PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mertis Falandas (ranked 2239 p4p, 2718 weight class) and Rico Rodriguez (ranked 288 p4p, 348 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Falandas might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Feed the Machine. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rodriguez's choice of entrance music: Latin Lingo. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Falandas
vs
Rodriguez

185 cm
21
170
4 - 2 - 1

181 cm
21
170
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mertis Falandas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rico Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodriguez is defended easily by Falandas.
Rodriguez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Falandas counters with a leg kick.

Rodriguez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Falandas to the mat! Falandas manages to get full guard.
Falandas seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Falandas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rodriguez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Falandas is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Falandas has escaped and now he's on top!

Falandas wants to stand and escape but instead Rodriguez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Falandas is working an open guard so Rodriguez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Falandas tries to clinch up but Rodriguez circles away and keeps his distance.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rodriguez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rodriguez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Falandas knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Falandas is trying to control Rodriguez's posture but Rodriguez avoids it.

Rodriguez is trying to get an arm triangle but Falandas is defending well.
Falandas tries to buck Rodriguez off but Rodriguez is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falandas is working hard here to advance position.

Rodriguez stands up and beckons Falandas to his feet.

Rodriguez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Falandas on his heels. He'll look to pass Falandas's guard now, I'm sure.
Rodriguez throws a big elbow that misses.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Falandas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rodriguez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jab, jab by Falandas - just one landing.
Falandas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mertis Falandas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Rodriguez.
Falandas sizes up Rodriguez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Falandas to the ground. Rodriguez is now in Falandas's guard.
Falandas keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Falandas trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.
Falandas being controlled here, momentarily.
Rodriguez trying to control but Falandas is working from the bottom.

Rodriguez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a big elbow that misses.
Falandas lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rodriguez throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Falandas escapes and throws Rodriguez's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Falandas tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rodriguez manages to get back to half guard.
Falandas wants to stand but Rodriguez has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rico Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
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.

Rodriguez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Falandas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rodriguez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rodriguez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rodriguez trying to control the action but Falandas is working from the bottom.
Falandas is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falandas regains half guard, as Rodriguez was trying to land strikes.

Rodriguez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rodriguez has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Gold Samurai's Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez stands up from half guard.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rodriguez or perhaps it was just good defense by Falandas, which made it look bad.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Falandas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Falandas stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodriguez. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet.
Mertis Falandas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Rodriguez.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rodriguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rodriguez shoots in and drives through. Falandas sprawls well.
Falandas is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Falandas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mertis Falandas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck for Rodriguez with that takedown attempt.
Falandas feints and then cracks Rodriguez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rodriguez down.
Rico Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Falandas can pounce on him.
Rodriguez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Falandas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Falandas tries to counter by clinching up but Rodriguez breaks away and moves out of range.
That kick from Falandas tenderised Rodriguez's leg. Rodriguez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rodriguez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Falandas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodriguez goes for a double leg but Falandas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Falandas continues to drive forward.

Rodriguez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Falandas did well to prevent Rodriguez getting side control.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Falandas trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Falandas keeps working.
Rodriguez trying to mount his opponent but Falandas defends it.
Falandas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Falandas wants to get back to his feet.
Falandas won't allow Rodriguez to pass to mount.

Rodriguez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Falandas pushes Rodriguez off looking to stand but Rodriguez dives back in and keeps control.

That's four 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.
Rodriguez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rodriguez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rodriguez looking to ground and pound but Falandas is blocking nicely.
Falandas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Rodriguez looking for a guillotine from mount but Falandas is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Falandas can't escape the position.

Rodriguez goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Falandas is on top in guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mertis Falandas will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rodriguez has a takedown stuffed.

Rodriguez gets a takedown into half guard.

Rodriguez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Falandas trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez is stalling here. Falandas is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rodriguez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Falandas has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet but Falandas drags him back down.
Rodriguez is letting Falandas control him for a moment.
Rodriguez tries to escape but Falandas is in control.
Falandas wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
Rico Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Falandas is trying to get an arm triangle but Rodriguez is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Falandas wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling his arm.
Rodriguez is looking to regain half guard here but Falandas keeps moving and retains side control.
Falandas controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rodriguez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Falandas tries to land a front kick but Rodriguez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Falandas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rodriguez fails with the takedown
enabling Falandas to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice takedown defense from Falandas. No joy for Rodriguez on that attempt.
Falandas throws a big counter combination but Rodriguez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mertis Falandas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Rodriguez.
Rodriguez fails with the takedown.
Falandas tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rodriguez manages to circle out of the way.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Falandas - that will leave a mark!
Mertis Falandas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Falandas has managed to clinch.
Rodriguez goes for a takedown attempt but Falandas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A thudding body kick lands there by Falandas!
Rico Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rico Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez shoots and misses
enabling Falandas to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mertis Falandas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Falandas 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 William Peck scores the fight for Mertis Falandas!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Mertis Falandas!
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight for Mertis Falandas!

Mertis Falandas wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Mertis Falandas thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.