PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between WIll Pounder (ranked 4696 p4p, 5407 weight class) and Pedro Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pounder
vs
Rodrigues

177 cm
18
165
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
165
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, WIll Pounder!
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, Pedro Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodrigues uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pounder.
Rodrigues is looking to clinch but Pounder is avoiding it.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pounder but Pounder pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pounder takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like WIll Pounder has been cut.

Pounder shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pounder showed some decent athleticism there.
Pounder sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pounder is thwarting Rodrigues's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounder slows the pace down in half guard.
Rodrigues is trying to stand.
Pounder prevents Rodrigues from improving his position.
Rodrigues manages to get to full guard.

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.
Pounder wants to control from the top but Rodrigues keeps moving.
Pounder knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rodrigues on the ground.
Pounder 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rodrigues tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pounder swivels and escapes.
Pounder changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodrigues tries to avoid it but Pounder manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodrigues to the ground. Rodrigues escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Pounder dives in and scores a takedown into Rodrigues's guard.
Pounder 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.

Rodrigues is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pounder defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounder 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.
Rodrigues throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Pounder stopping the sweep attempt from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pounder manages to get himself to full guard.

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.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Pounder looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pounder trying to control the position here.
Rodrigues landing some decent shots from guard.
Pounder is pulling down on Rodrigues's head to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pounder looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pedro Rodrigues will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on WIll Pounder's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pounder takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pounder tries to counter with a takedown but Rodrigues is quick to defend against it.
Pedro Rodrigues seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pounder keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rodrigues shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pounder pinned against the cage. Pounder gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pounder throws a sloppy head kick and Rodrigues moves out of range easily.
Rodrigues doesn't manage to clinch there - Pounder circles away.
Pounder throws a series of punches but Rodrigues avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pounder's waist but Pounder gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodrigues off to one side.
WIll Pounder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Rodrigues.
Pounder shoots in and drives through. Rodrigues sprawls well.
Pedro Rodrigues is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodrigues moves away from the strike by Pounder.
Rodrigues closes the distance but Pounder moves to the side

and Pounder counters with a single leg into guard. Rodrigues didn't expect that.

Rodrigues is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Pounder presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodrigues pulls Pounder into guard.
Rodrigues can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pounder controls the pace.
Pounder 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.
Rodrigues not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pounder controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounder wants to control from the top but Rodrigues keeps moving.

Rodrigues escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pounder gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pounder is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pounder looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pounder controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounder wants to control from the top but Rodrigues keeps moving.
Rodrigues looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodrigues, not yet.

Rodrigues is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pounder is aware though and is defending well.

Pounder got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodrigues has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pounder has managed to get both his arms back between Rodrigues's legs - danger averted.
Rodrigues can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pounder controls the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A bone on bone clash there as Rodrigues blocks the leg kick.
Rodrigues moves out of range of the strikes.
As Pounder backs off Rodrigues throws a huge counter combo but Pounder manages to avoid it all.
Rodrigues is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pounder sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

WIll Pounder dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on WIll Pounder's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pounder tries to land a front kick but Rodrigues steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rodrigues dives in for a single leg takedown but Pounder sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Pounder uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rodrigues.
Pounder changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Rodrigues decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rodrigues is trying to control the action in half guard but Pounder is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
It looks like Rodrigues is going to stand back up.
Rodrigues not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pounder does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pounder trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounder is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Pedro Rodrigues has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pounder has a hand on Rodrigues's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rodrigues takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pounder tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Rodrigues working for a submission but Pounder is keeping him at bay.
Pounder is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounder controls the position.
Pounder is desperately trying to improve his position but Rodrigues has a good base and remains in mount.
Pounder wants to hold on but Rodrigues pushes him away.
Pounder is squirming around, avoiding Rodrigues's attempts to control the action.
Pounder is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounder is working hard here to advance position.
Pounder is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rodrigues thowing shots but they're missing.
Pounder is trying to escape the mount.
Rodrigues trying to control but Pounder is having none of it.

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.
Pounder is in all sorts of trouble here.

Rodrigues wants to finish this one by submission but Pounder is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodrigues thowing shots but they're missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Rodrigues comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rodrigues 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Pedro Rodrigues!
A less than humble Pedro Rodrigues misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.