PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dominco Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Mert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mert has chosen Pregador Luo - Bate Pesadão as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rodriguez
vs
Mert

175 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dominco Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Mert!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Rodriguez.
Mert tries to clinch up.
Mert misses with a takedown attempt

and Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Mert tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodriguez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mert tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodriguez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dominco Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Mert.
Rodriguez prevents a takedown attempt there.

Rodriguez has Mert pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rodriguez pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mert tumbling to the mat - Rodriguez dives into Mert's guard.
Rodriguez landing with the ground and pound.
Rodriguez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Rodriguez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mert was covering up waiting for the punch and Rodriguez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rodriguez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rodriguez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mert's guard.
Rodriguez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mert's head.
Rodriguez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Rodriguez stands up out of the half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rodriguez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mert tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rodriguez is in Mert's guard.
Rodriguez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rodriguez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez pushes down on Mert's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rodriguez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mert is trying to stand back up but Rodriguez is controlling him
Mert looks gassed!
Rodriguez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
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.
Rodriguez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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

Rodriguez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rodriguez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mert for as long as he can get away with.
Rodriguez throwing shots but Mert is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez controlling the action here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mert slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominco Rodriguez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rodriguez thows a body shot but no joy.
Mert shoots and misses

and Rodriguez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mert's guard now.
Rodriguez passes Mert's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rodriguez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rodriguez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mert knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rodriguez stalling.
Mert tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rodriguez has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Rodriguez breaks from Mert's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mert is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rodriguez controlling the position easily from mount.

Rodriguez working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mert tries to hold on but Rodriguez postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mert looks a forlorn figure.

Rodriguez stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Mert misses with a takedown attempt

and Rodriguez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Rodriguez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rodriguez postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mert to stand up.

Rodriguez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mert is trying to defend but Rodriguez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rodriguez controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura here.
Mert tries to get to full guard but Rodriguez has control of the leg.

Rodriguez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mert doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rodriguez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Rodriguez stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mert to get to his feet.
Mert tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rodriguez drives through with a takedown into Mert's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rodriguez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mert can do to turn this around?
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Mert is keeping the position.
Mert tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominco 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!

Mert fails with the takedown.
Mert doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

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

Rodriguez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mert doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Mert defend it? Rodriguez steps over the head and cranks it - Mert is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Rodriguez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Dominco Rodriguez!