PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pirulito Bate Bate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bate Bate comes to the cage accompanied by Digging the Grave by Faith no more. Carlos Rodriguez will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bate Bate
vs
Rodriguez

150 cm
27
130 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

169 cm
20
143 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Union Fight Gear
Heisenberg

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pirulito Bate Bate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bate Bate.
Carlos Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bate Bate is looking to chop away at Rodriguez's legs.
Bate Bate keeps the fight on the outside.
Rodriguez wants to clinch but Bate Bate slips to the side
and Bate Bate counters with a stiff right hand.

Rodriguez closes the distance and pushes Bate Bate back into the cage.
Rodriguez has a couple of punches blocked by Bate Bate.
Bate Bate takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodriguez.
Bate Bate jumps guard but Rodriguez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bate Bate looking to slow down the pace here.
Rodriguez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rodriguez gets through Bate Bate's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bate Bate wants to stall.
Bate Bate tries to score a body lock takedown but Rodriguez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pirulito Bate Bate. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez scores with a shot to the side of Bate Bate's head.
Rodriguez gets through Bate Bate's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rodriguez lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bate Bate misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rodriguez.
Bate Bate working aggressively here.
Rodriguez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rodriguez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rodriguez swings wildly with an uppercut but Bate Bate uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodriguez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rodriguez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bate Bate backwards.
Rodriguez misses with a punch on the inside.

Bate Bate breaks the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bate Bate counters with a single leg into guard. Rodriguez didn't expect that.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rodriguez wants to stand up but Bate Bate is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bate Bate postures up and lands a big shot to Rodriguez's brow.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bate Bate trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Bate Bate has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Bate Bate won't allow Rodriguez to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez being controlled here, momentarily.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bate Bate wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is keeping the position.
Bate Bate in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bate Bate looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up

and Bate Bate counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bate Bate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a head punch that misses.

Bate Bate jumps guard.
Rodriguez wanted to stand there but Bate Bate had control of the position.

Bate Bate working for a triangle but Rodriguez defends it easily.
Rodriguez tries to stand but Bate Bate is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bate Bate managing to control the position.
Bate Bate has a closed guard, preventing Rodriguez from standing up.

Bate Bate is working an open guard so Rodriguez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch but Bate Bate is avoiding it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bate Bate.
Rodriguez wants to clinch

and Bate Bate counters by moving into the clinch.
Bate Bate tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
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!
Bate Bate tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodriguez smiles and moves away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bate Bate is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has closed the distance and engaged Bate Bate in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carlos Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bate Bate paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rodriguez takes the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rodriguez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rodriguez lands a hook that snaps the head of Bate Bate backwards.
Rodriguez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rodriguez managing to block the knees to the body from Bate Bate.
Rodriguez can't find room to land a body shot as Bate Bate controls the action.
Bate Bate blocks an uppercut.
Bate Bate's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rodriguez working aggressively here.
Rodriguez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bate Bate tries to pull guard but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Rodriguez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bate Bate's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Bate Bate is rocked!
Bate Bate jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rodriguez walks away with a smile on his face. Bate Bate gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Oh Bate Bate is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bate Bate stops Rodriguez from standing up.
Bate Bate seems to have got his legs back now.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Bate Bate from controlling successfully.
Bate Bate postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bate Bate won't allow Rodriguez to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Bate Bate from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rodriguez doesn't manage to clinch there - Bate Bate circles away.
Bate Bate scores with a kick to the midsection.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez misses with the head strike.
Bate Bate wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch on the inside from Rodriguez fails to land.
Bate Bate can't break the clinch.
Rodriguez misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bate Bate misses with a punch to the body.
Rodriguez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Carlos Rodriguez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rodriguez has Bate Bate pressed against the cage, preventing Bate Bate from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rodriguez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez lands a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rodriguez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bate Bate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Bate Bate moves away
and Bate Bate counters with a one-two to the body.

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.
Rodriguez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodriguez.
Bate Bate struggles to land a body shot inside as Rodriguez controls his hands.
Bate Bate taking a breather.
Rodriguez stops a takedown attempt from Bate Bate.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pirulito Bate Bate. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez lands a hook that snaps the head of Bate Bate backwards.
Rodriguez working aggressively here.
Bate Bate looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bate Bate blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Rodriguez.
Bate Bate tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bate Bate is trying to force a seperation but Rodriguez has the dominant position.
Rodriguez avoids a wild elbow strike from Bate Bate.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rodriguez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez works on Bate Bate's body with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Rodriguez misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodriguez.

Bate Bate breaks from the clinch.
Bate Bate swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up.
Rodriguez takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.

Rodriguez drives through and clinches with Bate Bate against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rodriguez misses with a punch on the inside.
Rodriguez lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bate Bate swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez wants to clinch up but Bate Bate keeps it at a distance.
Rodriguez closes the distance but Bate Bate moves to the side
and Bate Bate makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Bate Bate avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez lands a shot to the body.

Bate Bate gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rodriguez regains guard.
Bate Bate prevents Rodriguez from getting back to his feet.
Bate Bate with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bate Bate won't allow Rodriguez to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bate Bate accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Bate Bate is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rodriguez wants to stand up but Bate Bate is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bate Bate's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rodriguez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Bate Bate is controlling the position.
Bate Bate is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rodriguez wants to stand and escape but Bate Bate is having none of it.
Bate Bate is standing up over Rodriguez. Rodriguez looks to escape but Bate Bate dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bate Bate has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Bate Bate has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bate Bate sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rodriguez is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Carlos Rodriguez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is not content to let Bate Bate control the position.
Rodriguez pushes Bate Bate away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bate Bate gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bate Bate misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet but Bate Bate drags him back down.
The ground and pound from Bate Bate seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.
Bate Bate throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Rodriguez pushes Bate Bate away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bate Bate gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Rodriguez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Bate Bate taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Pirulito Bate Bate overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bate Bate misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rodriguez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Bate Bate lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rodriguez pushes Bate Bate away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bate Bate gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pirulito Bate Bate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bate Bate wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
Bate Bate in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Rodriguez is not content to let Bate Bate control the position.
Rodriguez is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bate Bate has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sloppy strikes there by Bate Bate.
Bate Bate cracks Rodriguez with an elbow. That is naaassty.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodriguez pushes Bate Bate away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bate Bate gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The strikes coming from Bate Bate are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Bate Bate working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rodriguez is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bate Bate is controlling him well.
Rodriguez felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Bate Bate working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pirulito Bate Bate showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rodriguez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Carlos Rodriguez!
A relieved looking Carlos Rodriguez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.