PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Rios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Cassius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rios's entrance music is Insane in the Membrane. A fine choice. The key to victory for Rodrigo Rios has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rios
vs
Cassius

161 cm
22
147 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

172 cm
22
153 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Rios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maximus Cassius!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rios takes the fight into the clinch.
Rios with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cassius can't get the takedown.

Cassius is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rios can't fight it off and eventually Cassius manages to take the fight to the floor. Rios looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cassius tries to free his leg and advance position but Rios is retaining full guard.
Rios wants to stand and escape but Cassius is having none of it.

Cassius drops back looking for a leg! Rios is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rios manages to kick Cassius off! Cassius jumps back into Rios's guard.
Rios is trying to control the position but Cassius postures up.
Rios managing to control the position.
Rios is looking to stand up but Cassius isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rios keeping full guard, as Cassius tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cassius has gone for a leg lock! Rios slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cassius's guard.

Cassius has his foot on Rios's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rios works his way back into a safe position though.
Rios trying to control the position from guard on top but Cassius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rios wanted to stand there but Cassius had control of the position.
Rios seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rios is looking to stand up but Cassius won't let him.
Cassius tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Cassius lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rios!
Rios is working to get back to half guard.

Cassius jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rios is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rios and Cassius has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cassius looks gassed!
Rios is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cassius has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rios manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cassius trying to mount his opponent but Rios defends it.
Rios wants to get back to his feet.
Rios gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rios is keeping the position for now.

Cassius postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rios is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cassius, into his guard.
Rios 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.

Rios decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cassius, up you get!
A punch combination from Rios misses.
Rios goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

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

Cassius drops back looking for a leg! Rios is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rios manages to kick Cassius off! Cassius jumps back into Rios's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rios pushes Cassius off and gets back to his feet.

Rios moves into range and clinches up with Cassius.
Cassius drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rios gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Rios escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cassius avoids the head kick by Rios.
Rios swings for the body but Cassius moves out of range.
Rios throws a head kick but Cassius moves out of range.
Rios pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rodrigo Rios seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cassius shoots for a double leg takedown but Rios sprawls well. He's pushed Cassius's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rodrigo Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Cassius.
Rios looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rios ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cassius moves away.
Rios goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Rios has managed to clinch.

Cassius has Rios pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cassius pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rios tumbling to the mat - Cassius dives into Rios's guard.
Rios is pulling down on Cassius's head. It's preventing any offense from Cassius, at least for the moment.
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 Rodrigo Rios will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rios's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rios throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rios throws out a loose jab but Cassius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cassius will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rios misses with a hook. Cassius ducked under it nicely.
No luck for Cassius with that takedown attempt.
Cassius blocks the body kick.
Rios is looking to land body kicks.
Cassius dodges the punch combination from Rios.
Rios looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rios throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cassius shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rios as he jumps to the side.
Rodrigo Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Cassius.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rios drives through and clinches with Cassius against the cage.
Rios is pressed up against the cage. Cassius has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rios down to the mat. Rios avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Cassius closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Cassius tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cassius has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rios is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cassius thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Cassius tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cassius has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cassius advances to full mount.
Rios is trying to stand.

Cassius is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rios is surviving well by controlling Cassius's body position as best he can.

Cassius goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rios is on top in guard.
Rios might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rios preventing the sweep.
Rios wants to stand but Cassius has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Cassius escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rios gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rios is looking to stand up but Cassius won't let him.
Cassius looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rios is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cassius has his foot on Rios's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rios works his way back into a safe position though.

Cassius looking for a guillotine here but Rios defends easily.
Cassius manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cassius avoids the attempt from Rios to control.

Cassius is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rios is surviving well by controlling Cassius's body position as best he can.
Rios tries to lock up and control but Cassius gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cassius jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rios manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Cassius swings around for an armbar but Rios sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cassius's guard.

Cassius keeping busy on the bottom but Rios has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cassius is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rios trying to control the action but Cassius is working from the bottom.

Rios decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Rios keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rodrigo Rios is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cassius walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rios.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maximus Cassius will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Rios tries a head kick but it misses.

Rios moves into the clinch successfully.
Cassius changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rios fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rios misses the shot to the body.
Cassius looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rios tries a head kick but it misses.
Rios throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Rios misses.
Cassius blocks a head kick by Rios.
Rios connects with a high kick.
Cassius shoots in looking for a takedown. Rios tries to sprawl out of it but Cassius keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rios manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rodrigo Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Cassius.
Rios tries a head kick but it misses.
Rios pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cassius closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rios can't do much from the bottom here.

Cassius looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios wants to control but Cassius postures up.
Cassius avoids the strikes from the bottom by Rios.

Cassius tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cassius has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Maximus Cassius has got the better of the ground game so far.

Cassius is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rios has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rios manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rios wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cassius keeps working.
Rios tries to stand and escape but Cassius is controlling the position.
Cassius tries to roll over but Rios keeps him under control.

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.

Rios decides to stand up.
Rios throws a head kick that misses.
Rios lands with a shot to the body.
Rios doesn't manage to clinch there - Cassius circles away.
Rios throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cassius.
Cassius misses with a takedown attempt - Rios sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rios swings for the body but Cassius moves out of range.

Rios instigates a clinch.

Rios escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rios tries to clinch there but Cassius circles away.
Rios misses with a body shot.
Rios throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cassius.
Rios wants to get back to his feet but Cassius drags him back down.

Cassius is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rios knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rios is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassius has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Rios!
Cassius won't let Rios get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Cassius goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rios turns into him and now he's in Cassius's guard.
Rios passes Cassius's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cassius is looking to improve his position.
Cassius is pressing down on Rios's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rios is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cassius is looking for a triangle but Rios pushes his legs off easily.
Rios pushes down on Cassius's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cassius regains full guard. Nicely done.

Cassius looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cassius wants to sweep here but Rios controlling him for the moment.

Cassius working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rios doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rios manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cassius manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Cassius looking for a guillotine from mount but Rios is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maximus Cassius.
I think Cassius has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximus Cassius!