PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Charles Martel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michel Rodalgo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Martel might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Dreams - The Game. Rodalgo has chosen Ace of Spades - By Motorhead as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Martel
vs
Rodalgo

170 cm
37
145 lbs
40 - 11 - 0

172 cm
35
154 lbs
25 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Charles Martel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Michel Rodalgo!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Rodalgo.
Charles Martel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodalgo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Martel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rodalgo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice body kick from Martel.
Martel just misses with a punch to the body.
Martel slips under a jab from Rodalgo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodalgo. Martel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Martel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rodalgo. That did some damage!
Nice cross by Rodalgo.
Rodalgo looks to land a left hand but Martel moved out of range nicely.
Martel catches Rodalgo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rodalgo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Martel as he avoids it easily.
Rodalgo misses with a hook. Martel ducked under it nicely.
Martel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rodalgo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodalgo blocks a jab.
Martel throws a leg kick but Rodalgo moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rodalgo.
Martel throws a jab when Rodalgo was well out of range.
Rodalgo connects with a solid leg kick.
Rodalgo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Martel slips under a jab.
Rodalgo just misses with a punch to the body.
Martel lands a nice looking body kick.
Martel misses with a looping right.
Martel misses with an uppercut.
Martel is looking to land body kicks.
Martel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rodalgo checks the leg kick.
Martel tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Martel throws a big shot that misses.
Rodalgo closes the distance and clinches up with Martel, looking for a takedown. Rodalgo pushes Martel against the cage but Martel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Charles Martel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michel Rodalgo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodalgo gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Rodalgo feints and as Martel raises his hands in defense, Rodalgo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rodalgo trying to control but Martel is working from the bottom.
Martel wants to sweep but no luck.
Martel is adopting a defensive guard.
Martel wants to sweep here but Rodalgo controlling him for the moment.
Martel is adopting a defensive guard.
Martel manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Martel misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martel swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rodalgo is now in Martel's guard. A big mistake from Martel there, giving up the dominant position!
Rodalgo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Martel is pulling down on Rodalgo's head to control his posture.
Martel keeping moving, preventing Rodalgo from controlling successfully.
Martel looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rodalgo is pushing down on Martel's leg trying to pass to half guard. Martel is fighting to maintain full guard but Rodalgo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rodalgo passes the guard and advances to mount!
Martel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodalgo tries to control but Martel wriggling away.
Rodalgo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Martel haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Martel tries to hold on but Rodalgo postures up.
Martel tries to reverse the position but Rodalgo maintains control.
Rodalgo with good strikes from the mount here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodalgo avoids the attempt from Martel to control.
Rodalgo with good strikes from the mount here!
Rodalgo punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Martel wants to control but Rodalgo is having none of it.
Martel is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rodalgo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rodalgo looking to control but Martel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michel Rodalgo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Martel dodges the punch combination from Rodalgo.
Martel slips a straight right by Rodalgo.

Rodalgo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Martel manages to get to full guard.
Rodalgo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Martel is trying to control but can't.
Rodalgo is looking to take a break and control but Martel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Martel is looking to control Rodalgo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Martel avoid being mounted?
Rodalgo prevents Martel from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodalgo is pressing down on Martel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Martel is holding on for now.
Rodalgo slips a nice elbow through Martel's hands, connecting with Martel's forehead.
Martel taking some punishment here, with Rodalgo in his half guard.
Rodalgo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Martel trying to hold on to Rodalgo's head to control him but Rodalgo postures up.
Rodalgo looks to land a strike but Martel avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Martel looking to control.
Rodalgo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Martel wants to sweep but no luck.
Martel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rodalgo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Martel is trying to control Rodalgo's posture but Rodalgo avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodalgo looks up at the clock and then as Martel takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rodalgo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Martel is trying to improve his position.
Rodalgo tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rodalgo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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!
Martel is looking to regain half guard here but Rodalgo keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Martel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rodalgo scores with a couple of short elbows.
Martel can't do much from the bottom here.
Rodalgo is staying tight to Martel's torso, preventing him from escaping.
My spies in Rage XXX Elite inform me that Rodalgo has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Martel manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodalgo is trying to maintain the position but Martel is very close to passing his half guard.
Rodalgo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Martel is staying active.
Martel keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Martel is looking to take a break and control but Rodalgo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Martel seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Charles Martel.
Martel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Martel avoids the body shot from Rodalgo.
Rodalgo thumps Martel with a low kick.
Martel fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rodalgo is out of range.
Rodalgo throws a push kick but Martel slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martel lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rodalgo lands an overhand right.
Martel throws a leg kick which misses Rodalgo's front leg but catches the back leg as Rodalgo tries to avoid it.
Martel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Martel thows a leg kick but Rodalgo checks it

and Rodalgo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martel controls Rodalgo momentarily but Rodalgo frees himself.
Rodalgo cracks Martel with a solid left hand.
Martel wants to sweep here but Rodalgo controlling him for the moment.
Martel has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodalgo trying to control but Martel is working from the bottom.
Rodalgo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martel is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Rodalgo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Martel throws a good cross that connects.
Rodalgo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Martel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rodalgo's sensitive parts.
Martel misses with a hook.
A big right from Martel misses.
Martel takes a swing at Rodalgo's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodalgo. Martel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Martel just misses with a punch to the body.
Martel throws a head kick but Rodalgo moves out of range.
Rodalgo tries to land a leg kick but Martel saw it coming and moves away.
Martel throws a push kick but Rodalgo slaps the foot to one side.
Rodalgo throws a wild body kick that Martel sees coming a mile off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodalgo. Martel does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martel misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Martel. Rodalgo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Charles Martel is winning the standup battle so far.
Rodalgo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodalgo misses with a kick to the body.
Martel feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rodalgos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rodalgo moves out of range of the strikes.
Martel throws a head kick but Rodalgo moves out of range.
Martel throws a body punch but Rodalgo moves out of range.
Rodalgo misses with a looping left.
Martel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rodalgo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rodalgo looks to land a left hand but Martel moved out of range nicely.
Charles Martel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martel misses with a hook.
Rodalgo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodalgo. Martel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rodalgo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martel delivers a nice body kick.
Rodalgo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodalgo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Martel throws a leg kick but Rodalgo moved away.
Martel misses with a straight right.
Martel throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rodalgo.
Good leg kick by Rodalgo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Rodalgo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rodalgo showed some decent athleticism there.
Martel is concentrating on defense, preventing Rodalgo from advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Rodalgo.
Michel Rodalgo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Martel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Martel is looking to escape.
Rodalgo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Martel tries to kick Rodalgo off but Rodalgo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rodalgo not doing much here.
Martel trying to control from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Michel Rodalgo wasn't active enough on the ground.
Martel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rodalgo, as that shot connected.
Rodalgo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Martel's head.
Rodalgo avoids the head kick by Martel.
Rodalgo lands a slapping body shot.
Rodalgo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Martel throws a lazy right hand but Rodalgo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Martel misses with a hook.
Martel throws a looping overhand right but Rodalgo ducks down to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martel misses with a body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodalgo staying out of range there.
Martel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rodalgo.
Martel with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rodalgo to score with a decent uppercut.

Rodalgo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Martel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Charles Martel.
I think Rodalgo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michel Rodalgo!
An out of breath Michel Rodalgo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.