PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Francis Almero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Almero
vs
Rodriguez

172 cm
26
164 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

165 cm
22
160 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Francis Almero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rico Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almero misses with a series of wild punches.
Almero scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A left and a right from Almero both land. Nice combination.
Rodriguez looks to clinch
and Almero counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Almero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Almero circles away from the clinch attempt
and Almero counters with a left to the body.
Almero throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rico Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez closes the distance but Almero moves to the side
and Almero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rodriguez with a poor takedown
and Almero counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Almero lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Almero counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Francis Almero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Rodriguez.
Almero lands a slapping body shot.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown
and Almero counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rodriguez looks gassed!
Almero scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Almero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodriguez's waist but Rodriguez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Almero off to one side.
Almero connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rodriguez's hands.
Almero lands a nice hook to Rodriguez's body. Rodriguez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Almero shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Almero wants to get up but he can't break Rodriguez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Almero gets to his feet. Rodriguez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodriguez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almero was well out of range. Poor timing from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Almero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almero goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Almero lands with a right hand.
Rodriguez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Almero counters with a right hand to the body.

Almero gets a takedown into half guard.

Almero postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rodriguez to stand up.
Almero works the jab nicely.
Rodriguez takes one to the side of the head.
Rodriguez with a poor takedown
and Almero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Almero lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almero takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Almero scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Almero lands a nice forearm strike.
Almero trying to control the position but Rodriguez is working away.

Almero decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Almero clinches up with Rodriguez and pushes him back against the cage.
Almero is working Rodriguez over against the cage.
A short right from Almero on the inside.
Almero has Rodriguez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rodriguez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A bit of stalling here from Almero.
Almero throws a punch but it's blocked by Rodriguez.
Almero pushes Rodriguez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Almero goes for a takedown attempt but Rodriguez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Almero listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almero blocks a leg kick.
Almero swinging wildly here.
Almero lands an overhand right.
Almero is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Almero avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rodriguez.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Almero keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Almero dominated that round.
That's time! Almero's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Almero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodriguez.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Almero!
Almero digs a good body shot into Rodriguez's ribs.

Almero has managed to clinch.
Almero doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Almero misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rodriguez letting Almero take a breather here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez pulls guard effortlessly.
Almero knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rodriguez on the ground.
Almero has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rodriguez is proving hard to escape from.
Rodriguez is trying to keep Almero in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez has control of Almero's left arm, preventing Almero from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rodriguez is looking to take a break and control but Almero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriguez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rico Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt
and Almero counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rodriguez thinking.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Almero circles away easily
and Almero counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Jab from Almero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Almero counters with a nice uppercut.
Almero shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rodriguez eats them both and turns towards Almero to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rico Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Almero wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Almero scores with a punch to the head.
Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Almero counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Francis Almero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown
and Rodriguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rodriguez misses with a lunging right hand
and Almero counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A decent looking cross lands there for Almero.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt
and Almero counters with a nice uppercut.
Rodriguez takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almero scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Almero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodriguez.
Almero throws a series of punches but Rodriguez avoids them all with ease.
Almero moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Almero, as that shot connected.
Rodriguez has his takedown stuffed
and Almero counters with a right hand to the body.
Rodriguez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A jab from Almero finds it's way through Rodriguez's defenses.
Almero scores with a sloppy right hand. Rodriguez should have avoided that one.
Almero works the jab nicely.
Almero lands a glancing blow to the side of Rodriguez's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez looks to clinch
and Almero counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Almero throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Almero closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rodriguez quickly recovers to half guard.
Almero slips a nice elbow through Rodriguez's hands, connecting with Rodriguez's forehead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Almero wants to stand but Rodriguez has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Rodriguez manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rodriguez tries to move into range but Almero moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almero wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rodriguez.
Almero can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Almero dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Almero connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Almero lands an overhand right.
Almero lands with a right hand.
Almero is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodriguez can do to turn this around?
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Almero connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Almero counters with a good low kick that Rodriguez was not able to check.
Francis Almero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico Rodriguez.
Almero cracks Rodriguez with an open hand slap.
Almero throws a series of strikes that have Rodriguez backpedaling.
Almero dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Almero counters with a two punch combo.
Rodriguez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Almero rushes Rodriguez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almero effectively controlling the action here.
Almero is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Almero lands a body punch.
Almero lands a nice uppercut.
Almero manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Almero drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Almero lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short right from Almero.
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Almero controls his hands.
Almero lands a nice uppercut.

Almero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Almero misses the shot to the body.
Rodriguez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Almero counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almero shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well. He's pushed Almero's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Almero uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rodriguez has time to react.
Almero slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodriguez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Almero connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rodriguez momentarily.
Rodriguez looks to clinch
and Almero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rodriguez staying out of range there.
Sloppy strikes from Almero. Those never looked like landing.
Rodriguez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Almero sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodriguez somewhat.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Almero counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almero misses with a low kick as Rodriguez jumps back.
Almero shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rodriguez eats them both and turns towards Almero to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rodriguez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Almero misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Almero counters with a nice body kick.
Almero throws a leg kick but Rodriguez moved away.
Almero lands a jab to the head.
Rodriguez has his takedown stuffed
and Rodriguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rodriguez has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rodriguez there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Almero counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almero scores with a shot to the body.
Rodriguez takes one on the button.
Almero connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rodriguez momentarily.
Rodriguez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Almero lands a two punch combo.
Almero lands a jab-cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Almero.
Francis Almero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Almero connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Almero counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rico Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rodriguez closes the distance but Almero moves to the side
and Almero counters with a three punch combo that has Rodriguez backing up. Rodriguez nods at Almero to acknowledge the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francis Almero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Almero has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis Almero!