PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jake Rodrigues (ranked 460 p4p, 1011 weight class) and Unang Zemin (ranked 37 p4p, 79 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Zemin's choice of entrance music: 부모님 은혜. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rodrigues
vs
Zemin

170 cm
29
140
9 - 5 - 0

169 cm
27
135
15 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jake Rodrigues!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Unang Zemin!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zemin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zemin misses with a hook.
Rodrigues throwing a counter right hand but Zemin manages to avoid it.
Rodrigues throws a lazy right hand but Zemin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zemin tries to clinch but Rodrigues moves out of range.
Rodrigues seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Zemin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rodrigues was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Rodrigues misses with a low kick.
Zemin only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Zemin tries to clinch but Rodrigues is having none of it.
Zemin wants to clinch up but Rodrigues keeps it at a distance.

Zemin darts in and clinches Rodrigues up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Rodrigues's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodrigues dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zemin. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zemin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zemin only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Zemin misses with a leg kick
and Rodrigues counters with a big head kick but Zemin shrugs it off.
Zemin closes the distance but Rodrigues moves to the side
and Rodrigues counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jake Rodrigues seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zemin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodrigues, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zemin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rodrigues scores with a shot to the side of Zemin's head.
Rodrigues effectively controlling the action here.
Rodrigues can't find room to land a body shot as Zemin controls the action.
Rodrigues swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodrigues.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rodrigues as Zemin tries to tie him up.
Rodrigues lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zemin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodrigues tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zemin's elbow.
Rodrigues has Zemin pushed against the cage.
Rodrigues throws a head punch that misses.

Rodrigues breaks from the clinch.
Zemin doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodrigues circles away.

Zemin forces Rodrigues back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Rodrigues fails to land.
Zemin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zemin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zemin misses with a hook from the clinch.

Rodrigues manages to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodrigues throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zemin misses with a two punch combination.
Rodrigues scores with a jab to the body.
Rodrigues lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Zemin doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodrigues circles away.
Zemin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rodrigues avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zemin throws a wild body kick that Rodrigues sees coming a mile off.
Rodrigues was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Zemin moves in looking to clinch but Rodrigues pushes him off.
Rodrigues throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zemin looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodrigues is just out of range.
Rodrigues walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zemin.
Rodrigues misses with an uppercut.
As Rodrigues backs off Zemin throws a huge counter combo but Rodrigues manages to avoid it all.

Zemin instigates a clinch.
Rodrigues blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodrigues throws a punch but it's blocked by Zemin.
Rodrigues blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zemin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rodrigues misses with the head strike.
Rodrigues misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zemin keeps control of Rodrigues as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zemin misses with a punch on the inside.
Rodrigues lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to break free but Zemin pushes him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Zemin.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rodrigues.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rodrigues blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodrigues taking a breather.
Zemin trying to stall but Rodrigues improves his position.
Zemin takes a shot to the head.
Zemin looking to throw knees to the head but Rodrigues is blocking nicely.
Zemin tries to stall but Rodrigues uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Rodrigues breaks the clinch.

Zemin darts in and clinches Rodrigues up against the cage.

Rodrigues pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodrigues tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zemin is able to avoid easily.
Rodrigues avoids a kick to the body.

Zemin instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodrigues.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jake Rodrigues will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Some wild striking there from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zemin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zemin's coach down at Gold Samurai's Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Zemin's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Jake Rodrigues is winning the standup battle so far.
Rodrigues looks to score with a jab to the body but Zemin is just out of range.
Zemin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodrigues.
Zemin doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodrigues circles away.
Zemin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues misses with a straight right.
Zemin moves out of range of the strikes.
Rodrigues throws a lazy right hand but Zemin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zemin is looking for the big counter here.
Zemin tries to clinch but Rodrigues is having none of it.
Unang Zemin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zemin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zemin slips under a jab.
Rodrigues misses with a low kick.
As Rodrigues backs off Zemin throws a huge counter combo but Rodrigues manages to avoid it all.
Zemin wants to clinch.
Rodrigues wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rodrigues is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zemin can do to turn this around?
Zemin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodrigues moves away.
Rodrigues cracks Zemin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zemin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodrigues swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodrigues bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zemin throws a body shot but no joy.
Rodrigues thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rodrigues throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zemin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Rodrigues misses the target.
Rodrigues fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zemin manages to avoid it.
Rodrigues throws a body punch but Zemin moves out of range.
We've been told by Rodrigues's head coaches at Vale Tudo NY that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
An inside leg kick lands from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a body kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Zemin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rodrigues has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rodrigues and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodrigues ducks under a wild hook from Zemin.
Rodrigues swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rodrigues circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zemin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rodrigues.
Zemin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zemin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rodrigues's corner calls for a 1-2. Rodrigues obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zemin is looking to clinch.
Rodrigues lands with an overhand left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodrigues. Zemin does a little dance to reset his feet.

