PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Carioni (ranked 1428 p4p, 1277 weight class) and Hard Knuckles (ranked 220 p4p, 190 weight class). Hard Knuckles has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Carioni
vs
Knuckles

188 cm
24
205
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
23
210
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Furnace Performance 🔥

NARCOS
Dirty Commie $50

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodrigo Carioni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hard Knuckles!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knuckles keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Knuckles shoots in and drives through. Carioni sprawls well.
Carioni swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Knuckles counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Rodrigo Carioni has been cut.
Carioni's corner calls for a 1-2. Carioni obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Hard Knuckles has been cut.
Carioni connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Carioni gets caught flat footed, as Knuckles shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knuckles preventing the sweep.
Knuckles forces his way into half guard.

Knuckles escapes and gets back to his feet.
Knuckles fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Carioni avoids it really well and circles away.
Carioni throwing a counter right hand but Knuckles manages to avoid it.
Knuckles tries to score a power double leg takedown but Carioni sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Knuckles somewhat.
Rodrigo Carioni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hard Knuckles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Good exchange - Carioni coming out on top.
Carioni's corner calls for a 1-2. Carioni obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Carioni loads up on a big right hand but Knuckles slips the punch.
Knuckles uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Carioni.
Knuckles misses with a takedown attempt
and Carioni makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Carioni connects with a looping right hand.

That has opened up Hard Knuckles's cut even more.
A combination from Carioni does no damage.
Knuckles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carioni but Carioni pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Knuckles uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Carioni.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carioni misses with a hook.
We've been told by Carioni's head coaches at Catch Wrestling L.A. that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Carioni misses with a straight right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knuckles fails with an attempt to clinch.
Carioni misses with a looping left.
Knuckles keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Carioni.
Carioni misses with an uppercut
enabling Knuckles to counter with a crisp jab.
Carioni throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carioni throws a hook to the side of Knuckles's head but Knuckles sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Knuckles shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Carioni pinned against the cage. Carioni gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rodrigo Carioni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carioni pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Carioni scores with a hook to the body. Knuckles takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Knuckles staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carioni catches Knuckles with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nice straight punches there by Carioni. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Carioni.
Carioni throws an overhand right that lands on Knuckles's shoulder, as Knuckles tries to avoid the shot.
Carioni swings widly with a right hand
and Knuckles counters with a stiff right hand.
Knuckles shoots in and drives through. Carioni sprawls well.
Carioni misses with a body shot.
Knuckles fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Carioni avoids it really well and circles away.
Carioni stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Carioni wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice body punch from Knuckles.
Knuckles defending well as Carioni loads up on a big left hand.
Carioni throws a good cross that connects.
Knuckles keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Carioni.
The fighters circling - Carioni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Knuckles steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Carioni.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carioni throws a jab but it's blocked by Knuckles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knuckles tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Knuckles ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Carioni throws a shot from downtown. Knuckles moves away and avoids it.
Knuckles wants to counter with a clinch but Carioni pushes him away.
Carioni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knuckles moves away.
Knuckles shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carioni just misses with a punch to the body.
Carioni jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

The cut above Hard Knuckles's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Carioni connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Knuckles momentarily.
Carioni cracks a nice hook into Knuckles's ribs.
Knuckles uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Carioni.
Knuckles feints the counter takedown.
Knuckles shoots and misses
and Carioni counters with a right hand to the body.
Knuckles looks winded!
Knuckles's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Carioni connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Knuckles scrambles back to his feet.

Hard Knuckles's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Carioni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Knuckles is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Carioni dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Carioni scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Knuckles rushes Carioni and presses him up against the cage.

Carioni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knuckles avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Knuckles fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Carioni swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Knuckles.
Knuckles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carioni but Carioni pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Carioni displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Knuckles.
Rodrigo Carioni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hard Knuckles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Carioni misses its intended target.
Carioni throws a looping overhand right but Knuckles ducks down to avoid it.
Carioni swings for the body but Knuckles moves out of range.
Carioni leaves Knuckles with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Carioni went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rodrigo Carioni is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carioni connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Hard Knuckles's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Rodrigo Carioni!
Rodrigo Carioni seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.