PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocko Rod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Phenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Rod
vs
Phenix

190 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Tokyo, Rocko Rod!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fernando Phenix!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rod shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rod was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Phenix can't escape the position.
Phenix's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Phenix is trying to escape the mount.
Rod controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rod breaks from Phenix's wrist control and lands an elbow.

It looks like Fernando Phenix has been cut.
Rod looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phenix is bucking up trying to escape but Rod cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rod controlling his opponent.
Phenix is looking to improve his position but Rod isn't that keen on the idea.
Rod controlling the position easily from mount.

Rod working for a guillotine from mount but Phenix is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rod lands a big shot there that rocks Phenix but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Rod is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Phenix has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Phenix!
Rod pulls Phenix in to control the position.

Rod is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Phenix showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rod looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phenix trying to control the position from guard on top but Rod is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rod lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Phenix!
Rod looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rod trying to control but Phenix is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rod with a couple of short strikes.
Rod takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rod scoring with strikes but Phenix is staying in there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phenix is bucking up trying to escape but Rod cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Phenix is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rod can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Phenix is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocko Rod dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fernando Phenix's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rod shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Phenix is trying to defend but Rod finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Phenix is trying to get back to full guard.
Rod is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Phenix is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rod frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rod postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Phenix looks a forlorn figure.
Rod landing strikes from the mount.

That has opened up Fernando Phenix's cut even more.
Rod avoids the attempt from Phenix to control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rod cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

The cut above Fernando Phenix's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rod wants to control the pace but Phenix is squirming around nicely.
Rod with the ground and pound from mount.
Rod controlling his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phenix in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Rod goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Phenix is on top in guard.
Rod looking to control but Phenix passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phenix is thwarting Rod's attempts to control the position.
Rocko Rod overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rod tries to get to full guard but Phenix has control of the leg.
Rod makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rod.
Rod 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.
Rod pulls Phenix in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phenix wants to stand but Rod has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Phenix stopping the sweep attempt from Rod.

Phenix thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rod controlling Phenix's posture.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rod wants to sweep here but Phenix controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocko Rod dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fernando Phenix's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Rod as Phenix shoots in.

Rod gets caught napping as Phenix dives in and scores a takedown. Rod manages to retain guard.
Rod looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rod looking to control but Phenix passes into half guard.
Rod avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Phenix.
Rod wants to get back to full guard.
Rod trying to hold on to Phenix's head to control him but Phenix postures up.
Phenix wants to stand up but Rod has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Phenix is trying to control the action in half guard but Rod is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rod is looking for a sweep. Phenix is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rod is not content to let Phenix control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Phenix is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Phenix tries to control but Rod wriggling away.
Phenix takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Phenix is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rod holds of for dear life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phenix throwing strikes here but Rod is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Phenix looking for a guillotine from mount but Rod is having none of it.
Rod wants to hold on but Phenix pushes him away.
Rod is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rod regains half guard.
Rod slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Phenix wants to get up but he can't break Rod's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rod trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rod working a defensive guard here.

Rod working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Phenix doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Phenix manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rod trying to control the position.
Phenix missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Phenix looking to pass the guard.
Fernando Phenix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocko Rod is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rod wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fernando Phenix.
Well Rod 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocko Rod!