PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake Rodgers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rodgers
vs
King

170 cm
23
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

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 Sydney, Jake Rodgers !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James King!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
King blocks a head kick by Rodgers .
Rodgers staying out of range there.

Rodgers pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.
Rodgers can't break the clinch.
King looking for a takedown.
Rodgers wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rodgers drops to a knee looking for a takedown but King gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rodgers can't get the takedown.
King tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rodgers is trying to break free.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rodgers pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rodgers with good strikes from the mount here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rodgers looking for a guillotine from mount but King is having none of it.
Rodgers controlling from mount.
Rodgers looking to finish with strikes here!
Rodgers thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King is wriggling around trying to escape.
King wants to hold on but Rodgers pushes him away.
Rodgers controlling from the full mount.
Rodgers looking to finish King with some ground and pound. This is bad for King!
Poor strikes thrown by Rodgers there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
King is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Rodgers turns him over and now has his back.
King rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King is trying to control but can't.

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

Rodgers escapes and gets back to his feet.
King stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and King wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Rodgers . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodgers tries for a takedown but King sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rodgers fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. King sprawls well initially but Rodgers persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
King trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rodgers 's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Jake Rodgers wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
King throws a right and a left that Rodgers avoids nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rodgers gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodgers is thwarting King's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Rodgers dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

King moves to clinch but Rodgers breaks away

and Rodgers counters by clinching up.
King is working for takedown but Rodgers is calmly controlling the position for now.
King is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
King trying to land knees to the body.

Rodgers successfully pulls guard.

King got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodgers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, King has managed to get both his arms back between Rodgers 's legs - danger averted.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rodgers is on top in guard.
Rodgers missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jake Rodgers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodgers is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
King darts in trying to clinch
letting Rodgers counter with a right hand.
Rodgers throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Horrible takedown by King or perhaps it was just good defense by Rodgers which made him look bad.
King fails in his attempt to clinch.
King changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodgers tries to avoid it but King manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodgers to the ground. Rodgers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jake Rodgers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James King.
Rodgers throws a sloppy head kick
and King counters with a big head kick but Rodgers shrugs it off.

Rodgers scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
King slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

King looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
King is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodgers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rodgers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rodgers decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
King tries to clinch up but Rodgers circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodgers closes the distance and clinches.
King wants a takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rodgers - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Rodgers jumps into guard, dragging King to the mat.
King really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rodgers . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rodgers has his hands on King's head, controlling the position.
King wants to stand but Rodgers is controlling his posture from full guard.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodgers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King stopping the sweep attempt from Rodgers .
Rodgers is controlling King's posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rodgers shoots in but King avoids the takedown attempt easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice takedown defense from King. No joy for Rodgers on that attempt.

Rodgers closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Rodgers dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

King tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rodgers counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rodgers .

Rodgers gets control of King's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rodgers will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rodgers pulls King in to control the position.
King would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rodgers is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Rodgers pushes King off and gets back to his feet.
Rodgers fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodgers .

Rodgers fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. King sprawls well initially but Rodgers persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

King has one foot on Rodgers 's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
King looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rodgers is fending him off so far but King persists. Nope, Rodgers circles away and we're back to standing.
King misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rodgers tried to score with a low kick but King checks it.
King throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rodgers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
King is trying to break the clinch but Rodgers is controlling him.
King tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jake Rodgers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James King.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rodgers is looking for a takedown up against the cage. King gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
King tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rodgers avoids it.
King tries to score a body lock takedown but Rodgers shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
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!

Rodgers has clasped his hands together around King's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Rodgers is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. King knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rodgers throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
King tries to buck Rodgers off but Rodgers is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodgers stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Rodgers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
King is trying to force a seperation but Rodgers has the dominant position.
King throws a head punch that misses.
King looking to slow down the pace here.
King tries to pull guard but Rodgers holds him up against the cage and eventually King drops back down to his feet.
Come on Rodgers - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
King drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodgers has King pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rodgers pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending King tumbling to the mat - Rodgers dives into King's guard.
Rodgers controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rodgers prevents King from getting back to his feet.
Rodgers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Rodgers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rodgers has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Rodgers !