PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Drysdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Drysdale
vs
Rodriguez

186 cm
25
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
146 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Drysdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manuel Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez slaps away a takedown attempt from Drysdale, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Rodriguez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rodriguez showed some decent athleticism there.
Rodriguez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Drysdale is trying to control but can't.
Drysdale wants to get back to his feet.
Drysdale is looking to improve his position.
Rodriguez is looking to advance position but Drysdale won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Drysdale manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Drysdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drysdale wants to control but Rodriguez passes easily into half guard.
Drysdale trying to hold on to Rodriguez's head to control him but Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez controlling the action here.

Rodriguez is trying to work for a kimura but Drysdale is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Drysdale.
Drysdale pushes Rodriguez off looking to stand but Rodriguez dives back in and keeps control.
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.
Drysdale is pressing down on Rodriguez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drysdale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rodriguez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Drysdale is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rodriguez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Drysdale sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodriguez somewhat.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.
Rodriguez shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drysdale moves to clinch but Rodriguez breaks away

and Rodriguez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Drysdale is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rodriguez fails to pull guard.
Josh Drysdale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Rodriguez.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rodriguez.
Drysdale is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rodriguez gets underhooks to prevent Drysdale's takedown attempt.
Rodriguez tries to land knees in the clinch but Drysdale avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drysdale tries to score a body lock takedown but Rodriguez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Drysdale tries for a takedown but Rodriguez manages to get underhooks.
Drysdale is breathing heavily.

Rodriguez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez controlling the action here for a moment.
Rodriguez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Drysdale tries a body shot but Rodriguez blocks it.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drysdale fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez avoids it really well and circles away.

Rodriguez shoots in and gets a takedown into Drysdale's guard.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Drysdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
Drysdale not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Drysdale preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Drysdale keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Drysdale trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rodriguez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Drysdale sprawls well initially but Rodriguez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Drysdale manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Rodriguez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Drysdale keeps moving.
Rodriguez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Drysdale 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.
Rodriguez trying to control but Drysdale is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Drysdale is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Drysdale can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rodriguez controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Manuel Rodriguez was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rodriguez scores with a takedown into Drysdale's guard.
Drysdale trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez prevents Drysdale from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drysdale can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rodriguez controls the pace.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Drysdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Drysdale is trying to keep Rodriguez in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Josh Drysdale.
Drysdale gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rodriguez counters with a single leg into guard. Drysdale didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Drysdale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rodriguez rushes Drysdale and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rodriguez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Drysdale trying to hold on to Rodriguez's head to control him but Rodriguez postures 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.
Drysdale wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Drysdale slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drysdale is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Drysdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Rodriguez gets to his feet. Drysdale looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Drysdale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Drysdale changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to avoid it but Drysdale manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rodriguez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Drysdale's waist but Drysdale gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodriguez off to one side.
Drysdale throws a sloppy head kick and Rodriguez moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drysdale leaves Rodriguez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Drysdale fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rodriguez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Drysdale, pushing him back against the cage.
Drysdale tries to stall but Rodriguez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Drysdale has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rodriguez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rodriguez stalls.
Drysdale is trying to force a seperation but Rodriguez has the dominant position.
Rodriguez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez gets through Drysdale's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Drysdale tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Drysdale. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rodriguez gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Drysdale has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rodriguez is working away from the top position though.
Drysdale manages to get to full guard.
Drysdale not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Manuel Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drysdale has his foot on Rodriguez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rodriguez works his way back into a safe position though.
Drysdale being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

Rodriguez has Drysdale up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manuel Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rodriguez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Manuel Rodriguez!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Manuel Rodriguez!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Manuel Rodriguez!

Manuel Rodriguez wins by unanimous decision!
Manuel Rodriguez took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.