PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Coral Sea (ranked 455 p4p, 466 weight class) and Rudy Rhod (ranked 59 p4p, 60 weight class). Rhod is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Prince - Kiss. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sea
vs
Rhod

168 cm
38
158
23 - 9 - 1

180 cm
38
155
33 - 21 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Altitude Clothing

Voodoo Nutrition

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 23 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Coral Sea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rudy Rhod!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sea has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sea there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rhod swings for the body but Sea moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rhod.
Sea throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rhod's waist but Rhod gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sea off to one side.
Sea looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rhod is fending him off so far but Sea persists. Nope, Rhod circles away and we're back to standing.
Sea doesn't manage to clinch there - Rhod circles away.
Rhod connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sea uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rhod.
Rhod cracks Sea with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sea moves in looking to clinch but Rhod pushes him off.
That kick from Rhod tenderised Sea's leg. Sea is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rhod throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rhod throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rhod keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sea with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rhod to score with a decent uppercut.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rhod.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rhod throws the left hand but Sea avoids the punch easily.
Sea takes one to the chin there.
Sea avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sea has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rhod.
Sea has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rhod finds it's way round the side to connect with Sea's head.
Rudy Rhod is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rhod wants to slow Sea down by chopping away at his legs.
Rhod throws a leg kick

and Sea counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rhod!
Rhod is trying to escape the position but Sea is controlling the position.
Sea has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rhod is trying to buck Sea off.
Sea taking a breather here.

Sea stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhod keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Sea throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rhod was covering up waiting for the punch and Sea finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rhod wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Sea manages to pass to side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rhod is trying to stand back up but Sea is controlling him
Sea lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sea works his way into side control.
Rhod is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sea controlling from side mount.
Sea prevents Rhod from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sea moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Sea.
Sea trying to control the position but Rhod is working away.
Sea misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Rhod dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rhod's corner calls for a 1-2. Rhod obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sea dives in and grabs Rhod's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rhod pushes down on Sea's head and hops out.
Sea swings for the body but Rhod moves out of range.
Sea takes one to the side of the head.
Sloppy strikes from Sea. Those never looked like landing.
Rhod is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rhod buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rhod will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sea looks to score with a jab to the body but Rhod is just out of range.
Rudy Rhod seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rhod throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rhod has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sea lands a nice shot that snaps Rhod's head back.

Sea clinches with his opponent.
Rhod lands a hook that snaps the head of Sea backwards.
Rhod lands with a short shot to the head.
Rhod misses with a hook from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rhod misses with a punch to the body.
Rhod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sea is trying to maintain a safe position but Rhod gets an underhook and turns Sea into the cage.
Sea is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rhod to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sea lands with a short shot to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Rhod.
Rhod misses with some punches.
Rhod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sea blocking some punches.

Sea breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rhod feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Seas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rhod misses with a low kick.
Sea tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rhod manages to circle out of the way.
Rhod connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Coral Sea is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A good leg kick by Rhod.
Sea has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sea there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rhod is looking to score with low kicks.
Rhod with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sea slips a jab from Rhod.
A clash of legs there as Sea blocks the low kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rhod is not content to let Sea control the position.

Sea has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Sea pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sea tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rhod swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sea throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sea uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rhod.
A clash of legs there as Sea blocks the low kick.
Rhod tests Sea's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheers as Rhod lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sea doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhod connects with a right hand. Sea shakes it off.
Rhod slaps away a takedown attempt from Sea, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Coral Sea. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rhod lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rhod with the inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rhod.
Sea is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sea is defended easily by Rhod.
Rudy Rhod seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rhod lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sea's sensitive parts.
Sea needs to keep his hands up - Rhod had a free shot at his head there.
Rhod scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rhod comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sea wants to clinch up but Rhod keeps it at a distance.
A countering left hand to the body from Rhod misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sea shoots in for a double leg but Rhod sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sea walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sea misses with a takedown
letting Rhod counter with a right hand.
Sea fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rhod looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sea gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Sea drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rhod wants to get back to his feet but Sea is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sea might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sea passes Rhod's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Rhod showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Rhod. Sea does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sea moves away from the strike by Rhod.
Rhod connects with a solid leg kick.
Rhod throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sea is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rhod sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rhod looks to score with a jab to the body but Sea is just out of range.
Sea uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rhod.
Sea wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rhod wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sea avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rhod throws out a loose jab but Sea uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sea wants to clinch up but Rhod keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rhod gets tackled into the cage by Sea. Sea maintains the clinch.
Rhod works on Sea's body with a couple of short punches.
A hook to the body from Rhod.
Sea working hard to break the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rhod.

Sea jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sea pulls Rhod in close to prevent any damage.
Sea trying to control the position.
Rhod wants to stand but Sea is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sea trying to strike off his back.
Sea controlling Rhod's posture.
Rhod wants to get up but he can't break Sea's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rudy Rhod is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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.
Sea controlling Rhod's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rhod slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rhod scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sea throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rhod's coach down at Torcida MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Rhod's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Rhod defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sea.

Sea shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rhod is trying to defend but Sea finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sea with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sea prevents Rhod from standing back up.
Sea is controlling the pace.
Sea seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rhod does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Coral Sea has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sea not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sea stalling away here and it's allowed Rhod to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four 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.
Sea trying to control but Rhod is working from the bottom.
Sea tries to free his leg and advance position but Rhod is retaining full guard.
Sea throwing strikes from guard but Rhod blocks nicely.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Sea on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rhod. Rhod obviously looking to wear him down.
Rhod scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rhod has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Sea moves into range and clinches up with Rhod.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rhod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rhod has Sea pressed against the cage, preventing Sea from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sea tries to pull guard but Rhod forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Coral Sea. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sea tries to land knees in the clinch but Rhod avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rudy Rhod comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rhod winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rudy Rhod!
During a confident post fight interview, Rudy Rhod thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.