PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Olegerio Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theo Maples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Olegerio Rodriguez has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rodriguez
vs
Maples

172 cm
29
179 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

168 cm
21
184 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Raptorz Inc.

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Olegerio Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Theo Maples!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maples showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodriguez.
A lazy left from Maples finds it's target.
Maples misses with a wild body shot.
Rodriguez connects with a leg kick. Maples looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rodriguez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodriguez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rodriguez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maples's sensitive parts.
Maples throws a chopping leg kick but Rodriguez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The fighters circling - Maples throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maples fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rodriguez manages to avoid it.

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.
Maples prevents a body shot from Rodriguez.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Maples has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Maples breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Maples. Beautiful body shot.
Maples checks a leg kick.
Rodriguez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maples.
Rodriguez leaves Maples with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Olegerio Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theo Maples.
Maples walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab from Rodriguez misses.
Rodriguez lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maples takes a step back to recover.
Maples throws a low kick but Rodriguez moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez with a jab.
Rodriguez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maples thows a body shot but no joy.
Maples takes a swing at Rodriguez's ribcage but misses.
Rodriguez throws a right hand that Maples ducks under and follows up with a left that Maples also avoids with ease.
Rodriguez throws a leg kick

and Maples counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rodriguez is trying to control but can't.
Maples missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep. Maples is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maples is taking a breather. Rodriguez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
It looks like Maples might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is not content to let Maples control the position.

Maples is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Maples is nestled in close to Rodriguez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Maples has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Rodriguez is defending against the submission attempts here by Maples.
Rodriguez works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maples seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rodriguez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maples trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maples stops Rodriguez from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez wants to sweep here but Maples controlling him for the moment.
Maples throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Theo Maples will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rodriguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rodriguez misses with a lunging right hand

and Maples decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez has his hands on Maples's head, controlling the position.
Maples's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Maples postures up.
Rodriguez wants to stand up but Maples is controlling him.
Maples working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maples wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up but Maples circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodriguez swings for the body but Maples moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Maples moves out of range.
Rodriguez throws a leg kick but Maples moved away.
Nice sprawl there from Rodriguez as Maples shoots in.
Maples checks a leg kick.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maples throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Maples moves out of range.
Maples uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rodriguez.
Nice straight punches there by Rodriguez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Maples counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rodriguez!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maples is chipping away with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Maples goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rodriguez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Maples's guard! Nice work there by Rodriguez!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maples trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.

Rodriguez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Maples escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rodriguez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Maples keeps moving.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a big elbow that misses.
Maples is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Maples lands strikes from half guard.
Rodriguez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Maples is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rodriguez is just riding it out for now. Maples eventually gives up the hold.
Rodriguez wants to improve his position but Maples is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to stand.
Maples is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Maples trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Maples throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theo Maples showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Maples with a nice cross.
Rodriguez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maples moves away.
Maples keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rodriguez takes a swing at Maples's ribcage but misses.
Maples chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rodriguez lands the left hand.
Maples jabs at Rodriguez's body.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rodriguez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maples tries a body shot but Rodriguez blocks it.
Maples misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maples on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a punch but it's blocked by Maples.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maples.
Maples tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maples misses with a punch to the body.
Maples lands with a right to the head.

It looks like Olegerio Rodriguez has been cut.
Maples takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rodriguez effectively controlling the action here.
Maples lands a body punch.
Rodriguez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rodriguez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maples's elbow.
Rodriguez swings wildly with an uppercut but Maples uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maples lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to land knees in the clinch but Maples avoids the damage to the body.
Maples tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rodriguez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rodriguez is trying to stall.
Rodriguez misses with a knee strike.
Rodriguez is looking to control Maples's arms but Maples gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rodriguez has his back to the cage.
Rodriguez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rodriguez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodriguez throws a head punch that misses.
Maples blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maples blocks an elbow strike.
Rodriguez misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez misses with a punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Maples.
Maples can't find room to land a body shot as Rodriguez controls the action.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Maples in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Maples presses Rodriguez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rodriguez trying to land knees to the body.
Maples is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Maples avoids a wild elbow strike from Rodriguez.
Maples is working Rodriguez over against the cage.
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Maples controls his hands.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maples avoids it.
Rodriguez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maples tries a body shot but Rodriguez blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Maples goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rodriguez prevents it.
Rodriguez working aggressively here.
Maples tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
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!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Maples tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rodriguez's elbow.
Rodriguez misses with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez tries to land knees in the clinch but Maples avoids the damage to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez blocking some punches.
Maples on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Olegerio Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maples on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maples on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Olegerio Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maples 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

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