PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Lennon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramon Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lennon
vs
Rodriguez

180 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
26
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Aaron Lennon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ramon Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Lennon avoids them all with ease.
Lennon turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rodriguez throws a push kick but Lennon slaps the foot to one side.

Lennon feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lennon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lennon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lennon is stalling in the full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Aaron Lennon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rodriguez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennon lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rodriguez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Lennon is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rodriguez's half guard.
Rodriguez wants to control but Lennon is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lennon seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodriguez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lennon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez wants to clinch up but Lennon keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Rodriguez does no damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Aaron Lennon has been cut.
Lennon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodriguez as he jumps to the side.
Lennon shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Lennon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez tries to keep at a distance but Lennon has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rodriguez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lennon 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.
Lennon sitting in guard here, content to control.

Lennon stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rodriguez dives in and grabs Lennon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lennon pushes down on Rodriguez's head and hops out.
Rodriguez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that Lennon avoids nicely.
Lennon lands a head kick. Rodriguez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Ramon Rodriguez has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lennon moves out of range of the body kick from Rodriguez.
Lennon throws a leg kick which misses Rodriguez's front leg but catches the back leg as Rodriguez tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Lennon catches Rodriguez right on the button with a cross.
Rodriguez shoots in for a double leg but Lennon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rodriguez slaps away a takedown attempt from Lennon, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ramon Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez shoots in and drives through. Lennon sprawls well.
Rodriguez tries to clinch there but Lennon circles away.
Rodriguez scores with a nice right hand.
Lennon connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rodriguez momentarily.
Lennon avoids the body shot from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lennon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lennon sprawls well. Lennon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Lennon dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rodriguez swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Lennon throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lennon is in Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lennon. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Lennon decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Lennon gets a clinch.
Rodriguez wants to break the clinch but can't.

Lennon gets control of Rodriguez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Lennon will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Lennon has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rodriguez off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rodriguez attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lennon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Rodriguez. No joy for Lennon on that attempt.

Lennon shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rodriguez's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lennon stays in close to Rodriguez's body and controls the position.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lennon content to stall in guard here.
Lennon throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Aaron Lennon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Lennon avoids the body shot from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that Lennon avoids nicely.
Rodriguez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Lennon shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Lennon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rodriguez throws a push kick but Lennon slaps the foot to one side.

Lennon clinches with his opponent.

Lennon manages to break the clinch.
Lennon slips a jab and a cross from Rodriguez.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lennon swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodriguez.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rodriguez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to bum rush Lennon with a series of wild strikes but Lennon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No luck for Lennon with that takedown attempt.

Lennon pushes Rodriguez up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Lennon.
Lennon blocks the elbow strike.

Lennon turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rodriguez tries to bench press Lennon off him but Lennon keeps the position.
Lennon working away.
You can see the frustration on Rodriguez's face as Lennon controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lennon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodriguez is trying to buck Lennon off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez seems a little lost for a moment, as Lennon dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Lennon dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez fails to land with a series of punches.
Lennon fails with a takedown attempt.
Lennon scores with a nice body kick.
Rodriguez throws a shot from downtown. Lennon moves away and avoids it.
Aaron Lennon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lennon swivels and escapes.
A jab from Rodriguez misses.
Rodriguez swinging wildly here.
Lennon misses with a takedown attempt - Rodriguez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Lennon feints and as Rodriguez raises his hands in defense, Lennon changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lennon stays in close to Rodriguez's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennon pushing down on Rodriguez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodriguez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rodriguez is in trouble now - Lennon has advanced to mount!
Lennon punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rodriguez can't escape the position.
Rodriguez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodriguez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lennon controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lennon working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lennon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lennon with good strikes from the mount here!
Lennon content just to control the position here.
Lennon takes Rodriguez's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Rodriguez is in trouble.
Aaron Lennon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lennon biding his time, controlling Rodriguez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is trying to defend against the choke here but Lennon has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Lennon Tightens the hold and Rodriguez taps out furiously! Lennon displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Aaron Lennon!