PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yong Rodriquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chaz Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rodriquez
vs
Swanson

152 cm
24
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yong Rodriquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chaz Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rodriquez.
Swanson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Swanson defending against the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Swanson can do anything to dispel that myth.
You can see the frustration on Swanson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rodriquez trying to control the position but Swanson is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swanson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Swanson parries the strikes from Rodriquez easily there. Rodriquez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Swanson to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriquez is looking to take a break and control but Swanson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriquez tries to score with some ground and pound. Swanson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rodriquez wants to take a breather but Swanson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rodriquez.

Swanson is looking for a triangle but Rodriquez pushes his legs off easily.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Rodriquez from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez controlling from the top position.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Rodriquez from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Yong Rodriquez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rodriquez throws a head kick but Swanson moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Swanson is defended easily by Rodriquez.
Rodriquez throws a head kick but Swanson moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson shoots in for a takedown but Rodriquez shows good takedown defense.

Swanson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Swanson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rodriquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rodriquez trying to control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Swanson throws a big right hand that misses.
Swanson wants to pass the guard but Rodriquez is keeping the position.
Rodriquez looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson preventing the sweep.
Swanson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Swanson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Swanson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Swanson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swanson is in close to Rodriquez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rodriquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodriquez, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chaz Swanson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rodriquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swanson has his takedown stuffed
and Rodriquez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rodriquez really is a fat lump.
Rodriquez is looking to clinch but Swanson is avoiding it.

Rodriquez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Swanson is defending against the submission attempts here by Rodriquez.
Swanson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriquez wants to get back to his feet.
Swanson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rodriquez is thwarting Swanson's attempts to control the position.
Rodriquez trying to control from half guard but Swanson is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson moves into full guard.
Swanson looking for a sweep. Not yet Swanson, not yet.
Swanson has a closed guard, preventing Rodriquez from standing up.
Swanson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriquez is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez passes into half guard.
Swanson is trying to control but can't.
Rodriquez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Rodriquez is working for an americana but Swanson has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Rodriquez was thinking about the submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Rodriquez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Rodriquez from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Yong Rodriquez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Swanson shoots in for a takedown but Rodriquez shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yong Rodriquez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rodriquez scores with a takedown into Swanson's guard.
Rodriquez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rodriquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriquez is proving a slippery customer.
Rodriquez is pushing down on Swanson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Swanson is fighting to maintain full guard but Rodriquez has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriquez trying to control the action but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Rodriquez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Swanson looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like Rodriquez is going to stand back up.
Swanson tries to get to full guard but Rodriquez has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez trying to control from half guard but Swanson is working away.

Rodriquez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Swanson is just riding it out for now. Rodriquez eventually gives up the hold.
Rodriquez trying to control the action but Swanson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Swanson tries to roll over but Rodriquez keeps him under control.
Swanson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rodriquez wants to stand up but Swanson manages to regain full guard.
Rodriquez wants to control from the top but Swanson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yong Rodriquez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rodriquez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rodriquez blocks the strikes from Swanson.
Swanson wants to improve his position but Rodriquez is controlling well.
Rodriquez controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yong Rodriquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rodriquez 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yong Rodriquez!