PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between JJ Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DJ Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martinez has chosen Burn as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rodriguez
vs
Martinez

175 cm
26
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
21
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, JJ Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, DJ Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martinez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rodriguez on his heels. He'll look to pass Rodriguez's guard now, I'm sure.
Martinez looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Martinez throws a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rodriguez is on top in guard.
Martinez is looking to stand up but Rodriguez isn't so interested in that idea.
Rodriguez is stalling in the full guard.
Martinez tries to strike from the bottom.
Martinez wants to stand and escape but Rodriguez is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. JJ Rodriguez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rodriguez, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Rodriguez does no damage.
Martinez thows a left - swing and a miss!

Martinez forces Rodriguez back against the cage and clinches.

Rodriguez pulls Martinez into guard.
Rodriguez is adopting a defensive guard.

Martinez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rodriguez pushes Martinez off and scrambles back to his feet.
Martinez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rodriguez circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a leg kick which misses Martinez's front leg but catches the back leg as Martinez tries to avoid it.
Rodriguez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Martinez.

Martinez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodriguez, pushing him back against the cage.

Rodriguez lands a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Martinez can't keep his opponent in guard - Rodriguez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rodriguez is taking a breather. Martinez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez stops Martinez from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because JJ Rodriguez just wasn't active enough.

Martinez clinches.
Rodriguez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Martinez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Rodriguez manages to pull guard.
Martinez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rodriguez's guard.
Martinez wants to stand and escape but instead Rodriguez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Martinez wants to stand and escape but Rodriguez is having none of it.

Martinez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodriguez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodriguez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Martinez, up you get!

Martinez instigates a clinch.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Martinez avoids it.

Rodriguez lands a takedown into guard.
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 not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Martinez wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez is stalling in the full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. JJ Rodriguez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rodriguez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rodriguez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Martinez misses with a series of wild punches.
Rodriguez connects with a solid leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Rodriguez or perhaps it was just good defense by Martinez which made him look bad.
Rodriguez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rodriguez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Martinez pinned against the cage. Martinez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Martinez clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is working for takedown but Martinez is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JJ Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martinez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rodriguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martinez blocks it with crossed arms.

Martinez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Martinez has managed to clinch.
Rodriguez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Martinez walks away with a smile on his face. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Martinez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rodriguez lands a leg kick that knocks Martinez off balance momentarily.
Rodriguez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Rodriguez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Martinez is trying to defend but Rodriguez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Martinez looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is controlling the pace.

Martinez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rodriguez pulls his head out easily.
Rodriguez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Martinez looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of JJ Rodriguez.
Martinez throws a head kick but Rodriguez moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez rushes Rodriguez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rodriguez has Martinez pressed against the cage, preventing Martinez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rodriguez lands an elbow just above Martinez 's eye.
Rodriguez lands an elbow just above Martinez 's eye.
Rodriguez prevents Martinez from breaking the clinch.

Rodriguez jumps guard and drags Martinez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rodriguez has his hands on Martinez's head, controlling the position.
Martinez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Martinez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rodriguez has a closed guard, preventing Martinez from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rodriguez controlling the action here.
Martinez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Well, if Rodriguez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Rodriguez decides to stand and escape the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martinez throws a hook but Rodriguez blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Rodriguez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rodriguez takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Martinez is trying to stand back up.
JJ Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodriguez is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Rodriguez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Martinez for as long as he can get away with.
Martinez is trying to get back to his feet but Rodriguez has full control of the position and if anything, Martinez has just worked his way into a worse spot.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rodriguez controlling the positon.

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

We're going to have a standup here because JJ Rodriguez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Martinez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martinez lands in his opponent's guard.
Martinez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Martinez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rodriguez is proving hard to escape from.
Rodriguez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Martinez's guard.
Rodriguez is pushing down on Martinez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Martinez is fighting to maintain full guard but Rodriguez has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez controlling the action here.
Rodriguez stops Martinez from getting back to his feet.
Rodriguez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Martinez is trying to maintain the position but Rodriguez is very close to passing his half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rodriguez content to control rather than advance.

We're going to have a standup here because JJ Rodriguez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Martinez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rodriguez is trying to defend but Martinez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Martinez stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a sloppy body shot
and Rodriguez counters with an outside leg kick.

Martinez dives in and scores a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.

Rodriguez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Martinez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Martinez trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

Martinez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rodriguez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Martinez has Rodriguez in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rodriguez pushing down on Martinez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Martinez wants to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez content to control rather than advance.
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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. JJ Rodriguez wasn't doing enough on the ground.

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

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 JJ Rodriguez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodriguez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Rodriguez!
JJ Rodriguez tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.