PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Euclides Cunhha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwayne Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cunhha comes to the cage accompanied by Raimundus - Eu quero ver o oco. Johnson has chosen The Rock Says as his entrance music. Euclides Cunhha looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Cunhha
vs
Johnson

184 cm
24
204 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

188 cm
24
210 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Euclides Cunhha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dwayne Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cunhha.
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cunhha.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Cunhha slips the punch.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Cunhha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
Cunhha avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson misses with a looping left.
Cunhha uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Cunhha's shoulder, as Cunhha tries to avoid the shot.
Dwayne Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cunhha shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Cunhha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cunhha uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.

Cunhha gets the takedown into side control.
Cunhha is breathing heavily.
Sloppy strikes there by Cunhha.
Cunhha 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.
Cunhha prevents Johnson from escaping the position.
Cunhha wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is not content to let Cunhha control the position.
Johnson is letting Cunhha control him for a moment.
Johnson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cunhha asserts his dominance and retains side control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Johnson missing with a left hand there. Cunhha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cunhha shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cunhha takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Good standup being displayed there by Johnson as he connects with a hook.

Johnson moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Cunhha goes down! Can Johnson finish him!?

Cunhha is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Cunhha had control of the position.
Oh Cunhha is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunhha seems to have got his legs back now.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cunhha trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Cunhha won't let him.
Cunhha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.
Cunhha won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunhha throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cunhha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cunhha looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnson wants to stand up but Cunhha is controlling him.
Cunhha slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cunhha throws and elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cunhha's guard. Nice move by Johnson!
Johnson wanted to stand there but Cunhha had control of the position.

Cunhha is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Cunhha's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cunhha is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
Cunhha working a defensive guard but Johnson manages to pass into side control anyway.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson looks to land a left hand but Cunhha moved out of range nicely.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice uppercut there from Johnson.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Cunhha. Cunhha gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Cunhha moves away and avoids it.
Cunhha takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cunhha ducks right into an uppercut from Johnson.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Cunhha moved out of range.
Cunhha slips a jab from Johnson.
Johnson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cunhha sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
Dwayne Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cunhha uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Cunhha, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnson stuffs the takedown attempt from Cunhha. Cunhha gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Euclides Cunhha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Cunhha moved out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cunhha.

Cunhha is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.
Johnson pushes Cunhha off looking to stand but Cunhha dives back in and keeps control.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cunhha.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cunhha.
Cunhha throwing shots but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Cunhha trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Cunhha prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Cunhha content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Johnson is staying active underneath Cunhha, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cunhha ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Cunhha ducks down to avoid it.

Cunhha is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Johnson's half guard.
Cunhha trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Johnson is looking to escape.
Cunhha is controlling the pace.
Johnson tries to kick Cunhha off but Cunhha keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunhha performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cunhha prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Cunhha controlling the action here.
Johnson pushes Cunhha off looking to stand but Cunhha dives back in and keeps control.
Cunhha takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cunhha looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

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.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cunhha.
Johnson is trying to stand.
Cunhha perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cunhha passes to side control.
Johnson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cunhha has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Cunhha trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face as Cunhha controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dwayne Johnson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson lands a glancing blow to the side of Cunhha's head.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Cunhha ducks down to avoid it.
Johnson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cunhha has a takedown stuffed.
Nice uppercut lands for Johnson. That snapped Cunhha's head back.
Cunhha shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Cunhha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Cunhha slips a straight right by Johnson.
Cunhha ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Cunhha fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Euclides Cunhha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Euclides Cunhha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnson throws a jab when Cunhha was well out of range.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Cunhha, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cunhha shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunhha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson throws a jab when Cunhha was well out of range.
Cunhha shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cunhha.

Cunhha shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Johnson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
A lull in the action here as Cunhha stalls from top position.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Cunhha working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnson is not content to let Cunhha control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is pushing Cunhha's head away, looking to escape. Cunhha manages to hold on to the position though.
The referee asks Cunhha politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Cunhha prefers to stall for the moment though.

Cunhha is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Johnson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Cunhha uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.

Cunhha gets the takedown into side control.
Cunhha trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Cunhha is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Johnson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Cunhha drags him back down.
Cunhha grinds an elbow into Johnson's temple.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Cunhha drags him back down.
Cunhha taking a breather here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Cunhha closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cunhha lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson wants to stand but Cunhha is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunhha controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Euclides Cunhha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cunhha wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Cunhha prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Euclides Cunhha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dwayne Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Cunhha from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Euclides Cunhha showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Johnson 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Johnson!