PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jose Cuervo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ren Rothschild (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose Cuervo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cuervo
vs
Rothschild

177 cm
21
136 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jose Cuervo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ren Rothschild!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cuervo swats away the attempt to clinch by Rothschild.
Cuervo scores with a nice right hand.

Rothschild instigates a clinch.
Rothschild is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cuervo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rothschild lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cuervo or not.

Rothschild ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rothschild no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cuervo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rothschild is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rothschild has escaped and now he's on top!
Cuervo keeping full guard, as Rothschild tries to pass.
Cuervo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cuervo tries to pass to full mount but Rothschild defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuervo is working hard here to advance position.

Cuervo seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rothschild manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cuervo forces his way into half guard.
Rothschild trying to control but Cuervo postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rothschild is trying to get back to full guard.
Cuervo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Cuervo is working for a submission of some sort.
Rothschild gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuervo looking to pass the guard.
Cuervo won't allow Rothschild to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rothschild avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rothschild wants to clinch up but Cuervo keeps it at a distance.
Cuervo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

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.
Rothschild showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cuervo.
Cuervo throws an overhand right that lands on Rothschild's shoulder, as Rothschild tries to avoid the shot.

Rothschild fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cuervo sprawls well initially but Rothschild persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Rothschild is working for a submission of some sort.
Cuervo is looking to improve his position.
Cuervo manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ren Rothschild dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cuervo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rothschild tries to clinch there but Cuervo circles away.
No joy there for Cuervo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cuervo lands a nice shot to the body.
Cuervo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cuervo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cuervo wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rothschild avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Cuervo.

Rothschild closes the distance and pushes Cuervo back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothschild trying to land knees to the body.
Rothschild landing knees to the head.

Rothschild has hold of one of Cuervo's legs. Cuervo is fighting the takedown attempt but Rothschild gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rothschild slips nicely into half guard.

Rothschild is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rothschild performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rothschild prevents Cuervo from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rothschild is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rothschild tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cuervo controls his leg.
Rothschild trying to control the action but Cuervo is working from the bottom.
Cuervo is trying to get back to full guard.

Rothschild is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cuervo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rothschild.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rothschild shoots in and drives through. Cuervo sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuervo misses with a few strikes there.
Cuervo looks to throw the jab but Rothschild is out of range.
Cuervo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rothschild shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cuervo defends it nicely.
Jose Cuervo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ren Rothschild.
Cuervo takes a swing at Rothschild's ribcage but misses.
Cuervo misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from Cuervo misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rothschild throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cuervo's waist but Cuervo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rothschild off to one side.
Cuervo misses with a two punch combination.
Cuervo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cuervo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rothschild.
Rothschild takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rothschild uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cuervo.
Cuervo scores with a jab to the body.
Rothschild doesn't manage to clinch there - Cuervo circles away.
Cuervo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cuervo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice takedown defense from Cuervo. No joy for Rothschild on that attempt.
Cuervo throws a lazy right hand but Rothschild sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
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 Jose Cuervo will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Cuervo misses with the combination.
Cuervo misses with an uppercut.
Cuervo throws a series of punches but Rothschild avoids them all with ease.
Rothschild changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cuervo tries to avoid it but Rothschild manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cuervo to the ground. Cuervo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cuervo misses with a looping right.
Cuervo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rothschild uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cuervo.
Rothschild shoots in but no luck this time.
Cuervo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cuervo scores with a punch to the head.
Rothschild ducks under a wild hook from Cuervo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuervo connects with a single shot there.
Rothschild looks for a takedown but Cuervo sprawls well.
Jose Cuervo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ren Rothschild.
Cuervo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Rothschild is rocked!
Cuervo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rothschild tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cuervo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cuervo misses with a wild combination.
Rothschild avoids the body shot from Cuervo.
Cuervo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rothschild shoots for a takedown but Cuervo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cuervo defends it nicely.
Cuervo lands a slapping body shot.
Cuervo fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Cuervo misses.
Rothschild closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cuervo circles away.
Rothschild tries to clinch there but Cuervo circles away.
Cuervo looks to land a left hand but Rothschild moved out of range nicely.
Cuervo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rothschild doesn't seem bothered though.
Cuervo throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rothschild tries to clinch there but Cuervo circles away.
A nice combination there by Cuervo.
Cuervo tries to bum rush Rothschild with a series of wild strikes but Rothschild uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rothschild fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cuervo leaves Rothschild with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cuervo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cuervo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rothschild moves in looking to clinch but Cuervo pushes him off.

Rothschild is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cuervo's half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild is trying to control the action in half guard but Cuervo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cuervo tries to get to full guard but Rothschild has control of the leg.
Rothschild performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rothschild wants to take a breather but Cuervo is having none of it.
Rothschild with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cuervo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cuervo looking for a sweep. Not yet Cuervo, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Cuervo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cuervo 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!