PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Richard Eagle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guilherme Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eagle's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANLswsfbwLI. Eagle has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Guilherme Rodrigues will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Eagle
vs
Rodrigues

180 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Eagle!
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, Guilherme Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodrigues moves into the clinch successfully.

Rodrigues's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues dives in and grabs Eagle's left leg, looking for a takedown. Eagle pushes down on Rodrigues's head and hops out.

Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Eagle gets full guard.

Rodrigues decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Eagle shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rodrigues counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Eagle is breathing heavily.

Rodrigues closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rodrigues tries for a kimura but Eagle is defending well.
Rodrigues wants to lay and pray for a moment but Eagle keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to advance to mount but can't.

Rodrigues is trying to get an arm triangle but Eagle is defending well.
Eagle manages to get back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Rodrigues.

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.
Rodrigues seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Eagle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
It looks like Rodrigues is going to stand back up.

Rodrigues seems to be looking for submissions.
Eagle is positioning himself well to prevent Rodrigues advancing to mount.
Eagle trying to get back to full guard but Rodrigues takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues controlling the position easily from mount.
Rodrigues unloading with bombs!
Rodrigues tries to control but Eagle wriggling away.
Rodrigues takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rodrigues postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Eagle looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee warns Eagle that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rodrigues takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rodrigues really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Eagle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Eagle is squirming around, avoiding Rodrigues's attempts to control the action.
Rodrigues might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Eagle kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Eagle tries to lock up and control but Rodrigues gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guilherme Rodrigues dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rodrigues forces Eagle back against the cage and clinches.
Eagle can't get the takedown.

Rodrigues has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Eagle clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Rodrigues scores with punches to the body.
I really don't envy Eagle right now.

Rodrigues is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Rodrigues is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Eagle is defending well though. Rodrigues let's go of the attempt for now.
You can see the frustration on Eagle's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eagle trying to control the hands but Rodrigues breaks the grip.
Eagle looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Eagle is trying to break free.
Rodrigues is landing with strikes from the back.
Can Eagle hold on?! Rodrigues is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Eagle preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rodrigues.
Eagle trying to control the position but Rodrigues manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Eagle prevents Rodrigues from getting a body triangle.

Rodrigues tightening his grip on Eagle, looking for the choke.
Rodrigues looking to hold on to the position here but Eagle rolls and ends up regaining guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rodrigues gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Eagle counters with a shoot takedown. Rodrigues fights it but they end up in guard.
Eagle is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Rodrigues is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodrigues wants to stand up but Eagle is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eagle is pushing down on Rodrigues's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rodrigues is fighting to maintain full guard but Eagle has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rodrigues is trying to stand.
Rodrigues wants to improve his position but Eagle is controlling well.
Eagle passes to full mount!
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 Richard Eagle will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A low kick from Eagle misses

and Rodrigues counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Eagle's guard now.
Rodrigues wants to pass the guard but Eagle is keeping the position.
Eagle is striking off his back. Rodrigues thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

Rodrigues decides to stand and escape the position.
Rodrigues shoots and misses

and Eagle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rodrigues's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Eagle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodrigues swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Eagle is working Rodrigues over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eagle trying to control but Rodrigues is working from the bottom.
Rodrigues trying to keep a closed guard but Eagle is proving a slippery customer.

Rodrigues working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Eagle doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Eagle manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rodrigues is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Eagle dives into side control.

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.
Rodrigues gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Eagle sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rodrigues is in all sorts of trouble here.
Eagle looking to control but Rodrigues is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rodrigues keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Eagle controlling the pace for now.
Eagle seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rodrigues for as long as he can get away with.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigues working to try and regain half guard.

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 is in a horrible position here. Eagle smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Eagle manages to capitalize on a mistake by Rodrigues to take his back!
Rodrigues trying to control the hands but Eagle won't let him.
Eagle keeps control of the position easily here as Rodrigues tries to buck him off.
Rodrigues tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Richard Eagle.
I think Eagle 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Eagle!