PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cory Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nines Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodriguez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Angel - Massive Attack. Nines Rodriguez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cory Smith's chin.

Smith
vs
Rodriguez

195 cm
22
163 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
165 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cory Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nines Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodriguez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Smith checks it well.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rodriguez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Some wild striking there from Rodriguez.
A big left from Rodriguez misses.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodriguez.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rodriguez.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rodriguez scores with a jab.
Rodriguez swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Rodriguez throws a big shot that misses.
Rodriguez lands a jab to Smith's midsection.
A telegraphed right hand from Rodriguez misses the target.
Rodriguez looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Decent striking displayed by Smith there.
Rodriguez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Smith rather than just go for the knockout.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Smith looks to land a combination but Rodriguez avoids it well.
Rodriguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rodriguez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rodriguez swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rodriguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot.
Nines Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodriguez. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rodriguez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rodriguez throws out the jab.
Smith lands a slapping body shot.
Rodriguez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodriguez. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rodriguez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Smith lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith misses with a straight right.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Rodriguez ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Rodriguez thows a body shot but no joy.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rodriguez counters with a one-two to the body.
Rodriguez looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Rodriguez throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Rodriguez ducks under a wild hook from Smith.

That's four 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.
Rodriguez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Rodriguez misses the target.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rodriguez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodriguez swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Nines Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez misses with a two punch combination.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
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 Cory Smith 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.

A swing and a miss from Rodriguez.
Smith looks for a takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A jab from Smith misses.
Rodriguez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A nice combination there by Rodriguez.
Smith lands a jab to the nose.
Rodriguez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
Smith throws a hook but Rodriguez avoids it easily.
Rodriguez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Rodriguez saw that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Smith. Those never looked like landing.
Smith staying out of range there.
Smith throws the left hand but Rodriguez avoids the punch easily.
Rodriguez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Rodriguez cracks Smith with an open hand slap.
Rodriguez throws a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Smith lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rodriguez is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rodriguez has Smith pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Rodriguez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodriguez fails to land with a series of punches.
Rodriguez takes one to the side of the head.
Smith defending well as Rodriguez loads up on a big left hand.
Rodriguez throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith misses with a body punch
and Rodriguez counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rodriguez swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Rodriguez.
Smith blocks an uppercut.
Smith pushes Rodriguez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith tries a body shot but Rodriguez blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rodriguez swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith lands a hook that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Smith takes a shot to the head.
Rodriguez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rodriguez scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
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 Cory Smith will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rodriguez scores with a jab to the head.
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Rodriguez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Rodriguez slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cory Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodriguez.
A punch lands to the side of Rodriguez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith with a nice cross.
Rodriguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Rodriguez. Those never looked like landing.
Decent striking displayed by Smith there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez connects with a looping right hand.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodriguez. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
A shot to the body from Smith misses
and Rodriguez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
Nice takedown defense from Rodriguez. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodriguez. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rodriguez misses with a shot to the body
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Rodriguez connects with a looping right hand.
Rodriguez lands with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rodriguez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rodriguez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Nines Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith lands a body shot.
Cory Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rodriguez lands with a good body shot.
Rodriguez moves away from the strike by Smith.

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stops Rodriguez from getting back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Smith seems content to control.
Rodriguez controlling the position for now.
Smith stops Rodriguez from getting back to his feet.
Smith controlling the action here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Cory Smith just wasn't active enough.
Rodriguez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Rodriguez.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rodriguez swings away with a body shot that misses

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rodriguez lands a body punch.
Rodriguez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rodriguez misses with a body punch.
Rodriguez trying to stall but Smith improves his position.
Rodriguez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith.
Rodriguez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smith lands a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a punch on the inside.
Rodriguez throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nines Rodriguez.
I think Smith 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Cory Smith!