PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleto Rodriquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Borg Hanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Rodriquez
vs
Hanson

188 cm
23
208 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
219 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

TFP Graphics
MMA's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cleto Rodriquez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Borg Hanson!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodriquez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hanson wants to get back to full guard.
Rodriquez is looking to take a break and control but Hanson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hanson is trying to maintain the position but Rodriquez is very close to passing his half guard.
Hanson wants to improve his position but Rodriquez is controlling well.
Rodriquez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hanson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rodriquez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hanson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rodriquez throwing shots but Hanson is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hanson lands a right hook to the body.
Rodriquez staying out of range there.
Hanson throws a hook to the side of Rodriquez's head but Rodriquez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rodriquez looks for a takedown but Hanson sprawls well.
Rodriquez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hanson.

It looks like Cleto Rodriquez has been cut.
Hanson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rodriquez.
Hanson throws a shot from downtown. Rodriquez moves away and avoids it.
Hanson waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Rodriquez.
Hanson misses with a straight left.
Rodriquez moves in looking to clinch but Hanson pushes him off.
Hanson throws a lazy right hand but Rodriquez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hanson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rodriquez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Borg Hanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriquez scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanson digs a good hook to Rodriquez's body.
Hanson scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rodriquez.
Rodriquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hanson is fending him off so far but Rodriquez persists. Nope, Hanson circles away and we're back to standing.
Rodriquez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hanson looks to land a combination. Rodriquez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rodriquez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hanson as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cleto Rodriquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hanson connects with the punch.
Hanson darts in trying to clinch
and Rodriquez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hanson throws a lazy right hand but Rodriquez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Hanson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hanson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hanson looks to throw the jab but Rodriquez is out of range.
Rodriquez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rodriquez fails with the takedown.
Rodriquez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rodriquez lands a head kick. Hanson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rodriquez moves out of range of the strikes.
Rodriquez dodges the punch combination from Hanson.
Hanson throws out a loose jab but Rodriquez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodriquez shoots for a double leg takedown but Hanson sprawls well. He's pushed Rodriquez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hanson misses with a hook. Rodriquez ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rodriquez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rodriquez moves out of range of the strikes.
Rodriquez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hanson pinned against the cage. Hanson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hanson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Rodriquez moves away from the strike by Hanson.
Hanson throws the left hand but Rodriquez avoids the punch easily.
Rodriquez throws a head kick that misses.
Nice body punch from Hanson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slow jab from Hanson misses its intended target.
Borg Hanson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Hanson misses.
Rodriquez fails with the takedown.
Hanson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Borg Hanson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cleto Rodriquez'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.

Rodriquez defending well as Hanson loads up on a big left hand.
Borg Hanson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hanson stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodriquez. Rodriquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Hanson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rodriquez throws a nice head kick!
Hanson tries to clinch up

and Rodriquez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rodriquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hanson 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 stalling.

Rodriquez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriquez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hanson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Rodriquez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hanson defends it well.
Hanson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rodriquez is tying to control. Hanson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Rodriquez is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hanson still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hanson has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Rodriquez gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rodriquez missing with punches from the bottom.
Hanson is trying to control the action in half guard but Rodriquez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rodriquez manages to get to full guard.
Hanson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Rodriquez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rodriquez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hanson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rodriquez throwing shots but Hanson is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanson is looking to improve his position.
Rodriquez throwing shots but Hanson is blocking nicely.
Hanson wants to improve his position but Rodriquez is controlling well.
Hanson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleto Rodriquez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cleto Rodriquez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rodriquez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanson.

