PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Rodrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joan La Merveille (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rodrick
vs
La Merveille

171 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Reggie Rodrick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joan La Merveille!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodrick closes the distance and clinches.
Come on La Merveille - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rodrick wants to break the clinch but can't.
La Merveille pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rodrick is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rodrick dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rodrick is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rodrick tries to pull guard but La Merveille holds him up against the cage and eventually Rodrick drops back down to his feet.

La Merveille pulls Rodrick into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La Merveille is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodrick wants to control from the top but La Merveille keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodrick gets to his feet. La Merveille looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rodrick throws a right hand that La Merveille ducks under and follows up with a left that La Merveille also avoids with ease.

La Merveille darts in and clinches Rodrick up against the cage.

La Merveille pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rodrick tries to keep at a distance but La Merveille has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rodrick is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
La Merveille controlling the action here for a moment.
La Merveille tries to pull guard but Rodrick won't allow it.

La Merveille breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

La Merveille moves into the clinch.
Rodrick is trying to break the clinch but La Merveille has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Merveille keeps control of Rodrick as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rodrick is looking to break free of the clinch but La Merveille has double underhooks.
Rodrick blocks a body shot from La Merveille.
La Merveille avoiding damage.
La Merveille tries to pull guard but Rodrick won't allow it.

La Merveille manages to break the clinch.
La Merveille avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rodrick misses with a wild combination.
Reggie Rodrick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodrick throws a nice looking combination but La Merveille bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
La Merveille avoids the head kick by Rodrick.

La Merveille clinches up against the cage.
La Merveille is pressed up against the cage. Rodrick has hold of a leg and is looking to drag La Merveille down to the mat. La Merveille avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A head kick from Rodrick lands but La Merveille takes it in his stride.
Rodrick throws a series of punches but La Merveille moves out of range.
Rodrick fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrick fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reggie Rodrick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodrick misses with a takedown attempt - La Merveille sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rodrick shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as La Merveille sprawls well. La Merveille wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodrick gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodrick avoids a kick to the body.
Rodrick shoots for a double leg takedown but La Merveille sprawls well. He's pushed Rodrick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
La Merveille tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
La Merveille shoots in but Rodrick avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rodrick showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from La Merveille.
La Merveille shoots in but Rodrick avoids the takedown attempt easily.
La Merveille misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rodrick lands a head kick. La Merveille smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrick gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and La Merveille moves into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rodrick wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but La Merveille has him pressed against the cage.
La Merveille fails to pull the fight into his guard.
La Merveille tries for a takedown but Rodrick manages to get underhooks.
Rodrick is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rodrick is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
La Merveille is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rodrick pulls him back up using the underhooks.

La Merveille's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
La Merveille looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rodrick dives in and grabs La Merveille's left leg, looking for a takedown. La Merveille pushes down on Rodrick's head and hops out.
Rodrick changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. La Merveille tries to avoid it but Rodrick manages to keep hold of a leg and drag La Merveille to the ground. La Merveille escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joan La Merveille dominated that 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.

La Merveille shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rodrick pinned against the cage. Rodrick gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rodrick clinches but La Merveille breaks the clinch

and La Merveille counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

La Merveille breaks from the clinch.
La Merveille defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rodrick.
No joy there for Rodrick, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rodrick wants to clinch
and La Merveille counters with a good low kick that Rodrick was not able to check.

La Merveille bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
La Merveille throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
La Merveille is looking to take a break and control but Rodrick is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodrick tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but La Merveille wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Merveille is looking to take a break and control but Rodrick is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
La Merveille decides to stand back up.
Rodrick throws a combination but it was largely blocked by La Merveille.
Rodrick doesn't succeed with the takedown

and La Merveille counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

La Merveille turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
La Merveille trying to control the position but Rodrick is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrick gets back to half guard.
Rodrick avoiding damage under a succession of punches from La Merveille.
Still in half guard, La Merveille seems content to control.
Rodrick won't allow La Merveille to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Merveille passes into side control, despite Rodrick's attempt to control the position.
La Merveille wants to control for a moment but Rodrick uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Rodrick seems content to control.
La Merveille is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
La Merveille trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Rodrick manages to pass to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rodrick controlling the position easily from mount.
Rodrick seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down La Merveille for as long as he can get away with.
La Merveille wants to control but Rodrick is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joan La Merveille showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rodrick tries to clinch but La Merveille moves away
and La Merveille counters with a leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from La Merveille.
Rodrick looks to score with a jab to the body but La Merveille is just out of range.
Rodrick tries to clinch but fails miserably
and La Merveille counters with a body kick that stops Rodrick in his tracks momentarily.
Rodrick fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Reggie Rodrick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

La Merveille drives through and clinches with Rodrick against the cage.
Rodrick is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
La Merveille has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rodrick avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rodrick tries to pull guard but La Merveille holds him up against the cage and eventually Rodrick drops back down to his feet.
La Merveille tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
La Merveille tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodrick just stands there and leans against the cage.
Reggie Rodrick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joan La Merveille.

La Merveille breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

La Merveille moves into the clinch.
La Merveille stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrick is trying to break the clinch but La Merveille is controlling him.
Rodrick wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but La Merveille has him pressed against the cage.
La Merveille connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rodrick's face.
La Merveille leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rodrick tries for a takedown but La Merveille manages to get underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by La Merveille as Rodrick tries to tie him up.

La Merveille breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rodrick darts in and clinches La Merveille up against the cage.
Rodrick wants to break the clinch but can't.

La Merveille breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
La Merveille circles away from the clinch attempt
and La Merveille counters with a solid body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Merveille fails to land the takedown.
Rodrick leaves La Merveille with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
La Merveille looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rodrick will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

La Merveille clinches.
Rodrick is looking for a takedown up against the cage. La Merveille gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rodrick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rodrick jumps guard but La Merveille stands there with Rodrick around his waist. Rodrick gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
La Merveille tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodrick just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rodrick is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from La Merveille.
Rodrick working hard to break the clinch.

La Merveille escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rodrick closes the distance looking to clinch

and La Merveille counters by moving into the clinch.
La Merveille is struggling to control the position.
Rodrick wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but La Merveille has him pressed against the cage.
Rodrick avoids a wild elbow strike from La Merveille.
La Merveille taking a breather.
Rodrick looking for a takedown.

La Merveille pulls guard successfully.
Rodrick would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrick wants to control from the top but La Merveille keeps moving.
Reggie Rodrick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rodrick is really struggling to control La Merveille but he's trying to hold on to the position.
La Merveille not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joan La Merveille comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well La Merveille has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joan La Merveille!