PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kato Munechika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Munechika's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Requiem for a Dream. The key to victory for Kato Munechika has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Munechika
vs
Rodriguez

173 cm
35
160 lbs
25 - 10 - 0

178 cm
26
165 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kato Munechika!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ricardo Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Munechika moves into the clinch.

Rodriguez decides to pull guard.

Rodriguez working for a triangle but Munechika defends it easily.

Rodriguez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Munechika preventing the sweep.

Rodriguez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Munechika is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Munechika has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rodriguez is proving hard to escape from.
Rodriguez tries to strike from the bottom.
Rodriguez looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodriguez, not yet.
Rodriguez has a closed guard, preventing Munechika from standing up.

Rodriguez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Munechika doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Munechika manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but Munechika is proving a slippery customer.
Rodriguez has a closed guard, preventing Munechika from standing up.
Rodriguez wants to sweep here but Munechika controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munechika is looking to stand up but Rodriguez won't let him.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Munechika is one step ahead there.
Munechika has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kato Munechika wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Munechika bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Rodriguez tries to clinch
and Munechika connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Munechika catches Rodriguez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rodriguez misses with a takedown

and Munechika counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Munechika smiles and moves away.
Munechika is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Munechika connects with a nice looking jab.
Rodriguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kato Munechika has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez fails with the takedown
and Munechika counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rodriguez thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ricardo Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown. Munechika tries to sprawl out of it but Rodriguez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Munechika manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rodriguez misses with a wild combination.
Munechika lands a nice shot that snaps Rodriguez's head back.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rodriguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Munechika connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rodriguez misses with the combination.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Munechika circles away easily
and Munechika cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kato Munechika has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rodriguez.

Munechika gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munechika blocks an elbow strike from Rodriguez.
Munechika connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Ricardo Rodriguez has been cut.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Munechika won't allow it.
Rodriguez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Munechika to keep the fight standing.

Rodriguez decides to pull guard.
Munechika trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rodriguez's guard.

Rodriguez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Munechika gets to his feet. Rodriguez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rodriguez tries to move into range but Munechika moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Munechika throws a leg kick which misses Rodriguez's front leg but catches the back leg as Rodriguez tries to avoid it.
Rodriguez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Munechika throws out a powerful jab.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Munechika moves away
and Munechika counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Munechika circles away easily
and Munechika connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Munechika counters with a thumping low kick.
Munechika keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rodriguez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Munechika pinned against the ropes. Munechika gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kato Munechika is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Munechika looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rodriguez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rodriguez has his takedown stuffed
and Rodriguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munechika slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Munechika circles away easily
and Munechika counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Rodriguez shoots and misses
and Munechika counters with a left to the body.
Munechika scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ricardo Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Munechika has closed the distance and engaged Rodriguez in a clinch.
Rodriguez takes a shot to the head.
Munechika trying to control the position but instead, Rodriguez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Munechika into the ropes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez is trying to pull guard but Munechika has him pressed against the ropes.
Rodriguez tries to stall but Munechika uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kato Munechika dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Rodriguez's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Munechika drives through and clinches with Rodriguez against the ropes.
Rodriguez fails to pull guard.
Rodriguez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Munechika walks away with a smile on his face. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Munechika connects with a jab.
Rodriguez has a takedown stuffed.
Kato Munechika has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rodriguez.
Munechika connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rodriguez momentarily.
Munechika lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rodriguez's sensitive parts.
Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Munechika counters with a head kick.
Rodriguez thows a leg kick but Munechika checks it
and Munechika counters with a nice body shot.
Munechika wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodriguez has his takedown stuffed
and Munechika counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Munechika lands with a thumping leg kick.
Munechika lands a jab to Rodriguez's midsection.
Munechika lands with a kick to the temple. Rodriguez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Munechika is looking to clinch.
Rodriguez fails with the takedown
and Munechika counters with a nice uppercut.
Munechika misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Munechika scores with a nice right hand.

Rodriguez is rocked!

Rodriguez gets tackled into the ropes by Munechika. Munechika maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez jumps guard but Munechika stands there with Rodriguez around his waist. Rodriguez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rodriguez fails to pull the fight into his 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 to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Munechika to keep the fight standing.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Munechika forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Munechika doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rodriguez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Munechika walks away with a smile on his face. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Munechika catches Rodriguez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rodriguez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Munechika scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rodriguez in his tracks.
Munechika lands a nice looking body shot.

Munechika has closed the distance and engaged Rodriguez in a clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munechika keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Munechika thuds his right hand into Rodriguez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rodriguez is still on wobbly legs! Can Munechika finish him?
Rodriguez with a poor takedown
and Munechika counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Munechika lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rodriguez's sensitive parts.
Rodriguez has his takedown stuffed
and Munechika counters with a leg kick.
Munechika lands a slapping body shot.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Munechika counters with a shoot takedown. Rodriguez fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rodriguez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Munechika can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rodriguez has a closed guard, preventing Munechika from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munechika is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Rodriguez is looking for a triangle but Munechika pushes his legs off easily.
Rodriguez seems to have recovered his senses.
Munechika is looking to stand up but Rodriguez won't let him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rodriguez working for a triangle but Munechika defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kato Munechika clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Rodriguez's cut.
That's time! Munechika's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rodriguez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Munechika connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rodriguez. Rodriguez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Munechika paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rodriguez throws a sloppy head kick
and Munechika counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rodriguez is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rodriguez with a poor takedown
and Munechika counters with a good low kick that Rodriguez was not able to check.
Munechika doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.
Kato Munechika is winning the standup battle so far.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Munechika circles away easily
and Munechika counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Munechika counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kato Munechika has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
A jab from Munechika does it's job there.
BOOM! Munechika lands a beautiful left hook that drops Rodriguez. Rodriguez tries to recover but Munechika is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Rodriguez lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kato Munechika!
Kato Munechika retains his lightweight title!
Kato Munechika really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Hellbent logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.