PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emmanuel Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zanos Pogrieshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pogrieshi has chosen Nile - the Infinity Of Stone as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Rodriguez
vs
Pogrieshi

182 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

FNF Energy - Sale!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Emmanuel Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zanos Pogrieshi!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez wants to clinch up but Pogrieshi keeps it at a distance.
Rodriguez tries to clinch there but Pogrieshi circles away.
Rodriguez throws out a powerful jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pogrieshi is defended easily by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Pogrieshi's head.
Zanos Pogrieshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick by Pogrieshi misses
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Pogrieshi wants to clinch but Rodriguez slips to the side
and Rodriguez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pogrieshi's knee momentarily.
Pogrieshi throws a lazy body kick
and Rodriguez counters with a series of strikes. Pogrieshi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pogrieshi looks gassed!
Pogrieshi throws a head kick that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pogrieshi is defended easily by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Pogrieshi to the ground! Rodriguez dives into full mount looking to finish!

Pogrieshi is rocked!

It looks like Zanos Pogrieshi has been cut.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet but Pogrieshi is holding on tight.
Rodriguez content just to control the position here.
Rodriguez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rodriguez wants to control the pace but Pogrieshi is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pogrieshi is trying to escape the mount.

Rodriguez get's back to his feet.
Rodriguez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Pogrieshi counters by clinching up.
Rodriguez is looking to break free of the clinch but Pogrieshi has double underhooks.
Pogrieshi prevents Rodriguez from breaking the clinch.

Pogrieshi breaks the clinch.
Pogrieshi misses with a double jab
and Rodriguez counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but Pogrieshi pushes him off.
A head kick by Pogrieshi misses
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combo that has Pogrieshi backing up. Pogrieshi nods at Rodriguez to acknowledge the strikes.
Pogrieshi misses with a shot to the body
and Rodriguez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Pogrieshi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Pogrieshi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That has opened up Zanos Pogrieshi's cut even more.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Pogrieshi moves out of range.
Rodriguez closes the distance but Pogrieshi moves to the side

and Pogrieshi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rodriguez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rodriguez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rodriguez is trying to force a seperation but Pogrieshi has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rodriguez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pogrieshi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Emmanuel Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zanos Pogrieshi.
Rodriguez can't break the clinch.
Pogrieshi prevents Rodriguez from breaking the clinch.
Rodriguez wants to get back to striking at distance but Pogrieshi won't allow it.
Rodriguez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Pogrieshi breaks the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Pogrieshi moves out of range.
Rodriguez tries to clinch

and Pogrieshi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pogrieshi.

Pogrieshi manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez darts in trying to clinch

and Pogrieshi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez tries to break free but Pogrieshi pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Rodriguez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zanos Pogrieshi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rodriguez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pogrieshi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Pogrieshi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pogrieshi moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez is trying to force a seperation but Pogrieshi has the dominant position.
Pogrieshi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Emmanuel Rodriguez has been cut.
Pogrieshi has Rodriguez pressed against the cage, preventing Rodriguez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rodriguez wants to get back to striking at distance but Pogrieshi won't allow it.
Rodriguez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rodriguez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Pogrieshi successfully pulls guard.
Rodriguez won't allow Pogrieshi to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pogrieshi is breathing heavily.
Pogrieshi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodriguez is controlling him.
Rodriguez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pogrieshi is proving hard to escape from.
Rodriguez trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rodriguez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pogrieshi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two 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.
Pogrieshi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pogrieshi counters with a three punch combo that has Rodriguez backing up. Rodriguez nods at Pogrieshi to acknowledge the strikes.
A lazy body kick from Pogrieshi
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pogrieshi counters by clinching up.
Rodriguez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pogrieshi has him pressed against the cage.
Rodriguez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pogrieshi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Pogrieshi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pogrieshi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rodriguez counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to clinch
and Pogrieshi counters with a head kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Rodriguez finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pogrieshi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Emmanuel Rodriguez is winning the standup battle so far.
Rodriguez closes the distance but Pogrieshi moves to the side

and Pogrieshi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rodriguez avoiding damage as Pogrieshi throws knees to the body.
Pogrieshi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rodriguez tries to break free but Pogrieshi pushes him back against the cage.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodriguez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pogrieshi counters with a head kick. That will keep Rodriguez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Pogrieshi to counter with a crisp jab.
Rodriguez lands a jab-cross combination.

The cut above Zanos Pogrieshi's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zanos Pogrieshi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Rodriguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pogrieshi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rodriguez counters with a series of strikes. Pogrieshi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pogrieshi wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up
and Pogrieshi counters with a big head kick but Rodriguez shrugs it off.
Rodriguez looks to clinch
and Pogrieshi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rodriguez tries to clinch there but Pogrieshi circles away.
Pogrieshi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pogrieshi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rodriguez as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch but Pogrieshi is avoiding it.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Rodriguez clinches but Pogrieshi breaks the clinch

and Pogrieshi counters by moving into the clinch.
Rodriguez is looking to break free of the clinch but Pogrieshi has double underhooks.

Pogrieshi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodriguez misses with a few strikes there.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Emmanuel Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rodriguez tries to clinch there but Pogrieshi circles away.
Rodriguez misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodriguez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pogrieshi misses with a double jab
and Rodriguez counters with a left and a right that stings Pogrieshi.
Rodriguez thuds his shin into the meat of Pogrieshi's side.
Rodriguez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pogrieshi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pogrieshi throws a leg kick
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combo that has Pogrieshi backing up. Pogrieshi nods at Rodriguez to acknowledge the strikes.

Zanos Pogrieshi's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but Pogrieshi pushes him off.
Pogrieshi fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four 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.
Rodriguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up
and Pogrieshi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pogrieshi misses with a double jab
and Rodriguez counters with a one-two to the body.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Zanos Pogrieshi's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Emmanuel Rodriguez!