PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mario Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tanaka Masatoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masatoshi has chosen [No.666] as his entrance music. Mario Rodriguez looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Rodriguez
vs
Masatoshi

176 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
21
172 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mario Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tanaka Masatoshi!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Masatoshi circles away.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown. Masatoshi tries to sprawl out of it but Rodriguez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Masatoshi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Masatoshi connects with a single shot there.
Masatoshi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Masatoshi misses with a wild combination.
Masatoshi stalks Rodriguez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rodriguez's face. Rodriguez staggers backwards, shaken.
Rodriguez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Masatoshi.
Masatoshi tries to bum rush Rodriguez with a series of wild strikes but Rodriguez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rodriguez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Masatoshi avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left and a right from Masatoshi both land. Nice combination.
Masatoshi throws a series of punches but Rodriguez avoids them all with ease.
Masatoshi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rodriguez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Masatoshi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rodriguez circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck for Rodriguez with that takedown attempt.
Masatoshi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Masatoshi.
Masatoshi throws a nice looking combination but Rodriguez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Masatoshi catches Rodriguez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Masatoshi scores with a head kick.
Masatoshi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Masatoshi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rodriguez backs up against the cage.
Masatoshi is working the combinations to good effect here.
Masatoshi misses with the combination.
Masatoshi misses with a two punch combination.
Masatoshi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodriguez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Masatoshi can pounce on him.
Masatoshi lands a jab to Rodriguez's midsection.
Masatoshi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tanaka Masatoshi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Masatoshi lands a nice hook to Rodriguez's body. Rodriguez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masatoshi throws a nice looking combination but Rodriguez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rodriguez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Masatoshi.
Masatoshi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodriguez.
Masatoshi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Masatoshi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A nice combination there by Masatoshi.
Masatoshi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Masatoshi lands a high kick!
Masatoshi throws a series of punches but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Masatoshi throws a series of punches but Rodriguez avoids them all with ease.
Masatoshi throws a head kick that misses.
Masatoshi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rodriguez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Masatoshi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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!

Rodriguez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Masatoshi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rodriguez has Masatoshi in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Masatoshi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Masatoshi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Masatoshi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rodriguez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Rodriguez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Masatoshi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rodriguez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Masatoshi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Masatoshi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodriguez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Masatoshi has managed to get both his arms back between Rodriguez's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masatoshi wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Masatoshi postures up.

Rodriguez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Masatoshi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Masatoshi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Masatoshi passes into half guard.

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Masatoshi has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Masatoshi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tanaka Masatoshi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Masatoshi sprawls well. Masatoshi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet.
Mario Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Masatoshi.
Masatoshi's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Masatoshi duly obliges.
Masatoshi lands a two punch combo.
Masatoshi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rodriguez gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Masatoshi.
Masatoshi with a jab.
Masatoshi throws a series of punches but Rodriguez avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masatoshi lands with a slapping head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Masatoshi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rodriguez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masatoshi scores with a jab to the body.
Masatoshi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodriguez.
Masatoshi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mario Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masatoshi lands with a nice combination. Rodriguez backs away looking to recover.
A combination from Masatoshi does no damage.
Rodriguez looks for a takedown but Masatoshi sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Masatoshi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodriguez somewhat.
Masatoshi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Masatoshi is fending him off so far but Rodriguez persists. Nope, Masatoshi circles away and we're back to standing.
Masatoshi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Masatoshi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rodriguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Masatoshi misses.
Masatoshi misses with a wild combination.

Rodriguez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Masatoshi tries to kick Rodriguez off but Rodriguez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Masatoshi still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Masatoshi has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Rodriguez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Masatoshi's best efforts.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Masatoshi has control of the leg.

Rodriguez has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Masatoshi escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Masatoshi!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masatoshi wants to stand but Rodriguez has his arm trapped.
Rodriguez is looking to reverse the position.
Rodriguez can't do much from the bottom here.
Masatoshi wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling his arm.
Rodriguez regains half guard.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rodriguez looking for subs from the bottom but Masatoshi mounts him!

Masatoshi get's back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez shoots in and drives through. Masatoshi sprawls well.
Rodriguez looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Masatoshi misses with a series of wild punches.

Rodriguez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Masatoshi sprawls well initially but Rodriguez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Rodriguez seems to be working for a kimura but Masatoshi defends the submission attempt.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Masatoshi defends it well.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tanaka Masatoshi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tanaka Masatoshi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rodriguez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches up with Masatoshi, looking for a takedown. Rodriguez pushes Masatoshi against the cage but Masatoshi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Masatoshi but Masatoshi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masatoshi misses with a few strikes there.
Masatoshi misses with a series of wild punches.
Masatoshi tries to bum rush Rodriguez with a series of wild strikes but Rodriguez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masatoshi throws a nice looking combination but Rodriguez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masatoshi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Masatoshi scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masatoshi works Rodriguez's body with a nice hook.
Rodriguez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Nice shot by Masatoshi.
Rodriguez shoots for a double leg takedown but Masatoshi sprawls well. He's pushed Rodriguez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Masatoshi as he jumps to the side.
Masatoshi lands a with a good body shot.

Rodriguez gets the takedown into side control.
Rodriguez advances to full mount.

Rodriguez swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Masatoshi is now in Rodriguez's guard. A big mistake from Rodriguez there, giving up the dominant position!

Masatoshi has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Rodriguez to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Masatoshi is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Rodriguez pulls down on the head and he's put Masatoshi to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Mario Rodriguez!