PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleto Rodriquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Layzie Assassin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Assassin is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Thuggish Ruggish Bone. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rodriquez
vs
Assassin

188 cm
31
210 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

185 cm
29
205 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry

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 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cleto Rodriquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Layzie Assassin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriquez slaps away a takedown attempt from Assassin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Assassin is defended easily by Rodriquez.

Rodriquez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Assassin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Assassin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rodriquez cracks Assassin with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriquez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Assassin is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rodriquez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rodriquez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Assassin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rodriquez trying to control the action but Assassin is working from the bottom.

Assassin actively working from the bottom here.

Rodriquez is trying to work for a kimura but Assassin is defending well.
Assassin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Assassin actively working from the bottom here.
Rodriquez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Assassin regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Assassin is trying to keep Rodriquez in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assassin has Rodriquez pulled in close to control his posture.
Rodriquez forces his way into half guard.
Assassin trying to control but Rodriquez postures up.

Rodriquez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Assassin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rodriquez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Assassin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Rodriquez is looking for a kimura here.
Assassin is trying to get back to full guard.

Assassin is defending against the submission attempts here by Rodriquez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriquez is looking for a kimura but Assassin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rodriquez to get the leverage.

Rodriquez wants to work for an arm triangle but Assassin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Assassin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodriquez.
Assassin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Assassin.
Assassin working a defensive guard here.
Assassin striking off his back but it's not causing Rodriquez any problems.
Assassin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Assassin keeping full guard, as Rodriquez tries to pass.
Rodriquez is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assassin looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriquez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Assassin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rodriquez has passed into side control.

Rodriquez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Assassin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Rodriquez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Assassin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Assassin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rodriquez's best efforts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriquez thows a huge punch but Assassin dodges it nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Assassin flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Assassin wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleto Rodriquez dominated that round.
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.

Assassin tries to sprawl but Rodriquez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Assassin tries to roll over but Rodriquez keeps him under control.

Rodriquez is working for a submission of some sort.
Rodriquez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cleto Rodriquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Assassin is defending against the submission attempts here by Rodriquez.
Assassin wants to improve his position but Rodriquez is controlling well.
Assassin is looking to control Rodriquez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Assassin avoid being mounted?
Rodriquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Assassin defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assassin is trying to get back to full guard.
Assassin trying to hold on to Rodriquez's head to control him but Rodriquez postures up.

Rodriquez is working for a kimura but Assassin is defending it quite comfortably.
Rodriquez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Rodriquez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Assassin is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assassin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Assassin.
Assassin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriquez is one step ahead there.

Rodriquez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Assassin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rodriquez, into his guard.
Assassin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Assassin wants to control from the top but Rodriquez keeps moving.

Rodriquez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Assassin defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assassin throws a big right hand that misses.

Assassin has gone for a leg lock! Rodriquez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Assassin's guard.

Assassin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rodriquez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Assassin looking for a guillotine here but Rodriquez defends easily.
Assassin looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rodriquez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assassin is trying to control but can't.

Assassin actively working from the bottom here.
Rodriquez blocks the strikes from Assassin.

Rodriquez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rodriquez works his way into full mount!
Assassin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriquez trying to control but Assassin is having none of 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 Cleto Rodriquez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Assassin shoots in but no luck this time.

Assassin gets caught flat footed, as Rodriquez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rodriquez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Assassin's head.
Assassin controls Rodriquez momentarily but Rodriquez frees himself.
Assassin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriquez is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodriquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assassin wants to sweep here but Rodriquez controlling him for the moment.
Rodriquez pushing down on Assassin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Assassin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Assassin actively working from the bottom here.
Assassin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Assassin wants to control but Rodriquez is keeping busy.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rodriquez connects with a nice short shot to Assassin's temple.

Rodriquez is working for a kimura but Assassin is defending it quite comfortably.
Assassin trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Assassin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rodriquez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Assassin wants to get back to full guard.
Assassin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rodriquez trying to control but Assassin is working from the bottom.
Rodriquez slips nicely into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Assassin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Assassin is looking for a triangle but Rodriquez pushes his legs off easily.
Rodriquez forces his way into half guard.

Rodriquez is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriquez is trying to work for a kimura but Assassin is defending well.
Assassin manages to get to full guard.
Cleto Rodriquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Assassin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rodriquez.
Rodriquez 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.
Rodriquez throwing strikes but missing.

Assassin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodriquez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodriquez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez stays in close to Assassin's body and controls the position.
Assassin looking to control.
Rodriquez trying to control but Assassin is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rodriquez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Assassin tries to bench press Rodriquez off him but Rodriquez keeps the position.
Layzie Assassin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriquez is working Assassin over with some ground and pound from side control.

Rodriquez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Assassin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rodriquez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cleto Rodriquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rodriquez 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cleto Rodriquez!