PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Calia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Rodriguez
vs
Calia

178 cm
26
170 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

185 cm
20
186 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
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 11 - 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Calia!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodriguez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Calia did well to prevent Rodriguez getting side control.
Calia is not content to let Rodriguez control the position.
Calia is looking to get back to full guard here but Rodriguez has managed to pass to side control instead.
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.
Rodriguez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Rodriguez is chipping away with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Calia taking a bit of punishment here - Rodriguez scoring with strikes.
Rodriguez controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calia is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Rodriguez is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Rodriguez is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rodriguez avoids the attempt from Calia to control.
Rodriguez controlling from mount.
Rodriguez wants to control the pace but Calia is squirming around nicely.
Calia keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rodriguez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Calia is desperately trying to improve his position but Rodriguez has a good base and remains in mount.
Calia taking shots to the head.
Rodriguez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez controlling from the full mount.
Rodriguez throwing strikes here but Calia is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Calia wants to hold on but Rodriguez pushes him away.
Rodriguez lands a big shot there that rocks Calia but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The referee warns Calia that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Calia is squirming around, avoiding Rodriguez's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez raining down shots from the mount!
Calia is looking to get to half guard.
Rodriguez looking to control but Calia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rodriguez controlling the pace for now.
Rodriguez pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Rodriguez controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Calia for as long as he can get away with.
Rodriguez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Rodriguez looking to secure an arm triangle but Calia defends it well.
Calia is looking to improve his position but Rodriguez isn't that keen on the idea.
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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rodriguez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rodriguez stuffs the takedown.

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rodriguez enables Calia to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rodriguez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Calia trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Calia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.
Rodriguez looking to control.
Calia showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Calia wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Calia is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jim Calia was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Calia shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodriguez but Rodriguez pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rodriguez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ricardo Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Calia.
Calia tries to pull guard but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Calia is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rodriguez to keep the fight standing.
Calia jumps guard but Rodriguez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Rodriguez pulls guard.
Rodriguez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodriguez pulls Calia in close to prevent any damage.

Rodriguez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Calia distracts Rodriguez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Calia tries to pass.
Rodriguez wants to sweep here but Calia controlling him for the moment.
Calia forces his way into half guard.
Rodriguez keeping hold of Calia's head, controlling as best he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Calia working over Rodriguez with some ground and pound. Rodriguez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rodriguez is staying active underneath Calia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rodriguez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Calia is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez working a defensive guard here.
Rodriguez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Calia wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Calia won't allow Rodriguez to sweep him here.
Ricardo Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Calia slips under a jab.

Rodriguez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Calia did well to prevent Rodriguez getting side control.
Rodriguez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Calia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rodriguez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Calia sneaks back into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rodriguez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Calia trying to control from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Calia defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ricardo Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Calia tries for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away easily

and Rodriguez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Calia tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Calia doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rodriguez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rodriguez.
Ricardo Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Calia.

Rodriguez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Calia preventing the sweep.
Calia pushing down on Rodriguez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Calia trying to pass the guard but Rodriguez defending well.
Rodriguez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rodriguez is looking to control Calia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rodriguez avoid being mounted?
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Calia keeps him under control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Calia wants to free his trapped foot but Rodriguez is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Rodriguez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Calia dives in for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Rodriguez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but Calia won't let him.
Rodriguez is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to control but Calia is working from the bottom.

Calia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Calia trying to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but Calia won't let him.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Calia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Calia working for a triangle but Rodriguez defends it easily.
Rodriguez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Calia's guard.
Jim Calia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Calia is trying to control the position but Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Calia is keeping the position.
Rodriguez trying to move into half guard but instead Calia has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calia trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriguez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rodriguez controls Calia momentarily but Calia frees himself.
Calia is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Calia is looking to work some ground and pound but Rodriguez has wrist control.
Rodriguez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rodriguez looking to control.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Calia with a flurry of punches that miss.
Calia looking to pass the guard.
Ricardo Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Calia lands a couple of elbows.

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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Rodriguez!
Jim Calia was interviewed post fight and said 'Sorry for my performance to night. I'll get back to the drawing board and evaluate things for me. I promise to come back better. I will prove that I belong at the top.'.