PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matsuyama Kaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erwin Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rodriguez's choice of entrance music: My time is NOW!. Erwin Rodriguez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kaku
vs
Rodriguez

177 cm
19
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matsuyama Kaku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erwin Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A bone on bone clash there as Rodriguez blocks the leg kick.

Rodriguez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kaku to the mat! Kaku manages to get full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodriguez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rodriguez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kaku keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Kaku keeps moving.
Kaku wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Rodriguez is fighting to break Kaku's control of his arms but Kaku is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to sit in guard and control but Kaku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kaku passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodriguez is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rodriguez is keen to just control but Kaku is a slippery customer.

Rodriguez seems to be looking for submissions.
Kaku trying to control from the bottom.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura but Kaku is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rodriguez to get the leverage.
Rodriguez stalling away here and it's allowed Kaku to slip out his trapped foot and regain 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 looking to pass the guard.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but missing.
Kaku wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Kaku.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriguez takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rodriguez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Erwin Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rodriguez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kaku can pounce on him.
Kaku looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kaku throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rodriguez's head.
Rodriguez fails to land the takedown.
Kaku scores with a nice body kick.
Kaku throws a leg kick that misses.
Kaku misses with a jab to the body

and Rodriguez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kaku's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodriguez trying to control but Kaku is working from the bottom.

Rodriguez gets to his feet. Kaku looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rodriguez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaku is trying to improve his position.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Rodriguez decides to stand back up. Rodriguez steps back and let's Kaku get back to his feet.

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.
Good shot there by Kaku.
Good work by Rodriguez as he checks the leg kick.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kaku trying to control from the bottom.

Rodriguez is working for a submission of some sort.
Rodriguez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez prevents Kaku from improving his position.

Rodriguez is working for a kimura but Kaku is defending it quite comfortably.
Kaku is controlling Rodriguez's trapped leg to prevent Rodriguez from advancing to side control.
Rodriguez is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

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.
Rodriguez wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Kaku uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kaku throws a sloppy body shot

and Rodriguez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kaku's guard now.
Rodriguez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kaku is keeping the position for now.

Rodriguez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kaku dives on top into guard.
Kaku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erwin Rodriguez 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!

Kaku lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rodriguez's sensitive parts.
Kaku throws a sloppy head kick and Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
Kaku throws a nice head kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from Kaku.
Kaku throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kaku connects with a looping right hand.
Kaku throws a sloppy head kick and Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
Kaku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodriguez moves out of range of the strikes.
Erwin Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kaku throws a leg kick but Rodriguez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kaku scores with the left hand. Rodriguez knows he should have avoided that one.
A head kick misses from Kaku.
Matsuyama Kaku is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kaku scores with a spinning back kick!
Kaku jabs Rodriguez right on the nose. Rodriguez blinks but takes it well.
Kaku lands a head shot.
Kaku lands a front kick.
Kaku misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Kaku misses the target.
Rodriguez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rodriguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A swing and a miss from Kaku.
Kaku pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matsuyama Kaku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matsuyama Kaku is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kaku is fending him off so far but Rodriguez persists. Nope, Kaku circles away and we're back to standing.
Kaku is looking to land body kicks.
Kaku lands a head kick. Rodriguez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A good leg kick by Kaku.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kaku, right into the meat.
Kaku avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kaku throws a sloppy head kick and Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
Kaku misses with a hook.
Rodriguez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kaku darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed right hand from Kaku misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaku throws a sloppy head kick and Rodriguez moves out of range easily.
Rodriguez shoots in but Kaku avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matsuyama Kaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erwin Rodriguez.
Rodriguez dives in and grabs Kaku's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kaku pushes down on Rodriguez's head and hops out.
Kaku throws a leg kick but Rodriguez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rodriguez attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kaku throws a head kick that half lands.
Kaku scores with a nice right hand.
Matsuyama Kaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Kaku misses the target.
Kaku misses with a low kick.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kaku tests Rodriguez's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kaku swings away with a body shot that misses

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kaku looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriguez is one step ahead there.

Rodriguez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kaku is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kaku has escaped and now he's on top!
Erwin Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kaku won't allow Rodriguez to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsuyama Kaku showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rodriguez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

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