PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Bija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabio Rodrigues is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bija
vs
Rodrigues

181 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
180 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

[MMABR] Winners' Supplements
[MMABR] Winners' Supplements

[MMABR] Winners' Supplements

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jordan Bija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bija wants to clinch up but Rodrigues keeps it at a distance.
Bija fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodrigues throws a low kick, looking for Bija's leg but Bija calmly moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Rodrigues as Bija shoots in.
Bija shoots in for a double leg but Rodrigues sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bija tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodrigues paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodrigues fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bija checks it well.
Rodrigues throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bija looks for a takedown but Rodrigues sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jordan Bija. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bija shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rodrigues defends it nicely.
Bija throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodrigues has managed to clinch.
Bija has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rodrigues is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rodrigues lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bija has hold of Rodrigues's hands but Rodrigues slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rodrigues tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bija knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bija avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rodrigues wants to free his trapped foot but Bija is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bija has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rodrigues is working away from the top position though.

Bija looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rodrigues is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bija!
Rodrigues connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rodrigues scoring with strikes but Bija is staying in there.
Rodrigues avoids the attempt from Bija to control.
Rodrigues with shots to the head and body - Bija looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rodrigues with shots to the head and body - Bija looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rodrigues with shots to the head and body - Bija looks very uncomfortable down there.
Bija throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rodrigues. What's that going to do exactly?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bija is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rodrigues cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bija is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bija is working hard here to advance position.
Rodrigues with the ground and pound from mount.
BOOM! Rodrigues connects with a massive shot to the dome!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rodrigues is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Bija can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rodrigues lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bija hang on?
Bija sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Rodrigues is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bija has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bija flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bija keeping hold of Rodrigues's head, controlling as best he can.

Rodrigues looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rodrigues has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rodrigues looks gassed!
Rodrigues prevents Bija from improving his position.

Bija is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rodrigues pulls his head out easily.

Bija looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bija is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rodrigues scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bija is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rodrigues scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bija tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bija taking some punishment here, with Rodrigues in his half guard.
Rodrigues landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bija tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rodrigues thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bija's head.
Rodrigues scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Bija looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bija is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rodrigues pulls his head out easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bija looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Rodrigues 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.

Bija blocks the body kick.
Bija shoots in but Rodrigues avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jordan Bija is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bija shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodrigues but Rodrigues pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bija clinches but Rodrigues breaks the clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Jordan Bija seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bija throws a hook but Rodrigues blocks it.
Bija misses with a takedown attempt

and Rodrigues counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jordan Bija. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodrigues is putting a hurting on Bija here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rodrigues is putting a hurting on Bija here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rodrigues in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodrigues working the head with strikes.
Fabio Rodrigues has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rodrigues is putting a hurting on Bija here, landing some big shots from side control.
Check out the look on Rodrigues's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues scores with a couple of short elbows.

Rodrigues is trying to get an arm triangle but Bija is defending well.
Rodrigues scoring with punches and elbows.
Rodrigues cracks Bija with a big elbow.
Bija is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rodrigues off and has taken his back!

Bija looking to break Rodrigues's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rodrigues remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Bija will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Rodrigues manages to reverse the position and now he's in Bija's guard. Nice work there by Rodrigues.
Rodrigues sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bija's guard.
Rodrigues lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rodrigues throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bija is trying to stand up here but Rodrigues is controlling him well.
Rodrigues looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bija with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bija looking for submissions off his back.
Rodrigues landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rodrigues is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rodrigues working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rodrigues wants to pass the guard but Bija is defending well.

Bija looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rodrigues lands strikes from half guard.
Bija trying to control here.
Bija might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bija avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodrigues.
Bija keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rodrigues throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bija misses with a combination

and Rodrigues counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rodrigues is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bija throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bija regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rodrigues throwing strikes from guard but Bija blocks nicely.

Bija is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rodrigues defends well.

Bija had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rodrigues defends it easily.
Rodrigues working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bija throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Bija working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodrigues doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodrigues manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rodrigues stands up over Bija, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rodrigues is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rodrigues is looking to work some ground and pound but Bija has wrist control.
Rodrigues scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rodrigues is in close to Bija's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Rodrigues got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bija has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rodrigues has managed to get both his arms back between Bija's legs - danger averted.
Rodrigues keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bija's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bija is trying to keep Rodrigues in close.
Rodrigues working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Rodrigues showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bija misses with a takedown
and Rodrigues counters with a nice body kick.
Bija tries to clinch up

and Rodrigues counters with a single leg into guard. Bija didn't expect that.

Bija escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rodrigues gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rodrigues with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rodrigues postures up and lands a big shot to Bija's brow.
Bija looking to control.
Rodrigues lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Rodrigues drops back looking for a leg! Bija is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bija manages to kick Rodrigues off! Rodrigues jumps back into Bija's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodrigues trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bija is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rodrigues pushing down on Bija's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rodrigues scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bija avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues lands with a punch from half guard.
Bija lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Bija is trying to stand up here but Rodrigues is controlling him well.

Rodrigues is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bija is just riding it out for now. Rodrigues eventually gives up the hold.
Rodrigues looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bija with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bija lands with a few short shots to the body.
Rodrigues not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bija misses with an uppercut. Rodrigues saw that one coming.
Bija scores with a jab to the body.
Bija misses with a takedown

so Rodrigues counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rodrigues postures up in Bija's guard and throws a big left but Bija blocks it.
Rodrigues lands a couple of digs.
Bija avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rodrigues throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bija works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rodrigues throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bija works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bija utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Bija is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Rodrigues rolls with it to try and escape but Bija cranks on the arm and Rodrigues is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jordan Bija!