PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Javier Gattuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxi Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gattuso comes to the cage accompanied by DMX - X Gonna Give It To Ya. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rodriguez's choice of entrance music: Eusko Abendaren Ereserkia. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gattuso
vs
Rodriguez

194 cm
25
212 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

185 cm
25
218 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Fight Club Clothing est. 09™
Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Javier Gattuso!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maxi Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gattuso throws a body punch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Gattuso with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rodriguez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gattuso's waist but Gattuso gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodriguez off to one side.
Rodriguez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gattuso to score with a decent uppercut.
Gattuso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gattuso throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Gattuso circles away easily
and Gattuso counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gattuso throws a series of punches but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Gattuso scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rodriguez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gattuso tries to avoid it but Rodriguez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gattuso to the ground. Gattuso escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Javier Gattuso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxi Rodriguez.
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt.

Gattuso closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent Gattuso getting side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Rodriguez actively working from the bottom here.
Gattuso passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rodriguez down.
Rodriguez trying to remain calm as Gattuso controls from the top position.

Gattuso has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gattuso slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gattuso's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Gattuso duly obliges.
Rodriguez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gattuso stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Gattuso tries a head kick but it misses.
A combination from Gattuso does no damage.
Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gattuso counters with a head kick.
Rodriguez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gattuso throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rodriguez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rodriguez has his takedown stuffed

and Gattuso counters with a crisp right hand that drops Rodriguez! Gattuso lets Rodriguez back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gattuso throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rodriguez avoids the body shot from Gattuso.
Gattuso throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rodriguez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gattuso's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Gattuso 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.

Gattuso lands an uppercut out of nowhere! Rodriguez falls backwards - clearly groggy! Gattuso dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Javier Gattuso!
Javier Gattuso retains his light heavyweight title!
Javier Gattuso thanked the fans post fight for their support.