PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurt Cobain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cobain comes to the cage accompanied by Smell Like Teen Spirit. Rodrigues has chosen Save My Soul as his entrance music. Leo Rodrigues is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Cobain
vs
Rodrigues

185 cm
24
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
214 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kurt Cobain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leo Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodrigues moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Kurt Cobain has been cut.
Cobain attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rodrigues fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cobain avoids it really well and circles away.

Cobain gets a clinch.
Rodrigues prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cobain tries for a takedown but Rodrigues manages to get underhooks.
Rodrigues is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cobain drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Cobain. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cobain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cobain circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rodrigues jabs at Cobain's body.

Rodrigues fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cobain sprawls well initially but Rodrigues persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cobain moves into full guard.
Rodrigues wants to pass the guard but Cobain is keeping the position.
Cobain is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobain manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodrigues manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cobain stands up from Rodrigues's guard - Cobain perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rodrigues gets caught napping as Cobain dives in and scores a takedown. Rodrigues manages to retain guard.
Cobain missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cobain trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cobain showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues trying to control the position.
Cobain slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Kurt Cobain wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Horrible takedown by Cobain or perhaps it was just good defense by Rodrigues which made him look bad.
Rodrigues circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rodrigues counters by clinching up.
Cobain is trying to break free.
Cobain trying to control the position but instead, Rodrigues has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cobain into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cobain breaks the clinch.
Cobain stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cobain wants it to stay on the feet.

Rodrigues instigates a clinch.
Cobain gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rodrigues.

Cobain breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodrigues pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cobain back to the cage. Rodrigues follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Rodrigues shoots in looking for a takedown but Cobain manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodrigues's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kurt Cobain will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kurt Cobain's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rodrigues shoots in looking for a takedown. Cobain tries to sprawl out of it but Rodrigues keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cobain manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Cobain closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rodrigues really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cobain. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
You can see the frustration on Rodrigues's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Cobain is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rodrigues has escaped the position, nice work there.
A lull in the action here.
Cobain trying to control the position but Rodrigues is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobain blocks the strikes from Rodrigues.
Cobain trying to control the action but Rodrigues is working from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Cobain decides to stand back up. Cobain steps back and let's Rodrigues get back to his feet.
Rodrigues moves out of range of the body kick.
Cobain swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Rodrigues gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cobain to keep the fight standing.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Rodrigues pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodrigues tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodrigues tries to clinch but Cobain moves out of range.
Cobain throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cobain tries for a takedown but Rodrigues sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rodrigues misses with an attempted mid kick.

Cobain moves into the clinch.
Cobain is trying to pull guard but Rodrigues turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodrigues jumps guard but Cobain stands there with Rodrigues around his waist. Rodrigues gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kurt Cobain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Rodrigues.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues prevents a body shot from Cobain.
Rodrigues wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cobain drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rodrigues gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cobain is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Cobain has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rodrigues is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues breaks the clinch.
Rodrigues should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Cobain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rodrigues will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rodrigues takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Cobain stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cobain wants it to stay on the feet.
Rodrigues shoots in looking for a takedown but Cobain manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodrigues's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Leo Rodrigues seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rodrigues tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cobain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodrigues defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cobain.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cobain slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodrigues, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rodrigues throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Cobain dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kurt Cobain's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Cobain throws a sloppy head kick and Rodrigues moves out of range easily.

Cobain is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rodrigues's half guard.
Kurt Cobain overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodrigues is refusing to be controlled, as Cobain sits in half guard.
Cobain takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rodrigues tries to get to full guard but Cobain has control of the leg.
Rodrigues taking some punishment here, with Cobain in his half guard.
Cobain passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rodrigues!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Cobain.
Cobain looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cobain has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rodrigues's face.
Cobain sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rodrigues wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobain thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Cobain wants to finish this one by submission but Rodrigues is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Cobain.
Rodrigues throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Rodrigues is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Rodrigues tries to reverse the position but Cobain maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobain tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rodrigues is trying desperately to improve position.
Rodrigues takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cobain landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobain takes Rodrigues's back.
Cobain slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Cobain controlling well, preventing Rodrigues from escaping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cobain biding his time, controlling Rodrigues.
Cobain is hanging on to Rodrigues's back as he tries to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodrigues is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Cobain working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Rodrigues is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Cobain has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Rodrigues taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kurt Cobain!
A pretty intense looking Kurt Cobain took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.