PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between LaShawn Reddman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reddman comes into the arena with Headstrong blaring out of the sound system. Matt Rodriguez acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Reddman
vs
Rodriguez

180 cm
23
179 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
178 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, LaShawn Reddman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 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 will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A combination from Reddman does no damage.
Reddman throws a lazy right hand but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Reddman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rodriguez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rodriguez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reddman avoids it really well and circles away.
Rodriguez ducks under a wild hook from Reddman.
Rodriguez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
LaShawn Reddman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reddman's waist but Reddman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodriguez off to one side.
LaShawn Reddman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Rodriguez.
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt.
Reddman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rodriguez momentarily.

It looks like Matt Rodriguez has been cut.
Rodriguez shoots for a takedown but Reddman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Reddman gets caught flat footed, as Rodriguez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reddman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rodriguez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Reddman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rodriguez has Reddman in his guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodriguez can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reddman advances to half guard.
Well, if Reddman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Reddman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodriguez keeps working.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Reddman has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Reddman wants to take a breather but Rodriguez is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rodriguez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rodriguez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Reddman has picked Rodriguez up and slammed him! Rodriguez can't keep hold of the triangle and Reddman manages to pass to side control!
Rodriguez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Reddman is trying to control the action in half guard but Rodriguez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez has a hand on Reddman's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Reddman takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Rodriguez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez looks gassed!
Reddman wants to control the pace but Rodriguez is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez working to try and regain half guard.
Reddman throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rodriguez because Reddman loaded up on that one.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Reddman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodriguez is looking to escape.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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 is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rodriguez is squirming around, avoiding Reddman's attempts to control the action.
Reddman controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LaShawn Reddman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Rodriguez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Reddman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rodriguez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reddman sprawls well. Reddman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet.
Reddman throws a right and a left that Rodriguez avoids nicely.
No joy there for Reddman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rodriguez shoots for a double leg takedown but Reddman sprawls well. He's pushed Rodriguez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rodriguez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Reddman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Rodriguez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Reddman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rodriguez, into his guard.
Rodriguez is looking to sweep but instead, Reddman has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Reddman keeps him under control.
Rodriguez is looking to control Reddman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rodriguez avoid being mounted?
Rodriguez is looking to get back to full guard here but Reddman has managed to pass to side control instead.
Rodriguez is desperately trying to improve his position but Reddman has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Reddman controlling from mount.
Rodriguez tries to hold on but Reddman pushes him away.
Reddman trying to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Rodriguez tries to reverse the position but Reddman maintains control.
Rodriguez is squirming around, avoiding Reddman's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying desperately to improve position.
Rodriguez wants to control but Reddman is having none of it.
Reddman tries to control but Rodriguez wriggling away.
Reddman avoids the attempt from Rodriguez to control.
Rodriguez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Reddman controlling from the full mount.
Rodriguez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriguez wants to control but Reddman is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that LaShawn Reddman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Rodriguez's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

Rodriguez ducks under a wild hook from Reddman.
A jab from Reddman misses.
Rodriguez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rodriguez fails to land the takedown.

Rodriguez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Reddman to the mat! Reddman manages to get full guard.
Rodriguez won't allow Reddman to sweep him here.
Reddman seems keen to control Rodriguez's posture.
Reddman keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reddman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reddman wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.

Rodriguez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Reddman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rodriguez has Reddman in his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reddman preventing the sweep.
Rodriguez has control of Reddman's left arm, preventing Reddman from doing any damage.
Rodriguez is trying to control the position but Reddman postures up.

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.

Reddman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Reddman throws out a loose jab but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reddman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Reddman misses with a double jab.
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
LaShawn Reddman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Rodriguez.
Reddman throws a shot from downtown. Rodriguez moves away and avoids it.
Reddman throws a right and a left that Rodriguez avoids nicely.
Rodriguez looks for a takedown but Reddman sprawls well.
LaShawn Reddman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rodriguez shoots in and drives through. Reddman sprawls well.
Rodriguez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reddman avoids it really well and circles away.
Rodriguez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Reddman throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reddman is fending him off so far but Rodriguez persists. Nope, Reddman circles away and we're back to standing.
Reddman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rodriguez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Rodriguez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Rodriguez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Reddman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rodriguez, into his guard.
Rodriguez has a closed guard, preventing Reddman from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Reddman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Reddman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rodriguez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matt Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reddman postures up.

Rodriguez has his foot on Reddman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Reddman works his way back into a safe position though.

Rodriguez has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Reddman is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rodriguez.

Reddman decides to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to LaShawn Reddman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Reddman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... LaShawn Reddman!