PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wallid Raice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabio Rodrigues has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rodrigues
vs
Raice

200 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Fabio Rodrigues!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wallid Raice!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodrigues tries to clinch there but Raice circles away.
Rodrigues misses with a low kick.

Rodrigues shoots in and bounces Raice off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rodrigues controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Raice wants to get back to his feet but Rodrigues is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigues postures up.
Rodrigues content to stall in guard here.

Raice has an active guard here but Rodrigues has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues works his way into full mount!
Rodrigues controlling the pace for now.

Rodrigues swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Raice is now in Rodrigues's guard. A big mistake from Rodrigues there, giving up the dominant position!
Raice landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues has his foot on Raice's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Raice works his way back into a safe position though.
Rodrigues has a closed guard, preventing Raice from standing up.
Raice stopping the sweep attempt from Rodrigues.
Raice trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodrigues bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Raice's guard.
Rodrigues trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rodrigues sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raice is trying to control the position but Rodrigues postures up.
Rodrigues looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Raice is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Raice looks gassed!
Rodrigues sitting in guard here, content to control.
Raice wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rodrigues content to stall in guard here.
Rodrigues will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Raice can't keep his opponent in guard - Rodrigues advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rodrigues really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rodrigues looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rodrigues perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Rodrigues dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rodrigues fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Raice with that takedown attempt.
Raice throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rodrigues's head.
Rodrigues throws a head kick but Raice moves out of range.

Rodrigues bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Raice sneaks out the side door and pushes Rodrigues away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Fabio Rodrigues seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raice gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rodrigues counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Raice is breathing heavily.
Rodrigues thuds a left hand into Raice's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raice gets caught flat footed, as Rodrigues shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Rodrigues decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Raice, up you get!

Rodrigues gets a takedown into half guard.
Raice is looking for a sweep. Rodrigues is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rodrigues tries to pass the half guard into mount. Raice knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rodrigues controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raice is trying to stand back up but Rodrigues is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rodrigues connects with a nice short shot to Raice's temple.
Fabio Rodrigues overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodrigues with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Raice is looking to control Rodrigues's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Raice avoid being mounted?
Rodrigues content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues winds up and cracks Raice with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rodrigues connects with a nice short shot to Raice's temple.
Raice moves into full guard.
Rodrigues controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rodrigues is in close to Raice's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rodrigues postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rodrigues scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rodrigues sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Raice's guard.
Rodrigues keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Raice tries to get to full guard but Rodrigues has control of the leg.
Raice is looking to escape.
Raice is looking for a sweep. Rodrigues is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rodrigues perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rodrigues drops an elbow to the side of Raice's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Rodrigues 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!

Rodrigues has his takedown stuffed
and Raice counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Rodrigues moves into the clinch successfully.

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

and Rodrigues holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Raice is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raice can't break the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Rodrigues.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rodrigues as Raice tries to tie him up.
Raice takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rodrigues lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rodrigues working the head and body with strikes.
Raice is looking to control Rodrigues's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Raice avoid being mounted?
Rodrigues with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Raice taking some punishment here, with Rodrigues in his half guard.
Rodrigues blocks the strikes from Raice.
Rodrigues is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Raice!
Rodrigues working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues controlling the position easily from mount.
Raice is looking to get to half guard.
Raice wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Rodrigues connects with a big shot to the side of Raice's head.
Rodrigues keeps control of the position easily here as Raice tries to buck him off.

Rodrigues has got one arm under Raice's chin. This could be trouble... Raice trying to control the other hand but Rodrigues gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Raice has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Fabio Rodrigues!