PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renan Barao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joanna Piechocka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Barao
vs
Piechocka

168 cm
19
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

174 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renan Barao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joanna Piechocka!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Piechocka gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barao to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Piechocka looking for a guillotine here but Barao defends easily.
Barao working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barao 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.
Piechocka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Piechocka has momentary wrist control but Barao slips an elbow through the middle.
Piechocka controls Barao momentarily but Barao frees himself.
Barao stands up over Piechocka, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Piechocka trying to strike off his back.
We've been hearing good reports from Barao's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piechocka has his hands on Barao's head, controlling the position.
Barao is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Piechocka looking to control.
Piechocka has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Academia Ipanema. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Barao pushing down on Piechocka's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Piechocka wants to control but Barao is keeping busy.
Barao thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barao sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Piechocka defending well though.

Barao is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Piechocka is just riding it out for now. Barao eventually gives up the hold.
Nice strikes from Barao there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barao is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Barao lands a nice short elbow.
Nice strikes from Barao there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barao lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Piechocka is not content to let Barao control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barao throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barao lands strikes from half guard.

Barao stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Barao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Joanna Piechocka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barao slaps away a takedown attempt from Piechocka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Piechocka tries to clinch but Barao moves out of range.

Barao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Piechocka throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Barao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barao is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barao has a takedown stuffed.

Barao closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Piechocka's guard.
Barao throws an elbow that misses. Piechocka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barao's guard. Nice move by Piechocka!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Piechocka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Barao looking for a guillotine here but Piechocka defends easily.

Barao looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Piechocka slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Barao dominated that round.
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.

Piechocka shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barao's guard.

Barao looking for a guillotine here but Piechocka defends easily.

Piechocka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Barao working for a triangle but Piechocka defends it easily.
Piechocka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barao swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barao working for a triangle but Piechocka defends it easily.

Barao is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Piechocka defends well.
Piechocka is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Renan Barao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Piechocka trying to control the position from guard on top but Barao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barao has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Piechocka is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Barao.
Barao tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Piechocka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barao is looking to get back to his feet here but Piechocka is keeping cool and he's managed to take Barao's back.
Piechocka is trying to stick to Barao's back but Barao is turning into Piechocka. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Piechocka's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barao.
Barao makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Barao throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Piechocka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barao gets to his feet. Piechocka looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Barao circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barao keeps the fight on the outside.
Barao stuffs the takedown attempt from Piechocka. Piechocka gets slowly back to his feet.
Piechocka is breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barao.
Renan Barao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barao misses with a takedown attempt - Piechocka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barao shoots in for a double leg but Piechocka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renan Barao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice combination there by Piechocka.
Barao blocks a head kick by Piechocka.
Piechocka shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Piechocka misses with the combination.
Piechocka tries to clinch there but Barao circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piechocka is looking to chop away at Barao's legs.

Barao drives through with a takedown into Piechocka's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Piechocka is trying to keep Barao in close.
Barao scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barao postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Piechocka looking for a guillotine here but Barao defends easily.
Barao lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Barao dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Barao feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Barao postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barao chips away with some ground and pound.
Barao is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barao landing some decent shots from guard.
Barao looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barao distracts Piechocka with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Barao postures up.
Piechocka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barao lands a couple of digs.
Barao is working Piechocka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Piechocka is trying to control the position but Barao postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Piechocka keeping moving, preventing Barao from controlling successfully.
Barao with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Piechocka throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Barao is working Piechocka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Barao content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Barao is in close to Piechocka's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barao is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Barao scoring with punches to the head and body.
Piechocka is trying to keep Barao in close.
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!
Barao landing with the ground and pound.
Piechocka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Barao with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barao with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barao prevents Piechocka from getting back to his feet.
Barao won't allow Piechocka to sweep him here.
Barao throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Barao wants to control from the top but Piechocka keeps moving.
Barao landing with the ground and pound.
Barao postures up in Piechocka's guard and throws a big left but Piechocka blocks it.
Barao trying to control but Piechocka is working from the bottom.
Barao works over Piechocka with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barao with a nice head shot there.
Barao controlling from the top position.
Barao scoring with punches to the head and body.
Barao showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Piechocka can do to turn this around?
Barao throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barao throws a big elbow that misses.
Joanna Piechocka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Renan Barao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barao stands and throws Piechocka's legs to the side, diving into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renan Barao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barao, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renan Barao!