PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Don Peccorino (ranked 22197 p4p, 3634 weight class) and Franky Rodgers (ranked 624 p4p, 339 weight class). Franky Rodgers has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Peccorino
vs
Rodgers

175 cm
22
157
6 - 12 - 0

170 cm
25
145
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 12 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Don Peccorino !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Franky Rodgers!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Peccorino closes the distance and clinches.
Rodgers has Peccorino pushed against the cage.
Peccorino is trying to break the clinch but Rodgers is controlling him.
Peccorino wants to break free but Rodgers has control.

Peccorino successfully pulls guard.
Rodgers postures up in Peccorino 's guard and throws a big left but Peccorino blocks it.
Peccorino knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rodgers on the ground.
Rodgers pushing down on Peccorino 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rodgers perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Peccorino is trying to stand.
Rodgers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rodgers lands a nice short elbow.
Rodgers trying to pass the guard but Peccorino defending well.
Rodgers takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Peccorino avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodgers.
Peccorino wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers working Peccorino over with strikes.
Rodgers stops Peccorino from getting back to his feet.
Peccorino trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Peccorino is trying to stand.
Rodgers is taking a breather. Peccorino says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rodgers prevents Peccorino from standing back up.
Peccorino has hold of Rodgers's hands but Rodgers slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rodgers winds up and cracks Peccorino with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodgers takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Peccorino pushes Rodgers off looking to stand but Rodgers dives back in and keeps control.
Rodgers working over Peccorino with some ground and pound. Peccorino looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rodgers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rodgers is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Still in half guard, Rodgers seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peccorino on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Well, if Rodgers is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Peccorino wants to get back to his feet.
Rodgers landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Peccorino on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rodgers controlling the pace.
Rodgers trying to control from half guard but Peccorino is working away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Peccorino on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Peccorino on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Peccorino is rocked!

Peccorino pushes Rodgers off and gets back to his feet.
Rodgers shoots in for a double leg but Peccorino sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As Rodgers tries to get set, Peccorino tries to push him back and clinch up but Rodgers manages to avoid the attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Peccorino throws an elbow but misses.

Rodgers jumps guard and drags Peccorino to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Peccorino stopping the sweep attempt from Rodgers.
Peccorino is looking to stand up but Rodgers won't let him.
Peccorino being controlled here momentarily.
Peccorino tries to stand but Rodgers is controlling from the bottom.
Rodgers pulls Peccorino in close to prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodgers can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Peccorino trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rodgers's guard.
Rodgers bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Peccorino 's guard.

Rodgers is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rodgers trying to control the position from guard on top but Peccorino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peccorino being controlled here, momentarily.
Peccorino wants to stand up but Rodgers is controlling him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Franky Rodgers dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Peccorino connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Rodgers shoots in and bounces Peccorino off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Peccorino wants to stand up but Rodgers is controlling him.
Rodgers trying to control but Peccorino is working from the bottom.
Rodgers showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Peccorino is looking to stand up but Rodgers isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodgers wants to control from the top but Peccorino keeps moving.
Rodgers prevents Peccorino from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peccorino keeping moving, preventing Rodgers from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rodgers tries for a takedown but Peccorino circles away easily
and Peccorino counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Peccorino !
Rodgers shoots in looking for a takedown but Peccorino manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodgers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Peccorino gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Peccorino tries to break the clinch but Rodgers is controlling the position.

Rodgers drags the fight down to the ground.

Peccorino stands up from Rodgers's guard - Peccorino perhaps looking for a knockout.

Peccorino rushes Rodgers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rodgers's coach down at Walter J Abramowitz Center for Bigness was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Rodgers's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Rodgers pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peccorino wants to stand but Rodgers is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rodgers manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Peccorino manages to get himself to full guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Peccorino wants to stand and escape but Rodgers is having none of it.

Peccorino has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rodgers off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Peccorino closes the distance and clinches.

Rodgers manages to pull guard.
Peccorino is looking to stand up but Rodgers won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peccorino wants to stand and escape but instead Rodgers has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rodgers is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Peccorino is looking to stand up but Rodgers isn't so interested in that idea.
Rodgers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rodgers works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rodgers controlling the action here.
Rodgers landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peccorino is not content to let Rodgers control the position.
Rodgers wants to free his trapped foot but Peccorino is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rodgers thows a huge punch but Peccorino dodges it nicely.
Rodgers stops Peccorino from getting back to his feet.
Franky Rodgers has got the better of the ground game so far.
Peccorino on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peccorino pushes Rodgers off looking to stand but Rodgers dives back in and keeps control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rodgers in particular looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Franky Rodgers will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Peccorino throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Peccorino has closed the distance and engaged Rodgers in a clinch.

Rodgers wants the takedown. Peccorino is fighting it off but Rodgers persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Peccorino 's guard against the cage.
Rodgers 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.
Rodgers landing with the ground and pound.
Rodgers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rodgers cracks Peccorino with a solid left hand.
Rodgers passes Peccorino 's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodgers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Peccorino keeps working.
Rodgers seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Oh Peccorino is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rodgers is taking a breather. Peccorino says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers trying to control the action but Peccorino is working from the bottom.
Peccorino seems to have got his legs back now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rodgers in particular looking to stall.
Rodgers has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Peccorino pushes Rodgers off looking to stand but Rodgers dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodgers looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Peccorino with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

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.
Peccorino is trying to stand.
Rodgers with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Let's hope that Rodgers has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rodgers showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Peccorino .
Rodgers closes the distance and clinches up with Peccorino , looking for a takedown. Rodgers pushes Peccorino against the cage but Peccorino circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Peccorino moves into the clinch successfully.
Peccorino is looking to control Rodgers's arms but Rodgers gets an underhook and turns him. Now Peccorino has his back to the cage.

Peccorino gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Peccorino tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rodgers controls his leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers gets full guard.
Peccorino wanted to stand there but Rodgers had control of the position.

Peccorino decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rodgers, up you get!
Rodgers dodges the punch combination from Peccorino .

Peccorino has managed to clinch.
Peccorino tries to break the clinch but Rodgers is controlling the position.

Rodgers successfully pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peccorino would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Peccorino wants to stand and escape but instead Rodgers has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rodgers won't allow Peccorino to get back to his feet.
Rodgers controlling from the top position.
Rodgers trying to control the position from guard on top but Peccorino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peccorino is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodgers is controlling him.
Don Peccorino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franky Rodgers is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rodgers's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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 Don Peccorino .
I think Rodgers 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Franky Rodgers!