PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between LeBron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Louis Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LeBron James has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

James
vs
Rodriguez

225 cm
27
130 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, LeBron James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Louis Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez defends it nicely.
James shoots in but Rodriguez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rodriguez drives through and clinches with James against the cage.

Rodriguez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rodriguez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rodriguez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez working for submissions but it's allowed James to get to half guard.
James thows a huge punch but Rodriguez dodges it nicely.
Rodriguez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rodriguez trying to control from the bottom.
James lands strikes from half guard.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to full guard here but James has managed to pass to side control instead.
James creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rodriguez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
James really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
James scoring with strikes to the body and head.
James slips a nice elbow through Rodriguez's hands, connecting with Rodriguez's forehead.
Rodriguez wants to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez taking some punishment here, with James in his half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rodriguez trying to control here.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rodriguez defending well though.
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. James connects with a nice short shot to Rodriguez's temple.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rodriguez on the ground.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. James lands a nice short elbow.
Rodriguez gets full guard.
James postures up.
James cracks Rodriguez with a solid left hand.
James lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
James is in close to Rodriguez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rodriguez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James lands a couple of digs.
James is in close to Rodriguez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rodriguez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but James can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rodriguez looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodriguez, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron James dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by James.
Rodriguez stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Rodriguez takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Rodriguez sneaks back into half guard.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain the position but James is very close to passing his half guard.
Rodriguez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rodriguez trying to hold on to James's head to control him but James postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. James lands a nice short elbow.
James is looking to take a break and control but Rodriguez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to full guard here but James has managed to pass to side control instead.
James misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Rodriguez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
James drops an elbow to the side of Rodriguez's head.
James prevents Rodriguez from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rodriguez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from James.
LeBron James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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. James connects with a nice short shot to Rodriguez's temple.
James drops an elbow to the side of Rodriguez's head.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rodriguez is pressing down on James's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriguez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of James is proving hard to escape from.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rodriguez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.
Rodriguez wants to stand but James has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
James throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.

Rodriguez gets to his feet. James looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rodriguez won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rodriguez is avoiding damage well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodriguez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
James prevents Rodriguez from improving his position.
James scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rodriguez wants to control but James passes into side.
James working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron James dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rodriguez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
James stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and James counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by James.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but James isn't so interested in that idea.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rodriguez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
James makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
James wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

Rodriguez working for submissions but it's allowed James to get to half guard.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James working over Rodriguez with some ground and pound. Rodriguez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rodriguez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
James makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Rodriguez has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James preventing the sweep.
James is in close to Rodriguez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
James lands a couple of elbows.
James wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Rodriguez looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodriguez, not yet.
James connects with a couple of short punches.
James with a nice head shot there.
James scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
James lands a couple of decent looking shots.
James chips away with some ground and pound.
Louis Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James distracts Rodriguez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
James working some strikes from top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James postures up.
James landing with the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
LeBron James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
LeBron James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for James, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... LeBron James!