PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bender Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Thiele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiele has chosen Why can´t we be friends as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rodriguez
vs
Thiele

185 cm
27
202 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

187 cm
21
199 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bender Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Christian Thiele!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thiele throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thiele is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rodriguez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodriguez lands a nice looking body shot.
Rodriguez misses with an uppercut.
Thiele fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rodriguez throws an overhand right that lands on Thiele's shoulder, as Thiele tries to avoid the shot.
Thiele misses with a body shot
and Rodriguez counters with a right hand to the body.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thiele.
Thiele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rodriguez staying out of range there.
Thiele misses with a hook to the body
and Rodriguez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thiele on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Thiele throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rodriguez was covering up waiting for the punch and Thiele finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rodriguez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rodriguez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thiele.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiele trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rodriguez wants to sweep but no luck.
Thiele trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

Thiele is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rodriguez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rodriguez has escaped and now he's on top!
Thiele has a closed guard, preventing Rodriguez from standing up.
Thiele working a defensive guard here.
Rodriguez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rodriguez wanted to stand there but Thiele had control of the position.
Thiele not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rodriguez stays in close to Thiele's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thiele looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriguez is one step ahead there.
Thiele keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.

Thiele working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodriguez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodriguez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thiele swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rodriguez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rodriguez avoids the body shot from Thiele.
Rodriguez lands with an uppercut that bounces Thiele off the cage and back into rage.
Thiele tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thiele throws a sloppy body shot
and Rodriguez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thiele swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Thiele walks into a stiff left hand from Rodriguez.
Christian Thiele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab lands there for Thiele.
Rodriguez throws a one two combo.
Thiele fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thiele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thiele is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rodriguez rather than just go for the knockout.
Thiele with a poor takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a straight right hand.
Bender Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Thiele.
Thiele lands a jab to the nose.
Thiele uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rodriguez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiele misses with a hook. Rodriguez ducked under it nicely.
Thiele misses with a combination
and Rodriguez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thiele tries to clinch up but Rodriguez circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodriguez looks to score with a jab to the body but Thiele is just out of range.
Thiele has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Thiele digs a good body shot into Rodriguez's ribs.
Rodriguez throws a jab when Thiele was well out of range.
Thiele throws a combination that misses
and Rodriguez counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thiele misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combo that has Thiele backing up. Thiele nods at Rodriguez to acknowledge the strikes.
Bender Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thiele fails with the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez misses with a straight right.
Rodriguez fails to land with a series of punches.
Rodriguez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bender Rodriguez 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.

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rodriguez, as that shot connected.
Thiele misses with a body shot.
Rodriguez misses with a hook.
A shot to the body from Rodriguez misses

and Thiele counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rodriguez's guard now.
Thiele stands up over Rodriguez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rodriguez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Thiele is controlling the position.
Thiele trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thiele has gone for a leg lock! Rodriguez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Thiele's guard.

Thiele escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rodriguez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thiele is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez stopping the sweep attempt from Thiele.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Thiele is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rodriguez stopping the sweep attempt from Thiele.
Thiele lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rodriguez!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thiele avoids the attempt from Rodriguez to control.
Thiele is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Thiele throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Thiele wants to control the pace but Rodriguez is squirming around nicely.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to control but Thiele passes into side control!

Thiele working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Thiele laying and praying for a moment but Rodriguez takes advantage and regains half guard.
Thiele throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thiele looks to land a strike but Rodriguez avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rodriguez pulls Thiele in close to prevent any damage.
Thiele throws a strike but Rodriguez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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

Thiele working for submissions but it's allowed Rodriguez to get to half guard.
Rodriguez tries to stand and escape but Thiele is controlling the position.
Thiele is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Thiele showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rodriguez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thiele staying out of range there.
Thiele misses with a double jab
and Rodriguez counters with a right hand to the body.
Rodriguez throws a jab but it's blocked by Thiele.
Thiele wants to clinch but Rodriguez slips to the side
and Thiele takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thiele tries to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thiele looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodriguez connects with a body shot.
Rodriguez connects with a jab.
Thiele swinging wildly here.
Thiele throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rodriguez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiele connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rodriguez. Rodriguez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rodriguez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rodriguez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rodriguez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thiele uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez thows a body shot but no joy.
Thiele misses the shot to the body.
Thiele will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thiele misses with a body shot.
Thiele lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Thiele lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiele misses with a body punch
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rodriguez misses the body punch
and Thiele counters with a series of strikes. Rodriguez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thiele fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodriguez. Thiele does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rodriguez lands with a right hand.
Thiele gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rodriguez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rodriguez digs a good hook to Thiele's body.
Rodriguez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bender Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Thiele.
Thiele throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thiele.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a combination that misses
enabling Thiele to counter with a crisp jab.
Rodriguez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thiele shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rodriguez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thiele moves away from the strike by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thiele.

Thiele moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thiele shoots and misses
and Rodriguez counters with a nice uppercut.
Rodriguez cracks Thiele with a good jab.
Rodriguez just misses with a punch to the body.
Thiele has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Rodriguez throws a jab when Thiele was well out of range.
Thiele closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away.
A shot to the body from Thiele misses
and Rodriguez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rodriguez.
Thiele misses the body punch
and Rodriguez counters with a nice body shot.
Thiele fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Thiele tries to clinch
letting Rodriguez counter with a right hand.
Rodriguez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Thiele has his takedown stuffed
and Thiele takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rodriguez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rodriguez thuds a left hand into Thiele's body.
Rodriguez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rodriguez avoids the body shot from Thiele.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bender Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rodriguez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

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