PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Erwin Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitchell Pearsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodriguez comes to the cage accompanied by My time is NOW!. Pearsen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. "One Eighty By Summer" - Taking Back Sunday kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Rodriguez
vs
Pearsen

173 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

170 cm
20
159 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Erwin Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mitchell Pearsen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodriguez is defended easily by Pearsen.
Pearsen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pearsen jabs at Rodriguez's body.
Pearsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pearsen lands with a good body shot.
Pearsen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pearsen wants it to stay on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pearsen. Rodriguez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pearsen misses with a shot to the body
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rodriguez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rodriguez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pearsen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from Rodriguez does no damage.
Rodriguez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Pearsen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Rodriguez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pearsen sprawls well initially but Rodriguez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pearsen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pearsen.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodriguez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez 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.
Pearsen wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling the position.
Pearsen wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Rodriguez with a flurry of punches that miss.

Rodriguez gets to his feet - Pearsen follows without any prompting.
Pearsen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pearsen.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodriguez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erwin Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No joy there for Pearsen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pearsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Pearsen scores with a shot to the body.
Pearsen misses with the combination.
Rodriguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mitchell Pearsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pearsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mitchell Pearsen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pearsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Rodriguez shoots for a double leg takedown but Pearsen sprawls well. He's pushed Rodriguez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rodriguez avoids the body shot from Pearsen.
Pearsen misses with a wild body shot.
Pearsen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez avoids the body shot from Pearsen.
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown but Pearsen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodriguez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No joy there for Pearsen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen misses the shot to the body.
Pearsen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pearsen misses with a double jab.
Pearsen misses with a body shot.
Pearsen throws out a loose jab but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodriguez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rodriguez shoots in but no luck this time.
Rodriguez shoots in but no luck this time.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Pearsen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rodriguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pearsen thows a body shot but no joy.
Pearsen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rodriguez rather than just go for the knockout.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rodriguez.
Pearsen lands with a straight right. Rodriguez didn't see that one coming.
Rodriguez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pearsen.
Rodriguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen digs a good body shot into Rodriguez's ribs.
Pearsen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rodriguez counters with a two punch combo.
Rodriguez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pearsen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pearsen lands a body shot.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt - Pearsen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pearsen scores with a shot to the body.
Pearsen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Pearsen avoids them all with ease.
Pearsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodriguez is just out of range.
Some wild striking there from Pearsen.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt - Pearsen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pearsen scores with a jab.
Rodriguez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Pearsen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pearsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pearsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodriguez is just out of range.
Pearsen throws a sloppy body shot

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pearsen won't be happy with that.
Rodriguez wants to control but Pearsen is keeping him busy.

Pearsen explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Rodriguez tries a head kick but it misses.
Pearsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rodriguez manages to avoid it.
Pearsen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rodriguez has a takedown stuffed.
Pearsen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt
letting Pearsen counter with a right hand.
Pearsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pearsen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rodriguez backs up against the cage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pearsen. Rodriguez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pearsen ducks under a wild hook from Rodriguez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearsen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches up with Pearsen, looking for a takedown. Rodriguez pushes Pearsen against the cage but Pearsen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erwin Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez lands with a cross.
Rodriguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pearsen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A shot to the liver by Pearsen. Beautiful body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodriguez.
Pearsen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rodriguez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rodriguez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pearsen.
Erwin Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pearsen moves out of range of the body kick.
Pearsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rodriguez manages to avoid it.
Pearsen misses with a hook to the body
and Rodriguez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pearsen lands with a right hand.
Mitchell Pearsen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rodriguez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Pearsen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rodriguez at a distance.
Pearsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen scores with a shot to the body.
Rodriguez walks into a left hand.
Pearsen scores with a nice head shot.
Pearsen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rodriguez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rodriguez misses with a few strikes there.
Pearsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Pearsen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pearsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodriguez is just out of range.
Rodriguez shoots for a takedown but Pearsen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice uppercut there from Pearsen.
Pearsen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pearsen misses the shot to the body.
Pearsen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pearsen scores with a body shot.
Pearsen misses with a body shot.
Pearsen swings for the body but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Rodriguez misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen lands with an overhand left.
Rodriguez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pearsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodriguez moves away.
Pearsen misses with a shot to the body

and Rodriguez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Pearsen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Pearsen scores with a jab to the body.
Rodriguez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Pearsen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rodriguez doesn't seem bothered though.
Pearsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodriguez moves away.
Pearsen slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodriguez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rodriguez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pearsen scores with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pearsen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rodriguez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pearsen.
Rodriguez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen thows a body shot but no joy.
Pearsen misses with a wild body shot.
Pearsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodriguez is just out of range.
Pearsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rodriguez was well out of range. Poor timing from Pearsen.
Pearsen scores with a hook.
Pearsen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Pearsen stuns Rodriguez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Pearsen misses with a body shot.
Pearsen swings away with a body shot that misses

and Rodriguez counters with a single leg into guard. Pearsen didn't expect that.
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.
Rodriguez trying to move into half guard but instead Pearsen has managed to sweep!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pearsen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pearsen wanted to stand there but Rodriguez had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Pearsen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rodriguez works the jab nicely.
Pearsen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Pearsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodriguez is just out of range.
Pearsen connects with a nice looking jab.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rodriguez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Rodriguez working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Pearsen working to try and regain half guard.
Pearsen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Rodriguez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Pearsen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Pearsen manages to get to full guard.
Rodriguez scoring with punches to the head and body.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pearsen is on top in guard.
Pearsen tries to stand but Rodriguez is controlling from the bottom.
Pearsen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pearsen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Erwin Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rodriguez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pearsen defends well.

Rodriguez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rodriguez is on top in guard.
Pearsen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriguez is one step ahead there.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodriguez pushes down on Pearsen's leg and manages to get into half guard.

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

Pearsen makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rodriguez shoots in but Pearsen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rodriguez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pearsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pearsen as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erwin Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pearsen misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erwin Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pearsen 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Mitchell Pearsen!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Mitchell Pearsen!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Mitchell Pearsen!

Mitchell Pearsen wins by unanimous decision!