|
|
WP 92 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 72 wins and 33 losses; Nick Rodriquez! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 51 wins and 59 losses; Strega Notturna!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Notturna fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodriquez avoids it really well and circles away.
Rodriquez tries to counter with a takedown but Notturna is quick to defend against it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Notturna has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Notturna fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodriquez attempts a counter takedown but Notturna avoids it well and moves away.
Notturna drives through with a takedown into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Rodriquez (0) vs (2) Notturna
Notturna slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Notturna trying to control but Rodriquez is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rodriquez has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Rodriquez keeping full guard, as Notturna tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Notturna stays in close to Rodriquez's body and controls the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodriquez, not yet.
Notturna tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriquez is retaining full guard.
Notturna passes Rodriquez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Notturna looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rodriquez keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Notturna trying to control the action but Rodriquez is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Notturna takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Notturna trying to control the action but Rodriquez is working from the bottom.
Notturna seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rodriquez is refusing to be controlled, as Notturna sits in half guard.
Notturna controlling the action here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez is refusing to be controlled, as Notturna sits in half guard.
Notturna is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Notturna is keen to just control but Rodriquez is a slippery customer.
Notturna perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rodriquez wants to control but Notturna is keeping busy.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Notturna seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rodriquez controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Rodriquez is not content to let Notturna control the position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Notturna seems content to control.
Rodriquez wants to improve his position but Notturna is controlling well.
Notturna is looking to take a break and control but Rodriquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriquez wants to improve his position but Notturna is controlling well.
Notturna performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Notturna's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Notturna 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.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Notturna.
It looks like Notturna might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Yet more stalling tactics from Notturna.
Notturna is looking to take a break and control but Rodriquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriquez is looking to improve his position.
Notturna seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodriquez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rodriquez is positioning himself well to prevent Notturna advancing to mount.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to control the action in half guard but Rodriquez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rodriquez is looking to improve his position.
Notturna wants to control but Rodriquez is keeping him busy.
Notturna is controlling the pace.
Notturna wants to take a breather but Rodriquez is having none of it.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Notturna's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Notturna's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Rodriquez (4) vs (2) Notturna
Rodriquez controlling the position well here. Notturna rolled but Rodriquez kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Notturna controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.
You can see the frustration on Notturna's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Rodriquez has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Notturna's body.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna can't escape the position.
Rodriquez controlling from the back.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Notturna trying to control the hands but Rodriquez won't let him.
I really don't envy Notturna right now.
Notturna trying to control but not successfully.
Notturna really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Rodriquez's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.
Notturna tries to break free.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Notturna trying to control the action but Rodriquez just sinks the hooks in.
I really don't envy Notturna right now.
Rodriquez controls the position.
Notturna looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Rodriquez has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Notturna's body.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Rodriquez controlling well, preventing Notturna from escaping the position.
Notturna trying to control the hands but Rodriquez breaks the grip.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriquez slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Notturna is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Rodriquez off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Notturna controlling Rodriquez 's hands.
Notturna is trying to break free.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rodriquez takes the fight on points by 4 to 2.
After winning the bout, Nick Rodriquez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
|
|
|
|
|
