guard but Juice turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rapide throws an elbow but misses.

Rapide pulls Juice into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Juice decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rapide, up you get!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Juice shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rapide sprawls well. Rapide wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Juice gets slowly back to his feet.
Juice avoids the head kick by Rapide.
Zues Juice is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rapide tries to clinch up but Juice circles away and keeps his distance.

Rapide has managed to clinch.
Rapide tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Juice smiles and moves away.
Rapide tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Juice counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zues Juice dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Juice throws a sloppy head kick and Rapide moves out of range easily.

It looks like Lyoto Rapide has been cut.

Juice drives through with a takedown into Rapide's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Juice is in close to Rapide's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Juice stopping the sweep attempt from Rapide.
Rapide being controlled here, momentarily.
Juice won't allow Rapide to get back to his feet.

Rapide had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Juice defends it easily.
Rapide takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Juice not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapide looking to hit a scissor sweep but Juice is one step ahead there.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Juice stands up and waves to Rapide to follow him.
Juice misses with a head kick.
Rapide fails with an attempt to clinch.
Juice throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Juice tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juice avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Juice shoots in but Rapide avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Juice fails with a takedown attempt.
Rapide tries to close the distance and clinch but Juice swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rapide is looking to clinch.

Juice closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Juice lands in his opponent's guard.
Juice chips away with some ground and pound.
Rapide throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Juice landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juice prevents Rapide from getting back to his feet.
Juice trying to control the position from guard on top but Rapide is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rapide wants to stand and escape but Juice is having none of it.
Juice working some strikes from top position.
Rapide not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Juice slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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

Juice shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rapide is trying to defend but Juice finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Juice is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juice tries to pass to full mount but Rapide defends it.
Rapide pushes Juice off but Juice dives into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rapide gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Rapide is working to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Juice with shots to the head and body - Rapide looks very uncomfortable down there.
Lyoto Rapide has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zues Juice is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Juice content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zues Juice showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Juice 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zues Juice !
In his post fight interview, Zues Juice started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.