PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Branden McCormick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dennis Rodman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Branden McCormick has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

McCormick
vs
Rodman

198 cm
20
275 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

225 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Branden McCormick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dennis Rodman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodman moves in looking to clinch but McCormick pushes him off.
McCormick keeps the fight on the outside.
Rodman is looking to chop away at McCormick's legs.
Rodman throws a leg kick but McCormick checks it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McCormick is defended easily by Rodman.
McCormick doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodman circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodman throws a chopping leg kick but McCormick manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rodman attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McCormick moves in looking to clinch but Rodman pushes him off.
Dennis Rodman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McCormick is out of range.
McCormick blocks a low kick nicely.
Rodman throws a low kick but McCormick avoids it.
Good work by McCormick as he checks the leg kick.

McCormick shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Rodman actively working from the bottom here.
McCormick is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCormick trying to pass the guard but Rodman defending well.
McCormick is figuring out what he wants to do next.

McCormick is trying to work for a kimura but Rodman is defending well.

Rodman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McCormick slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodman actively working from the bottom here.

Rodman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McCormick is pressing down on Rodman's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rodman is holding on for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rodman moves into the clinch.
McCormick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rodman creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rodman throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McCormick blocks an elbow strike from Rodman.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rodman obliges.
Rodman putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McCormick in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rodman connects with a nasty looking knee right to McCormick's face.
Rodman crunches a lovely knee into McCormick's ribcage.
Rodman gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A knee to the head by Rodman.
McCormick takes a knee to the side of the body.
McCormick fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Branden McCormick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rodman landing some nice looking knees to the body.
McCormick is breathing heavily.
McCormick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rodman tries to land knees in the clinch but McCormick avoids the damage to the body.
McCormick avoids a wild elbow strike from Rodman.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rodman.
McCormick fails to pull guard.
McCormick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodman smiles and moves away.
McCormick checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Branden McCormick will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McCormick shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McCormick sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McCormick blocks the strikes from Rodman.

Rodman looking for submissions off his back.
McCormick seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodman is looking to improve his position.

Rodman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McCormick 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.

Rodman actively working from the bottom here.

Rodman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCormick pulls his head out easily.
Rodman is breathing heavily.

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.
McCormick content to control rather than advance.
Rodman wants to get back to full guard.
McCormick takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
McCormick wants to pass to mount but Rodman is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodman looking for submissions off his back.

McCormick decides to stand up.

McCormick shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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.

McCormick is looking for a kimura here.
Rodman misses with some strikes from the bottom.
McCormick blocks the strikes from Rodman.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rodman looking for submissions off his back.

McCormick is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branden McCormick dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodman chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rodman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

McCormick scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodman is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodman seems a little lost for a moment, as McCormick dominates the positioning.

McCormick is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rodman knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McCormick avoids the strikes from the bottom by Rodman.
Rodman striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rodman finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rodman throws a leg kick but McCormick sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rodman doesn't manage to clinch there - McCormick circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as McCormick checks a leg kick.
Rodman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McCormick avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as McCormick checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Branden McCormick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McCormick paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rodman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rodman lands an elbow inside.
McCormick avoids a wild elbow strike from Rodman.
Rodman is pressed up against the cage. McCormick has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rodman down to the mat. Rodman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rodman lands a nice leg kick that just misses McCormick's sensitive parts.
McCormick checks a leg kick nicely.
Rodman tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCormick swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodman clinches but McCormick breaks the clinch

and McCormick counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodman tries to bench press McCormick off him but McCormick keeps the position.
Rodman throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Rodman is looking for a sweep.
McCormick avoids the strikes from the bottom by Rodman.
Rodman is trying to get back to half guard.
McCormick slows the pace down.
Branden McCormick is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Branden McCormick showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McCormick, 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branden McCormick!