Rodriquez feints and as Hanson raises his hands in defense, Rodriquez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rodriquez trying to control but Hanson is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodriquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rodriquez looking to pass the guard.
Rodriquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriquez looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriquez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hanson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hanson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hanson!
Rodriquez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rodriquez is being controlled here.
Rodriquez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rodriquez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rodriquez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Rodriquez is working for a guillotine from mount but Hanson frees his head quite easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriquez controlling the pace for now.
Hanson is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez looking to control but Hanson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rodriquez lands with some strikes.
Rodriquez working the ground and pound effectively.
Hanson is desperately trying to improve his position but Rodriquez has a good base and remains in mount.
Hanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodriquez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hanson is looking to escape.
Hanson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rodriquez throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hanson because Rodriquez loaded up on that one.
Rodriquez thowing shots but they're missing.
Rodriquez tries to control but Hanson wriggling away.
Rodriquez controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleto Rodriquez clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Cleto Rodriquez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hanson throws a hook to the side of Rodriquez's head but Rodriquez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hanson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rodriquez.
Rodriquez slips under a jab.
Hanson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hanson lands the left hand.
Hanson misses with an uppercut.
Hanson throws a jab when Rodriquez was well out of range.
Rodriquez slips a straight right by Hanson.
Hanson clinches but Rodriquez breaks the clinch

and Rodriquez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hanson won't be happy with that.
Rodriquez working the ground and pound but Hanson is defending the strikes.
Rodriquez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriquez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hanson is avoiding damage well.
Rodriquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hanson keeps working.
Hanson is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Hanson tries to improve position but can't.
Rodriquez looks up at the clock and then as Hanson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rodriquez smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rodriquez trying to control the action but Hanson is working from the bottom.
Rodriquez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rodriquez tries to score with some ground and pound. Hanson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rodriquez throws a strike aimed at the side of Hanson's head but Hanson avoids it well.
Rodriquez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hanson can't do much from the bottom here.
Rodriquez trying to control the action but Hanson is working from the bottom.
Rodriquez is really struggling to control Hanson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rodriquez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanson.
Hanson stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson thows a body shot but no joy.
Rodriquez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hanson's waist but Hanson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodriquez off to one side.
Rodriquez ducks under a wild hook from Hanson.
Hanson misses the shot to the body.
Rodriquez moves away from the strike by Hanson.
Rodriquez throws a head kick that Hanson semi-blocks.
Hanson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodriquez moves away.
Hanson misses with a looping right.
Rodriquez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hanson. That did some damage!
A jab from Hanson misses.
Rodriquez shoots for a takedown but Hanson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cleto Rodriquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hanson looks to land a right hand but Rodriquez moved out of range.
A combination from Hanson does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Rodriquez or perhaps it was just good defense by Hanson which made him look bad.
Hanson takes a swing at Rodriquez's ribcage but misses.
Hanson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hanson stuffs the takedown.
Hanson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rodriquez at a distance.
Hanson looks to land a combination but Rodriquez avoids it well.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rodriquez.
Hanson stuffs the takedown.
Hanson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hanson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rodriquez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleto Rodriquez had his way with Borg Hanson in that round.
The cut man is working on Cleto Rodriquez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hanson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hanson misses with a straight left.
Rodriquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodriquez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hanson circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cleto Rodriquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hanson digs a good hook to Rodriquez's body.
Hanson misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanson misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut there from Hanson.
Rodriquez throws a head kick that misses.
Hanson thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriquez shoots in for a double leg but Hanson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hanson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Rodriquez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hanson!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Hanson can't escape the position.
Rodriquez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Rodriquez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hanson is surviving well by controlling Rodriquez's body position as best he can.
Rodriquez lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez with the ground and pound from mount.

Rodriquez looking to secure an arm triangle but Hanson defends it well.
Hanson wants to hold on but Rodriquez pushes him away.
Cleto Rodriquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodriquez unloading with bombs!
Hanson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriquez unloading with bombs!
Hanson stops Rodriquez from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez dominating with strikes here.
Rodriquez punishing his opponent with strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hanson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hanson is squirming around, avoiding Rodriquez's attempts to control the action.
Borg Hanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rodriquez moves to the back.
Rodriquez connects with a big shot to the side of Hanson's head.

Rodriquez looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Hanson taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Cleto Rodriquez!
Cleto Rodriquez is the new light heavyweight champion!