PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between DJ Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JJ Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martinez comes to the cage accompanied by Burn. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Martinez
vs
Rodriguez

175 cm
21
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 Los Angeles, DJ Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, JJ Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez lands a high kick!
Martinez misses with a double jab

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Martinez won't be happy with that.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Rodriguez stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Martinez connects with a high kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Rodriguez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Martinez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Martinez is trying to control Rodriguez's posture but Rodriguez avoids it.
Rodriguez passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Martinez!
Rodriguez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Rodriguez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Martinez can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez controlling from the full mount.
Martinez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rodriguez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Rodriguez is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Martinez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent Martinez getting side control.
Martinez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
Rodriguez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Martinez's defenses.

Rodriguez gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Martinez regains guard.

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

Martinez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rodriguez is trying to improve his position.
Rodriguez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep.
Rodriguez manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rodriguez to regain full guard.
Martinez won't allow Rodriguez to sweep him here.

Martinez gets to his feet. Rodriguez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Martinez gets caught flat footed, as Rodriguez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rodriguez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Martinez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriguez is one step ahead there.
Rodriguez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. JJ Rodriguez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rodriguez slips a jab and a cross from Martinez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez shoots in and drives through. Martinez sprawls well.
Martinez throws a combination that misses

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martinez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Martinez wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling the position.
Rodriguez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Martinez wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Rodriguez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Martinez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ 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 fails to land the takedown.
Martinez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Martinez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rodriguez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Martinez to the ground. Rodriguez is now in Martinez's guard.
Martinez being controlled here, momentarily.

Rodriguez gets to his feet - Martinez follows without any prompting.
Nice shot lands for Martinez.

Martinez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rodriguez!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Martinez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Martinez lands a big elbow.
Martinez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rodriguez tries to reverse the position but Martinez maintains control.
Rodriguez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rodriguez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rodriguez.
Martinez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Martinez won't allow Rodriguez to sweep him here.
Martinez landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is working an open guard so Martinez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez fails with the takedown.
Rodriguez shoots in but Martinez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
DJ Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JJ Rodriguez.
Martinez throws a body kick that misses.
Martinez throws a right hand that misses

and Rodriguez counters with a takedown into side control.
Martinez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Martinez tries to bench press Rodriguez off him but Rodriguez keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez moves into full mount!
Rodriguez controlling from the full mount.
Rodriguez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Martinez wants to hold on but Rodriguez pushes him away.
Martinez is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Rodriguez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez trying desperately to get to his feet.
Rodriguez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. JJ Rodriguez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rodriguez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Rodriguez fails to land the takedown.
Martinez throws a nice looking combination but Rodriguez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rodriguez gets tackled into the cage by Martinez. Martinez maintains the clinch.
Rodriguez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Martinez is defending well.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.

Martinez clinches.
Martinez is trying to force a seperation but Rodriguez has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Martinez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rodriguez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
DJ Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JJ Rodriguez.
Rodriguez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Martinez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez is trying to push Rodriguez away but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Martinez pulls guard effortlessly.
Rodriguez trying to control but Martinez is working from the bottom.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet but Rodriguez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rodriguez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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

Martinez darts in and clinches Rodriguez up against the cage.

Rodriguez jumps into guard, dragging Martinez to the mat.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but Martinez is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

JJ Rodriguez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Martinez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rodriguez pushes Martinez off and gets back to his feet.

Martinez rushes Rodriguez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Martinez trying to control the position but instead, Rodriguez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Martinez into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez with a knee to the head.

Rodriguez has clasped his hands together around Martinez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Martinez struggling a bit here.
Martinez seems a little lost for a moment, as Rodriguez dominates the positioning.
Rodriguez working away.
You can see the frustration on Martinez's face as Rodriguez controls the position.
Martinez tries to bench press Rodriguez off him but Rodriguez keeps the position.
Martinez throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Rodriguez blocks the strikes from Martinez.
Martinez tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Martinez is looking to regain half guard here but Rodriguez keeps moving and retains side control.
Martinez is pushing Rodriguez's head away, looking to escape. Rodriguez manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. JJ Rodriguez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Martinez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Martinez takes the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to DJ Martinez.
I think Rodriguez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Rodriguez!
In his post fight interview, JJ Rodriguez started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.