PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sub Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norris kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Norris Man - When Your Time Is Up. Rodriguez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Dan Balan Beautiful Girl. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Norris
vs
Rodriguez

180 cm
25
154 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

176 cm
28
138 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Hellbent

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 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sub Norris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roberto Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norris misses with a series of wild punches.
Norris stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Norris wants it to stay on the feet.
Norris rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rodriguez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Norris definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rodriguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Norris tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Rodriguez or perhaps it was just good defense by Norris which made him look bad.
Rodriguez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Norris.

Rodriguez moves into range and clinches up with Norris.
Norris lands a right hand.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Norris just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sub Norris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Rodriguez.
Norris tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Norris pushes off an throws an elbow but Rodriguez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Rodriguez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Norris uses from the top position.

Norris gets to his feet - Rodriguez follows without any prompting.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown
letting Norris counter with a right hand.

Norris has taken the fight to the clinch.
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!
Still in the clinch, Norris scores with a nice short uppercut.
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 Norris walks away with a smile on his face. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rodriguez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Norris clinches.
Rodriguez is trying to drag Norris to the mat but Norris just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Norris misses with a knee to the head.
Norris lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Norris prevents a takedown attempt there.
Norris missing with knees to the body.
Norris throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Norris pulls his leg out and moves away.
Norris swinging wildly here.

Norris shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Norris haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Norris is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Norris has control of the leg.

Norris gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rodriguez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Norris pushes Rodriguez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rodriguez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to control the action but Norris is working from the bottom.
Norris wants to get back to his feet but Rodriguez drags him back down.

Rodriguez decides to stand back up. Rodriguez steps back and let's Norris get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Rodriguez as Norris shoots in.
Norris tries a low kick but Rodriguez avoids it.
Norris throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rodriguez sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Rodriguez drives through and clinches with Norris against the cage.

Rodriguez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Norris clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Norris holding both Rodriguez 's hands and preventing any damage.

Rodriguez looking to break Norris's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Norris remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rodriguez will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Norris is trying to stand back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Norris is trying to shake Rodriguez off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Rodriguez won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sub Norris will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rodriguez has closed the distance and engaged Norris in a clinch.
Rodriguez is looking for a takedown.
Rodriguez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rodriguez is working for takedown but Norris is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sub Norris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Rodriguez.
A knee to the head by Norris.
Rodriguez is trying to pull guard but Norris turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Rodriguez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Norris is looking to escape.

Norris is defending against the submission attempts here by Rodriguez.
Roberto Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Norris manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Norris doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.

Norris scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Norris wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rodriguez, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Norris is trying to get an arm triangle but Rodriguez is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez looks to move to half guard but instead Norris has passed into mount! Damn!
Rodriguez is wriggling around trying to escape.

Norris is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Norris tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Norris looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Norris as Rodriguez shoots in.
Norris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Norris throws a chopping leg kick but Rodriguez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Norris fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Norris is looking to stand up but Rodriguez isn't so interested in that idea.
Norris keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.
Norris wants to stand and escape but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Norris not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodriguez is looking to work some ground and pound but Norris has wrist control.
Norris wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling the position.
Rodriguez throwing strikes from guard but Norris blocks nicely.
Rodriguez looking to sit in guard and control but Norris gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rodriguez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norris gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Rodriguez has closed the distance and engaged Norris in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Norris as Rodriguez tries to tie him up.

Rodriguez pulls guard.

Norris stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rodriguez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Norris sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Norris connects with a body shot that sends Rodriguez's belly button to the back.
Some wild striking there from Norris.
A combination from Norris does no damage.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt
letting Norris counter with a right hand.
Norris doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.

Rodriguez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rodriguez lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Norris looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Norris looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Norris!

Norris stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Norris lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodriguez is defended easily by Norris.
Norris fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Norris gets caught napping as Rodriguez dives in and scores a takedown. Norris manages to retain guard.
Norris wants to stand and escape but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Norris has his hands on Rodriguez's head, controlling the position.
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 Sub Norris will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Norris is trying to stand.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rodriguez is trying to control the action in half guard but Norris is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Norris regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez postures up in Norris's guard and throws a big left but Norris blocks it.
Norris wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling the position.
Norris preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Norris wants to stand and escape but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez forces his way into half guard.
Rodriguez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rodriguez connects with a nice short shot to Norris's temple.
Rodriguez wants to take a breather but Norris is having none of it.
Norris is trying to stand up here but Rodriguez is controlling him well.
Rodriguez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rodriguez thows a huge punch but Norris dodges it nicely.
Norris is doing well to control the position and prevent Rodriguez from advancing to side control.
Norris is looking to escape.

Norris has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rodriguez is on him like a limpet, forcing Norris back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rodriguez is looking for a takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez avoids a wild elbow strike from Norris.

Rodriguez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Norris trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Norris tries to pass.

Rodriguez is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Norris has his hands clasped together but Rodriguez extends and breaks Norris's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Rodriguez.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Roberto Rodriguez!
Roberto Rodriguez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.