PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between tomas fonacier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). fonacier comes to the cage accompanied by Rush. Rodrigues is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Reno. Gabriel Rodrigues will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

fonacier
vs
Rodrigues

186 cm
26
170 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

178 cm
24
180 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, tomas fonacier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabriel Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodrigues swinging wildly here.
Rodrigues lets loose with a powerful body kick. fonacier will feel that in the morning.
Rodrigues fails to land with a series of punches.
fonacier throws a combination that misses
and Rodrigues counters with a three punch combo that has fonacier backing up. fonacier nods at Rodrigues to acknowledge the strikes.
fonacier misses with a takedown
and Rodrigues makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. fonacier really felt that one!
fonacier misses with a body shot
and Rodrigues counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A head kick misses from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues throws a right hand that fonacier ducks under and follows up with a left that fonacier also avoids with ease.
A left lands for Rodrigues.
Rodrigues tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
fonacier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rodrigues counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
fonacier misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - fonacier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodrigues gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and fonacier counters with a shoot takedown. Rodrigues fights it but they end up in guard.
Rodrigues is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rodrigues looking for a guillotine here but fonacier defends easily.

fonacier drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rodrigues looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rodrigues looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rodrigues!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
fonacier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodrigues creates some space and throws a big elbow, but fonacier sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rodrigues cracks fonacier with a big right hand but fonacier just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
fonacier on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Rodrigues tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Check out the look on Rodrigues's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rodrigues misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
fonacier looking for a sweep but Rodrigues has passed into full mount! Oh no!
fonacier is working to get back to half guard.

Rodrigues moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, fonacier has worked his arm free - good work by fonacier!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at fonacier to see if he's OK.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rodrigues working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rodrigues scoring with punches from side control.
fonacier tries to get back to half guard but can't.
fonacier is trying to buck Rodrigues off.
fonacier sneaks back into half guard.

Rodrigues is looking for a kimura but fonacier is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rodrigues to get the leverage.
Rodrigues 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.
Rodrigues throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigues wants to lay and pray for a moment but fonacier keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Rodrigues.

fonacier looking for submissions off his back.
fonacier is breathing heavily.
fonacier is looking to improve his position.
Rodrigues thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed fonacier's head.
Ground and pound from Rodrigues.
fonacier tries to kick Rodrigues off but Rodrigues keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rodrigues lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Rodrigues is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so fonacier is just riding it out for now. Rodrigues eventually gives up the hold.
Rodrigues not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Rodrigues.

Rodrigues is working for a kimura but fonacier is defending it quite comfortably.
fonacier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodrigues.

Rodrigues stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Rodrigues misses with a head kick.
Gabriel Rodrigues seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
fonacier shoots and misses
and Rodrigues counters with a flying knee. Nice.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for tomas fonacier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodrigues swinging wildly here.
Decent striking displayed by Rodrigues there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues lands a head kick!
fonacier with a poor takedown
and Rodrigues counters with a three punch combo that has fonacier backing up. fonacier nods at Rodrigues to acknowledge the strikes.
fonacier falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rodrigues counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
fonacier walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rodrigues stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

fonacier fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rodrigues sprawls well initially but fonacier persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

fonacier looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Rodrigues pushes fonacier off and gets back to his feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
fonacier gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
fonacier on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rodrigues. Rodrigues obviously looking to wear him down.
Rodrigues throws a series of strikes that have fonacier backpedaling.
Rodrigues throws a series of strikes that have fonacier backpedaling.
fonacier sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Rodrigues throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues keeps fonacier at a distance using the push kick.

Rodrigues closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodrigues working the head with strikes.
Rodrigues is putting a hurting on fonacier here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rodrigues lands a few punches from side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
fonacier is pushing Rodrigues's head away, looking to escape. Rodrigues manages to hold on to the position though.
Rodrigues landing strikes.
Rodrigues landing strikes.

Rodrigues looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
fonacier taking a bit of punishment here - Rodrigues scoring with strikes.
fonacier takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Rodrigues goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, fonacier rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rodrigues's guard! Nice work there by fonacier!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues has his feet on fonacier's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rodrigues misses with a few strikes there.
fonacier has his takedown stuffed
and Rodrigues connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
fonacier is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rodrigues scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
fonacier avoids the head kick by Rodrigues.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Rodrigues dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rodrigues throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rodrigues throws a head kick that misses.
fonacier tries for a takedown but Rodrigues circles away easily
and Rodrigues makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rodrigues scoring well with a low kick there.
Rodrigues lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as fonacier backs up against the cage.
Rodrigues throws a right hand that fonacier ducks under and follows up with a left that fonacier also avoids with ease.
Rodrigues with a poor takedown

and fonacier counters with a shoot takedown. Rodrigues fights it but they end up in guard.
fonacier trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
fonacier tries to bench press Rodrigues off him but Rodrigues keeps the position.
Rodrigues is working fonacier over with some ground and pound from side control.

Rodrigues looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rodrigues is trying to get an arm triangle but fonacier is defending well.
fonacier manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gabriel Rodrigues has got the better of the ground game so far.
fonacier is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rodrigues scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rodrigues trying to control the action but fonacier is working from the bottom.

Rodrigues stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
fonacier fails with an attempt to clinch.
fonacier shoots and misses
and Rodrigues counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Gabriel Rodrigues seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rodrigues swinging wildly here.
Rodrigues lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
fonacier shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rodrigues counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for tomas fonacier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodrigues scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rodrigues is in close to fonacier's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rodrigues postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Rodrigues stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fonacier fails with the takedown

and Rodrigues counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in fonacier's guard now.
Rodrigues landing with the ground and pound.

fonacier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rodrigues throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as fonacier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
fonacier throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
fonacier controls Rodrigues momentarily but Rodrigues frees himself.
Rodrigues stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. fonacier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodrigues working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
fonacier keeping moving, preventing Rodrigues from controlling successfully.
fonacier keeping full guard, as Rodrigues tries to pass.

fonacier is looking for a triangle but Rodrigues pushes his legs off easily.
fonacier keeping moving, preventing Rodrigues from controlling successfully.
Rodrigues working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rodrigues has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

fonacier isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rodrigues stacks fonacier on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rodrigues!
fonacier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on fonacier's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rodrigues working the ground and pound from side control.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Rodrigues tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rodrigues has worked his way into a potential kimura here. fonacier is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Rodrigues yanks on the arm and fonacier is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Rodrigues.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gabriel Rodrigues!