PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riko Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

King
vs
Rodriguez

175 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
19
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Riko Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodriguez clinches up with King and pushes him back against the cage.
Rodriguez pressing his opponent against the cage.
King lands a nice elbow.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.

King drives through with a takedown into guard.

King decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rodriguez, up you get!

Rodriguez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. King did well to prevent Rodriguez getting side control.

King pushes Rodriguez off and gets back to his feet.
King with a poor takedown

so Rodriguez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but King keeps moving.
King wants to stand and escape but Rodriguez is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
King wants to get back to his feet but Rodriguez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Riko Rodriguez wasn't active enough on the ground.
King shoots and misses

and Rodriguez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
King is breathing heavily.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. King swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodriguez advances to half guard.
King pushes Rodriguez off looking to stand but Rodriguez dives back in and keeps control.
Rodriguez lands strikes from half guard.
King tries to kick Rodriguez off but Rodriguez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rodriguez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
King is trying to stand back up but Rodriguez is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Riko Rodriguez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rodriguez tries a head kick but it misses.

Rodriguez has closed the distance and engaged King in a clinch.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but King holds him up against the cage and eventually Rodriguez drops back down to his feet.
King gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez goes for a takedown in the clinch but King prevents it.
Max King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riko Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and King avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King lands an elbow just above Rodriguez 's eye.
Rodriguez avoids the elbow strike from King, against the cage.
Nice elbow from King.

Rodriguez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rodriguez trying to control the action but King is working from the bottom.
King wants to get back to his feet but Rodriguez drags him back down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, King has escaped the position, nice work there.
King is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is looking to take a break and control but King is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
King is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear King down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at King to see if he's OK.
Rodriguez trying to control the position but King is working away.
King is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rodriguez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riko Rodriguez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rodriguez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

King pushes Rodriguez off and gets back to his feet.
King has his takedown stuffed

so Rodriguez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Rodriguez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rodriguez tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but King is having none of it.
King has his takedown stuffed

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez not doing much here.
King tries to kick Rodriguez off but Rodriguez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is trying to escape back to his feet but Rodriguez uses the scramble to pass into side control.
King wants to get back to his feet.

Rodriguez decides to stand back up.
Rodriguez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
King with a poor takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Rodriguez does no damage.

King closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent King getting side control.

King stands up from half guard.
Rodriguez misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez pulls King in close to prevent any damage.

Rodriguez uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rodriguez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. King manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

King wriggles free and stands up.

Rodriguez dives in and scores a takedown into King's guard.
Rodriguez prevents King from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rodriguez prevents King from getting back to his feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Riko Rodriguez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that King avoids nicely.
King misses with a takedown attempt

and Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
King blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rodriguez avoids a wild elbow strike from King.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
King creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rodriguez tries to throw a body punch but King avoids it by throwing Rodriguez back against the cage.
Rodriguez looking to stall.
King prevents the takedown attempt.
Nice elbow from King.
King throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rodriguez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez can't get the takedown.
King lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, King just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rodriguez's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riko Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

King shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well. He's pushed King's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rodriguez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
King 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.
Rodriguez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in King's guard.
Rodriguez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Riko Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rodriguez trying to control but King is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Riko Rodriguez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
King shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rodriguez seems to be working for a kimura but King defends the submission attempt.
King is trying to stand back up but Rodriguez is controlling him
Rodriguez is nestled in close to King, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

King manages to escape and get back to his feet!
King keeps the fight on the outside.
King doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

King manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Rodriguez gets caught flat footed, as King shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

King gets to his feet. Rodriguez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Max King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. King is lucky that one didn't land flush.

King shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

King get's back to his feet.
King could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
King with a poor takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into side control. King won't be happy with that.
Rodriguez trying to control the position but King is working away.

King bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
King stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodriguez. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet.

King closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent King getting side control.
King is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Rodriguez manages to get to full guard.

Rodriguez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. King defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling his posture from full guard.
King won't allow Rodriguez to sweep him here.

King gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
King misses with a takedown

and Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. King avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
King gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez trying to stall but King improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King lands a damaging elbow.
Rodriguez wants to break free but King has control.
King throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rodriguez wants a takedown.
King lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King lands an elbow just above Rodriguez 's eye.
Rodriguez is trying to force a seperation but King has the dominant position.
Max King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riko Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
King throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Max King.
Well Rodriguez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riko Rodriguez!