Zemin clinches up with Rodrigues and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Rodrigues fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Zemin fails to land.

Rodrigues escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rodrigues is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zemin moves forwards but Rodrigues connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zemin scores with a punch to the head.
Zemin tries to clinch up but Rodrigues circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodrigues swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rodrigues blocks a head kick by Zemin.
A head kick misses from Zemin.
As Zemin backs away, Rodrigues returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zemin throws a sloppy head kick and Rodrigues moves out of range easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodrigues smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zemin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rodrigues throws out the jab.
Zemin tries to clinch there but Rodrigues circles away.
Rodrigues throws a body shot but no joy.
Rodrigues tries to work over Zemin's front leg with a kick but Zemin checks it.
Rodrigues swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zemin is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rodrigues. That's going to slow Zemin down.

Zemin has managed to clinch.
Rodrigues has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zemin misses with the head strike.

Zemin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodrigues lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zemin circles away quickly and effectively.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Rodrigues dominated that second round.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zemin slips a straight right by Rodrigues.
Zemin throws a counter combo.
Rodrigues throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zemin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zemin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodrigues misses with a looping left.
Jab by Rodrigues.
Zemin moves out of range as Rodrigues strikes.
Rodrigues thumps Zemin with a low kick.
Rodrigues throws a body punch but Zemin moves out of range.
A combination from Rodrigues does no damage.
Zemin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zemin is looking for the big counter here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zemin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodrigues looks to throw the jab but Zemin is out of range.
Zemin is looking for the big counter here.
Zemin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rodrigues misses with a lunging right hand
and Zemin counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues misses with a straight left.
Zemin is looking for the big counter here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zemin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zemin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rodrigues.
Zemin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rodrigues checks it well.
Rodrigues moves out of range of the body kick from Zemin.
Rodrigues takes one to the side of the head.
Rodrigues throws a low kick but Zemin avoids it.
Rodrigues moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromZemin.
Zemin looks for the body kick but Rodrigues saw that one coming.
Rodrigues bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zemin's head.
Rodrigues loads up on a big right hand but Zemin slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rodrigues looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A left lands for Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zemin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodrigues swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodrigues is looking to counter punch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Zemin.
Zemin checks a leg kick.
Zemin misses with a head kick.
Zemin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rodrigues scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rodrigues doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zemin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rodrigues fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zemin manages to avoid it.
Rodrigues swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Zemin counters with a two punch combo.
Rodrigues moves out of range as Zemin throws a body kick.
Rodrigues throws a low kick but Zemin moves out of range easily.
Rodrigues looks to land a right hand but Zemin moved out of range.
Zemin looks to clinch
and Rodrigues counters with a nice body shot.
Zemin misses with a wild body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Rodrigues misses the target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodrigues. Zemin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jake Rodrigues is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zemin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zemin throws a head kick that misses.
Rodrigues just misses with a punch to the body.
Rodrigues rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Zemin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zemin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodrigues.
Rodrigues with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Zemin's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodrigues digs a good body shot into Zemin's ribs.
Zemin staying out of range there.
Rodrigues misses with a combination
and Zemin counters with a straight right hand.
A jab from Rodrigues does it's job there.

Rodrigues tries to keep at a distance but Zemin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zemin wants to break free but Rodrigues has control.
Zemin stalling.
Zemin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Unang Zemin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zemin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Rodrigues showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodrigues, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Rodrigues!