PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Collin Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson comes to the cage accompanied by Collapse. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thompson
vs
Rodriguez

180 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Collin Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodriguez lands a jab.
Collin Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rodriguez closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Rodriguez takes the fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez misses with a punch on the inside.
Thompson can't break the clinch.
Rodriguez wants a takedown but no success here.
Still in the clinch, Rodriguez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thompson has Rodriguez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rodriguez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thompson tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Collin Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from Rodriguez.
Thompson blocking some punches.
Thompson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rodriguez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rodriguez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thompson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Rodriguez. No joy for Thompson on that attempt.

Thompson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent Thompson getting side control.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez is trying is best to control the position here.
Rodriguez is looking to escape.

Rodriguez has one foot on Thompson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Rodriguez rushes Thompson and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rodriguez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rodriguez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thompson shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well. He's pushed Thompson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thompson dodges the punch combination from Rodriguez.
Thompson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rodriguez cracks Thompson with a good jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands a two punch combo.
Rodriguez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thompson.
Matt Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson is breathing heavily.
Thompson fails to land the takedown.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez misses with a series of wild punches.
Rodriguez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Rodriguez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice shot lands for Rodriguez.
Thompson shoots in for a double leg but Rodriguez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Rodriguez moves into range and clinches up with Thompson.
Rodriguez lands a left hand.
Thompson takes a shot to the head.
Good body shot from Rodriguez.
A shot in the inside from Rodriguez.
Thompson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Rodriguez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rodriguez fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rodriguez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rodriguez lands with an uppercut that bounces Thompson off the cage and back into rage.
Thompson slips a jab and a cross from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a right hand that Thompson ducks under and follows up with a left that Thompson also avoids with ease.
Rodriguez misses with the combination.
A combination from Rodriguez does no damage.
Rodriguez clobbers Thompson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Rodriguez both land. Nice combination.

Rodriguez gets caught flat footed, as Thompson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodriguez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but Thompson isn't so interested in that idea.
Thompson passes into half guard.
Thompson stops Rodriguez from getting back to his feet.
Thompson controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez wants to improve his position but Thompson is controlling well.
Rodriguez looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thompson is controlling the pace.
Rodriguez is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodriguez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep. Thompson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thompson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodriguez but Rodriguez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thompson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodriguez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Collin Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danga de danga de dang - Rodriguez scores with a four punch combination!
Rodriguez misses with a wild combination.
Thompson tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Rodriguez counter with a right hand.
Rodriguez stalks Thompson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Thompson's face. Thompson staggers backwards, shaken.
Rodriguez lands a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson ducks right into an uppercut from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a right hand that Thompson ducks under and follows up with a left that Thompson also avoids with ease.

Rodriguez takes the fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez lands a right hand.

Thompson breaks the clinch.
Thompson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rodriguez finds it's way round the side to connect with Thompson's head.
Rodriguez misses with the combination.
Rodriguez throws and low kick but Thompson moves out of range easily.
Rodriguez tests Thompson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws an elbow but it misses.
Thompson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thompson blocking some punches.
Rodriguez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thompson backwards.
Thompson trying to stall but Rodriguez improves his position.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Rodriguez is controlling him.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez can't break the clinch.
Thompson tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Rodriguez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thompson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rodriguez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rodriguez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thompson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thompson with a poor takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Collin Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodriguez.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rodriguez scores with a one two! Thompson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that Thompson avoids nicely.
Thompson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Thompson moves out of range.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt
and Rodriguez counters with a left and a right that stings Thompson.
Thompson dodges the punch combination from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez misses with a double jab.
Thompson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rodriguez counters with a one-two to the body.
Rodriguez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thompson.
Some wild striking there from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson walks into a jab.
Thompson slips a jab and a cross from Rodriguez.
Thompson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rodriguez stalks Thompson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Thompson's face. Thompson staggers backwards, shaken.
Rodriguez lunges at Thompson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Thompson's hand.

Thompson is rocked!
Rodriguez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rodriguez!
Collin Thompson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oh Thompson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez scores with a jab.
Rodriguez scores with a three punch combo!
Thompson tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves away
and Rodriguez counters with a one-two to the body.
Rodriguez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez swinging wilding here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matt Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thompson seems to have got his legs back now.
Thompson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rodriguez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rodriguez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Rodriguez!