PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Rodolfinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rorion Reynaldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodolfinho's entrance music is Burning Heart. A fine choice. Reynaldo has chosen True Survivor as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rodolfinho
vs
Reynaldo

180 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rickson Rodolfinho!
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, Rorion Reynaldo!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Reynaldo. Those never looked like landing.

Rodolfinho gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Reynaldo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Reynaldo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rodolfinho looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodolfinho, not yet.
Reynaldo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rodolfinho looking for a guillotine here but Reynaldo defends easily.
Reynaldo stopping the sweep attempt from Rodolfinho.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodolfinho is controlling Reynaldo's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynaldo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Reynaldo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Reynaldo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Reynaldo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Reynaldo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rodolfinho trying to control the position.
Reynaldo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodolfinho is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodolfinho keeping moving, preventing Reynaldo from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two 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.
Reynaldo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rodolfinho throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Reynaldo.
Reynaldo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reynaldo checks a low kick from Rodolfinho.
Reynaldo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rodolfinho is out of range and Reynaldo settles back down.
A telegraphed right hand from Rodolfinho misses the target.
Rodolfinho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rodolfinho swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rodolfinho checks a low kick from Reynaldo.
Rodolfinho tries to land a front kick but Reynaldo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Rodolfinho shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Reynaldo is trying to defend but Rodolfinho finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rodolfinho is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodolfinho passes the guard and advances to mount!
Reynaldo tries to lock up and control but Rodolfinho gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Reynaldo is desperately trying to improve his position but Rodolfinho has a good base and remains in mount.
Reynaldo wants to hold on but Rodolfinho pushes him away.
Reynaldo throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rodolfinho. What's that going to do exactly?
Reynaldo tries to reverse the position but Rodolfinho maintains control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Rodolfinho misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Rodolfinho misses with a head shot.
Rodolfinho throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Reynaldo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rodolfinho trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Rodolfinho swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Reynaldo is now in Rodolfinho's guard. A big mistake from Rodolfinho there, giving up the dominant position!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Reynaldo misses with a looping left.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reynaldo throws a lazy right hand but Rodolfinho sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Rodolfinho looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Reynaldo keeping moving, preventing Rodolfinho from controlling successfully.
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 Rickson Rodolfinho will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rodolfinho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reynaldo moves away.

Reynaldo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rodolfinho sprawls well initially but Reynaldo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Reynaldo is looking for a kimura but Rodolfinho is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Reynaldo to get the leverage.
Reynaldo prevents Rodolfinho from improving his position.
Rodolfinho gets back to full guard.

Reynaldo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rodolfinho looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rodolfinho looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rodolfinho!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodolfinho has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Reynaldo is squirming around, avoiding Rodolfinho's attempts to control the action.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Reynaldo can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodolfinho misses with a head shot.

Rodolfinho looking to secure an arm triangle but Reynaldo defends it well.
Rodolfinho trying to control but Reynaldo is having none of it.

Rodolfinho is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Reynaldo has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Reynaldo is looking to get to half guard.
Rodolfinho throws some wild stikes that Reynaldo manages to avoid easily.
Rodolfinho can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reynaldo is looking to escape.
Reynaldo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodolfinho thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Reynaldo is trying desperately to improve position.

Rodolfinho jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Reynaldo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Reynaldo tries to buck Rodolfinho off but Rodolfinho is having none of it.
Reynaldo misses with a strike from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Reynaldo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Reynaldo lands in his opponent's guard.
Reynaldo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rodolfinho. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Reynaldo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Reynaldo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rodolfinho's head.
Rodolfinho wants to sweep here but Reynaldo controlling him for the moment.
Reynaldo scoring with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodolfinho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Reynaldo.
Rodolfinho keeping moving, preventing Reynaldo from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rorion Reynaldo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rodolfinho misses the shot to the body.
Reynaldo just misses with a punch to the body.
Reynaldo slips a jab from Rodolfinho.

Rodolfinho drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rodolfinho tries to free his leg and advance position but Reynaldo is retaining full guard.
Rodolfinho looking to sit in guard and control but Reynaldo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rickson Rodolfinho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodolfinho trying to keep a closed guard but Reynaldo is proving a slippery customer.
Rodolfinho looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodolfinho, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reynaldo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rodolfinho controls Reynaldo momentarily but Reynaldo frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynaldo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rodolfinho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Reynaldo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rodolfinho keeping moving, preventing Reynaldo from controlling successfully.

Rodolfinho is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Reynaldo defends well.
Reynaldo forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodolfinho trying to control from the bottom.
Reynaldo wants to control but Rodolfinho is keeping him busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Reynaldo throws a big shot that misses.
Reynaldo misses with a looping right.
Reynaldo throws a body shot but no joy.
Reynaldo slips a jab from Rodolfinho.
Rodolfinho checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Reynaldo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodolfinho.
Reynaldo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reynaldo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice defenses there by Reynaldo.
Reynaldo avoids the head kick by Rodolfinho.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Reynaldo misses.
Reynaldo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Reynaldo moves out of range as Rodolfinho throws a body kick.
Reynaldo just misses with a punch to the body.
Reynaldo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rodolfinho at a distance.
Reynaldo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rodolfinho was well out of range. Poor timing from Reynaldo.
Rodolfinho throws a jab but it's blocked by Reynaldo.
Rodolfinho swings widly with a right hand
and Reynaldo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Reynaldo throws a half hearted mid kick.
A big right from Reynaldo misses.
Reynaldo avoids the body shot from Rodolfinho.
Reynaldo appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Reynaldo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rodolfinho was well out of range. Poor timing from Reynaldo.

Rodolfinho closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rodolfinho has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodolfinho tries to control but Reynaldo wriggling away.
Reynaldo is looking to improve his position but Rodolfinho isn't that keen on the idea.
Rodolfinho throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reynaldo is trying desperately to improve position.
Reynaldo is squirming around, avoiding Rodolfinho's attempts to control the action.

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 Rickson Rodolfinho.
I think Rodolfinho 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Rorion Reynaldo!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Rorion Reynaldo!
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Rickson Rodolfinho!

Rorion Reynaldo wins by split decision!
After winning the bout, Rorion Reynaldo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.