PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Rasmussen (ranked 24200 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Blo (ranked 5012 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rasmussen
vs
Blo

224 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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 - 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, Joe Blo!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rasmussen tries to avoid it but Blo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rasmussen to the ground. Rasmussen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rasmussen.
Blo wants to counter with a clinch but Rasmussen pushes him away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Blo.
Blo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rasmussen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Mathew Rasmussen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Blo.
Rasmussen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blo takes the fight into the clinch.
Blo wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasmussen fails to pull guard.

Blo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Blo closes the distance and clinches.

Blo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Blo stopping the sweep attempt from Rasmussen.

Rasmussen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rasmussen is looking for a triangle but Blo pushes his legs off easily.
Rasmussen is pulling down on Blo's head to control his posture.
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.
Blo won't allow Rasmussen to get back to his feet.

Rasmussen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blo is aware though and is defending well.
Rasmussen working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Blo wants to control from the top but Rasmussen keeps moving.

Blo gets to his feet. Rasmussen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rasmussen stuffs the takedown.
Blo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rasmussen is fending him off so far but Blo persists. Nope, Rasmussen circles away and we're back to standing.
Rasmussen swats away the attempt to clinch by Blo.
Blo fails with the takedown

and Rasmussen moves into the clinch.
Blo looks winded!
Blo is trying to pull guard but Rasmussen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blo is trying to break the clinch but Rasmussen is controlling him.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Rasmussen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Blo uses from the top position.
Rasmussen controls Blo momentarily but Blo frees himself.
Blo trying to control but Rasmussen is working from the bottom.
Blo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rasmussen's guard.
Blo cracks Rasmussen with a solid left hand.
Rasmussen is looking to stand up but Blo isn't so interested in that idea.

Rasmussen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.

Blo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Blo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rasmussen wants to sweep here but Blo controlling him for the moment.

Blo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rasmussen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blo has managed to get both his arms back between Rasmussen's legs - danger averted.

Rasmussen looking for a guillotine here but Blo defends easily.

Rasmussen pushes Blo off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rasmussen darts in looking for a takedown but Blo gets double underhooks and turns Rasmussen into the cage.
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 Mathew Rasmussen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rasmussen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Blo to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Blo 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rasmussen is keeping the position for now.
Blo passes into half guard.
Blo trying to mount his opponent but Rasmussen defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rasmussen works his way to full guard. Good work.

Rasmussen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rasmussen 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Blo is breathing heavily.
Rasmussen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Blo gets to his feet - Rasmussen follows without any prompting.
Blo looks for the body kick but Rasmussen saw that one coming.
Decent striking displayed by Rasmussen there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Blo.
Blo shoots in looking for a takedown but Rasmussen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Blo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Blo takes one on the button.
Rasmussen shoots in for a double leg but Blo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joe Blo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Blo with that takedown attempt.
Rasmussen seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rasmussen dives in and grabs Blo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Blo pushes down on Rasmussen's head and hops out.
Joe Blo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rasmussen closes the distance and clinches.
Blo is trying to break the clinch but Rasmussen is controlling him.
Blo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rasmussen is struggling to control the position.
Blo has had enough of the clinch but Rasmussen keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasmussen keeps control of Blo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Blo taking a breather.
Blo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rasmussen after a bit of a struggle.
Mathew Rasmussen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Blo.
Rasmussen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Blo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Blo misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rasmussen stops a takedown attempt from Blo.

Rasmussen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Rasmussen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rasmussen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Blo. Blo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Blo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Rasmussen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Rasmussen stands up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rasmussen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Rasmussen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rasmussen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rasmussen shoots in for a takedown but Blo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Blo instigates a clinch.
Blo looking for a takedown.

Blo pulls guard successfully.

Blo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rasmussen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rasmussen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Blo, up you get!
Mathew Rasmussen is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blo moves to clinch but Rasmussen breaks away
and Rasmussen counters with a one-two to the body.
Blo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasmussen shoots in for a takedown but Blo shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mathew Rasmussen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rasmussen shoots in looking for a takedown. Blo tries to sprawl out of it but Rasmussen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Blo takes the fight into the clinch.
Rasmussen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blo stalling in the clinch.
Blo can't find room to land a body shot as Rasmussen controls the action.

Blo breaks from the clinch.
Blo moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Blo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Blo lands in his opponent's guard.
Blo trying to control but Rasmussen is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Rasmussen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Blo defends well.
Rasmussen controls Blo momentarily but Blo frees himself.
Blo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blo trying to control but Rasmussen is working from the bottom.

Rasmussen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rasmussen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blo manages to get himself to full guard.

Rasmussen preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasmussen content to stall in guard here.

Blo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rasmussen defends well.

Rasmussen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Blo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rasmussen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

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