PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Villia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Rodriguez
vs
Villia

172 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
28
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roberto Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Villia!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villia shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rodriguez sprawls well. Rodriguez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Villia gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodriguez closes the distance but Villia moves to the side

and Villia counters by moving into the clinch.
Villia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rodriguez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Villia softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

Villia pulls Rodriguez into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rodriguez postures up in Villia's guard and throws a big left but Villia blocks it.
Rodriguez 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.
Villia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriguez is one step ahead there.
Villia is adopting a defensive guard.
Rodriguez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rodriguez postures up in Villia's guard and throws a big left but Villia blocks it.

Villia working for a triangle but Rodriguez defends it easily.
Villia pulls Rodriguez in close to his closed guard and prevents Rodriguez from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villia trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Villia pushes Rodriguez off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Villia gets a clinch.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nice elbow from Rodriguez.
A frustrated look appears on Villia's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Villia has had enough of the clinch but Rodriguez keeps him there for the moment.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but Villia is blocking nicely.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villia is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Villia is stalling here.
Villia is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Roberto Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Villia.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but Villia is blocking nicely.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Villia pulls guard effortlessly.

Villia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Villia is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Villia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Villia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Villia stands up and beckons Rodriguez to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Villia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Rodriguez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Villia is defending well for now.
Villia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rodriguez.
Villia can't break the clinch.
Rodriguez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Villia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Villia is trying to push Rodriguez away but Rodriguez has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Villia avoids it.
Villia tries to circle away but Rodriguez has him pinned against the ropes.

Villia pulls guard.
Villia trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Villia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Villia manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Villia dives in and grabs Rodriguez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rodriguez pushes down on Villia's head and hops out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Villia.
Villia fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up

and Villia moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Villia tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rodriguez stops a takedown attempt from Villia.
Villia working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Villia dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Villia moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the head but Villia blocks with his arms.
Rodriguez being controlled against the ropes.

Villia pulls guard effortlessly.
Rodriguez looking to sit in guard and control but Villia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Villia stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rodriguez looks to clinch

and Villia moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Villia has Rodriguez pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Rodriguez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Villia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rodriguez landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Villia lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Villia taking a breather.
Villia avoiding damage as Rodriguez throws knees to the body.
Villia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Villia is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Villia pulls guard effortlessly.
Villia controlling the position.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but missing.
Villia pulls Rodriguez in to control the position.
Anthony Villia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Villia throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rodriguez being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anthony Villia.
Villia circles away from the clinch attempt

and Villia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Villia.
Rodriguez misses with an elbow strike.
Villia takes an elbow to the temple.
Villia tries for a takedown but Rodriguez manages to get underhooks.
Villia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rodriguez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Villia.
Villia changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rodriguez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Roberto Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Villia.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodriguez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rodriguez wants it to stay on the feet.
Villia shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodriguez as he jumps to the side.
Villia fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Villia moves away

and Villia counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez misses with an elbow over the top.
Villia managing to block the knees to the body from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Villia is defending well for now.
A frustrated look appears on Villia's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rodriguez keeps control of Villia as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Villia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Villia taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Villia is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.
Rodriguez prevents the takedown attempt.
Rodriguez throws an elbow but it misses.
Rodriguez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Villia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Villia wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rodriguez gets underhooks to prevent Villia's takedown attempt.
Villia is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but Villia is blocking nicely.
Villia can't break the clinch.
Rodriguez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Villia is defending well for now.
Villia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Villia drags the fight down to the ground.
Rodriguez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Villia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Villia trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rodriguez won't allow Villia to sweep him here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez wanted to stand there but Villia had control of the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Villia has control of Rodriguez's left arm, preventing Rodriguez from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Villia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Villia circles away from the clinch attempt
and Villia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rodriguez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Villia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Villia.
Villia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Villia avoids it.
A shot in the inside from Villia.
Villia avoids the elbow strike from Rodriguez, against the ropes.
Villia jumps guard but Rodriguez turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Villia wants a takedown.

Villia pulls guard successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Villia looking for a guillotine here but Rodriguez defends easily.
Villia has his hands on Rodriguez's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to stand but Villia is controlling from the bottom.
Villia seems keen to control Rodriguez's posture.
Villia looking for a sweep. Not yet Villia, not yet.
Villia controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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

Villia closes the distance and pushes Rodriguez back into the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villia is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Roberto Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Villia.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but Villia blocks it.
Rodriguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Villia blocks it with crossed arms.

Villia pulls guard successfully.
Villia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodriguez manages to get himself to full guard.
Villia passes Rodriguez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Villia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rodriguez defending well though.
Villia thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rodriguez's head.
Villia content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Anthony Villia has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Villia closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez gets underhooks to prevent Villia's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villia tries to circle away but Rodriguez has him pinned against the ropes.
Villia blocks an elbow strike from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Villia is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rodriguez to the mat. Rodriguez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Villia stands and steps away. Rodriguez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Anthony Villia is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Villia has Rodriguez up against the ropes in a clinch.
Rodriguez trying to land knees to the body.
Villia tries to break the clinch but Rodriguez is controlling the position.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Villia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Villia is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Rodriguez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Roberto Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A bit of stalling here from Villia.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Villia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Villia has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Villia!