PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Duck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Duck
vs
Rodriguez

200 cm
18
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rocky Duck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Javier Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duck fails with the takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Duck won't be happy with that.
Duck can't do much from the bottom here.
Rodriguez trying to control the action but Duck is working from the bottom.
Duck tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rodriguez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Duck struggling a bit here.
Duck manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rodriguez's best efforts.
Rodriguez is trying to control the action in half guard but Duck is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Duck tries to roll over but Rodriguez keeps him under control.
Rodriguez trying to control from half guard but Duck is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Duck manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Duck throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Duck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Duck wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Duck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Javier Rodriguez was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Duck drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Duck takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duck is trying to drag Rodriguez to the mat but Rodriguez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Duck. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez leaning against his opponent.
Duck is trying to drag Rodriguez to the mat but Rodriguez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rodriguez stalling.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.
Duck shoots in but Rodriguez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Duck is breathing heavily.

Rodriguez forces Duck back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rodriguez obliges.
Duck drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Duck takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rodriguez is stalling here.

Rodriguez is trying to trip Duck. He has hold of a leg but Duck is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rodriguez persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but missing.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Duck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Duck preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Duck holds on and takes a little breather.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Duck working a defensive guard here.

Duck is working an open guard so Rodriguez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Rodriguez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rodriguez.
Duck has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rodriguez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Rodriguez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rodriguez stopping the sweep attempt from Duck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duck trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rodriguez forces Duck back against the cage and clinches.
Duck is looking for a takedown.
Duck is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Duck gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez moves into full guard.
Rodriguez trying to control the position here.
Rodriguez is trying to keep Duck in close.
Duck wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Duck trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Javier Rodriguez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Rodriguez instigates a clinch.
Rodriguez leaning against his opponent.
Rodriguez gets underhooks to prevent Duck's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Duck. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rodriguez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Duck is trying to trip Rodriguez. He has hold of a leg but Rodriguez is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Duck persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duck trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Duck looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Duck wants to sweep but no luck.
Javier Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Duck is keeping the position.
Rodriguez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Duck keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Javier Rodriguez.

Rodriguez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to land knees to the body.
Duck wants a takedown.

Rodriguez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Duck trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Duck slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Duck looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Duck is looking to take a break and control but Rodriguez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duck remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rodriguez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Duck wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez prevents Duck from improving position.
Duck advances nicely into full mount.
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 Rocky Duck will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Duck or perhaps it was just good defense by Rodriguez which made him look bad.

Rodriguez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.

Rodriguez drags the fight down to the ground.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Rodriguez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Rodriguez working a defensive guard here.
Duck sitting in guard here, content to control.
Duck stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodriguez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Duck from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rocky Duck has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.

Rodriguez has Duck up against the cage in a clinch.
Rodriguez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rodriguez misses with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez landing knees to the body.

Rodriguez drags the fight down to the ground.
Duck wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duck throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Duck trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Duck looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Duck pushes a forearm under Rodriguez's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Rodriguez is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rocky Duck!