PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Rasmussen (ranked 24359 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armando Bronca (ranked 3349 p4p, 0 weight class). Mathew Rasmussen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rasmussen
vs
Bronca

224 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mathew Rasmussen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Armando Bronca!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasmussen dives in and grabs Bronca's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bronca pushes down on Rasmussen's head and hops out.
Bronca misses with a takedown attempt

and Rasmussen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rasmussen.

Bronca manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Bronca looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rasmussen stands and steps away. Bronca gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rasmussen closes the distance and pushes Bronca back into the cage.
Bronca lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Mathew Rasmussen has been cut.
Bronca landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bronca wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bronca throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rasmussen gets underhooks to prevent Bronca's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bronca is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rasmussen is defending well.
Mathew Rasmussen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Armando Bronca.

Bronca pulls guard effortlessly.
Rasmussen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rasmussen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bronca on the ground.
Bronca not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bronca looking for a sweep. Not yet Bronca, not yet.
Rasmussen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rasmussen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bronca trying to control the position.
Rasmussen stopping the sweep attempt from Bronca.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bronca looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rasmussen postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rasmussen shoots in for a takedown but Bronca shows good takedown defense.
Rasmussen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Bronca has managed to clinch.
Bronca is trying to break the clinch but Rasmussen has him pressed against the cage.

Rasmussen jumps guard and drags Bronca to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bronca tries to free his leg and advance position but Rasmussen is retaining full guard.

Rasmussen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bronca passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasmussen tries to improve position but can't.
Rasmussen regains half guard.
Bronca wants to stand up but Rasmussen is controlling the position.
Bronca trying to pass the guard but Rasmussen defending well.
Bronca is trying to control the action in half guard but Rasmussen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rasmussen wants to control but Bronca is keeping busy.
Bronca prevents Rasmussen from improving his position.
Rasmussen keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rasmussen gets back to full guard.

Bronca decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rasmussen, up you get!
Bronca should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rasmussen swats away the attempt to clinch by Bronca.
A head kick misses from Bronca.
Rasmussen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rasmussen clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armando Bronca dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mathew Rasmussen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rasmussen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rasmussen showed some decent athleticism there.

Bronca kicks Rasmussen off and gets back to his feet.
Armando Bronca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rasmussen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bronca avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bronca shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rasmussen lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Rasmussen. No joy for Bronca on that attempt.
Bronca throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rasmussen.
Bronca is breathing heavily.

Rasmussen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rasmussen lands in his opponent's guard.

Bronca has his feet on Rasmussen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Rasmussen closes the distance and clinches.
Bronca is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasmussen fails to pull guard.

Bronca drags the fight down to the ground.
Rasmussen controlling from the top position.

Rasmussen stands up and waves to Bronca to follow him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bronca throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rasmussen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bronca sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mathew Rasmussen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bronca tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bronca wants to clinch up but Rasmussen keeps it at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bronca or perhaps it was just good defense by Rasmussen, which made it look bad.
Rasmussen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bronca sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bronca takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Rasmussen clinches.

Rasmussen gets control of Bronca's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rasmussen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rasmussen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Armando Bronca has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rasmussen keeping moving, preventing Bronca from controlling successfully.
Rasmussen is trying to control the position but Bronca postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bronca won't allow Rasmussen to sweep him here.

Rasmussen pushes Bronca off and scrambles back to his feet.

Rasmussen shoots in and bounces Bronca off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bronca not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rasmussen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mathew Rasmussen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mathew Rasmussen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Rasmussen shoots in for a takedown but Bronca shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bronca shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rasmussen as he avoids it easily.
Bronca will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rasmussen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bronca circles away.
Bronca shoots in looking for a takedown but Rasmussen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bronca's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bronca fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rasmussen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bronca sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mathew Rasmussen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rasmussen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rasmussen lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bronca wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Rasmussen is now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Rasmussen seems content to control.
Bronca gets full guard.
Rasmussen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bronca not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rasmussen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Bronca is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bronca is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rasmussen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bronca tries to clinch but Rasmussen is having none of it.
Bronca fails to land with a series of punches.

Rasmussen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bronca wants to stand back up but Rasmussen manages to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bronca is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bronca trying to remain calm as Rasmussen controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Rasmussen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bronca to his feet.
Rasmussen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Bronca on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Bronca with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rasmussen counters with a nice uppercut.
Rasmussen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Broncas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rasmussen goes for a double leg but Bronca avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bronca continues to drive forward.

Rasmussen clinches up with Bronca and pushes him back against the cage.

Rasmussen pulls guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bronca wants to control from the top but Rasmussen keeps moving.
Bronca prevents Rasmussen from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mathew Rasmussen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rasmussen 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathew Rasmussen!