PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristiano Dos Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricardo Rodriguez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rodriguez
vs
Dos Silva

178 cm
26
170 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

184 cm
26
182 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricardo Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cristiano Dos Silva!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodriguez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dos Silva to the ground. Rodriguez is now in Dos Silva's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rodriguez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Dos Silva working a defensive guard but Rodriguez manages to pass into side control anyway.
Rodriguez remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Dos Silva stops Rodriguez from passing to mount.
Dos Silva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez taking a breather here.
You can see the frustration on Dos Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez advances nicely into full mount.
Rodriguez controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dos Silva is looking to escape.
Dos Silva takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rodriguez controlling his opponent.
Rodriguez with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dos Silva wants to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Rodriguez content just to control the position here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ricardo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dos Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodriguez slips under a jab.
Dos Silva wants to clinch

and Rodriguez counters with a takedown into side control.
Dos Silva is trying to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez trying to control the action but Dos Silva is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez works to advance to full mount. Dos Silva defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez avoids the attempt from Dos Silva to control.
Rodriguez landing punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dos Silva is working to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dos Silva is looking to escape.
Rodriguez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Silva is in a horrible position here. Rodriguez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dos Silva is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's time! Rodriguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rodriguez rushes Dos Silva and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dos Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodriguez has a takedown stuffed.
Dos Silva tries to clinch but Rodriguez is having none of it.

Dos Silva closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dos Silva lands in his opponent's guard.
Rodriguez looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodriguez, not yet.
Ricardo Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodriguez trying to control the position here.
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 tries to pass to full mount but Dos Silva defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Silva trying to get back to full guard but Rodriguez takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Rodriguez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rodriguez trying to control but Dos Silva is having none of it.
Dos Silva is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez content just to control the position here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ricardo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rodriguez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rodriguez misses with a head kick.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch successfully.

Rodriguez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Dos Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dos Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Silva trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez wants to sweep here but Dos Silva controlling him for the moment.
Dos Silva looking to pass the guard.
Rodriguez pulls Dos Silva in to control the position.
Dos Silva pushes down on Rodriguez's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Dos Silva is trying to work for a kimura but Rodriguez is defending well.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep. Dos Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dos Silva is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rodriguez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dos Silva.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.
Dos Silva wants to advance to full mount but Rodriguez doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Rodriguez trying to control the position.
Dos Silva postures up and lands a big shot to Rodriguez's brow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dos Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.
Rodriguez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dos Silva's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dos Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rodriguez dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Dos Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Rodriguez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dos Silva is trying to keep Rodriguez in close.
Rodriguez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rodriguez stands and throws Dos Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rodriguez wants to control but Dos Silva is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Silva can't do much from the bottom here.
Dos Silva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Rodriguez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rodriguez takes a little break here. Dos Silva wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Dos Silva is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Silva wants to control but Rodriguez postures up.

Rodriguez tries for a kimura but Dos Silva is defending well.
Check out the look on Rodriguez's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rodriguez just content to control the position.
Dos Silva gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rodriguez is controlling the pace.
Dos Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rodriguez prevents Dos Silva from improving his position.

Rodriguez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rodriguez winds up and cracks Dos Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Dos Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dos Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rodriguez pulls his head out easily.
Rodriguez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Dos Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Rodriguez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dos Silva wants to improve his position but Rodriguez is controlling well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rodriguez decides to stand and escape the position.
Cristiano Dos Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricardo Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Dos Silva gets caught napping as Rodriguez dives in and scores a takedown. Dos Silva manages to retain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rodriguez 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Rodriguez!