PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcos Aurelio (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.

Rodriguez
vs
Aurelio

193 cm
25
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcos Aurelio!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aurelio looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rodriguez is fending him off so far but Aurelio persists. Nope, Rodriguez circles away and we're back to standing.
Rodriguez scoring well with a low kick there.
Aurelio stuffs the takedown.
Aurelio swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aurelio fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aurelio fails with a takedown attempt.
Anthony Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcos Aurelio.
Rodriguez dives in for a single leg takedown but Aurelio sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Aurelio changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rodriguez fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rodriguez takes the fight into the clinch.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aurelio swivels and escapes.
Anthony Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez gets underhooks to prevent Aurelio's takedown attempt.
Rodriguez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Aurelio is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rodriguez is defending well.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rodriguez moves into the clinch.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rodriguez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aurelio as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio wants to clinch but Rodriguez slips to the side
and Rodriguez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Aurelio tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rodriguez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rodriguez landing knees to the body.

Aurelio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez dives in and grabs Aurelio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aurelio pushes down on Rodriguez's head and hops out.
Aurelio throws a head kick that misses.
Aurelio tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rodriguez defends well and Aurelio ends up having to push Rodriguez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Aurelio looks winded!

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a sloppy head kick and Aurelio moves out of range easily.
Aurelio tries to clinch

and Rodriguez counters by clinching up.
Aurelio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aurelio closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Aurelio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez avoids it really well and circles away.
Aurelio tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rodriguez defends well and Aurelio ends up having to push Rodriguez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rodriguez is pushing Aurelio up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Aurelio has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rodriguez after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rodriguez.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.

Rodriguez instigates a clinch.
Aurelio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rodriguez stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.
Aurelio misses with a takedown attempt - Rodriguez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rodriguez - that will leave a mark!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Rodriguez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rodriguez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rodriguez blocks an elbow strike.
Rodriguez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rodriguez avoids the elbow strike from Aurelio, against the cage.
Aurelio tries to stall but Rodriguez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Aurelio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rodriguez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown. Aurelio tries to sprawl out of it but Rodriguez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aurelio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rodriguez lands a nice looking body kick.
Anthony Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aurelio is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aurelio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aurelio avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown but Aurelio manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodriguez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aurelio tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rodriguez swivels and escapes.

Rodriguez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rodriguez wants a takedown but no success here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rodriguez rushes Aurelio and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Aurelio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez wants to slow Aurelio down by chopping away at his legs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rodriguez.
Aurelio throws a solid leg kick but Rodriguez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Aurelio.
Aurelio shoots in looking for a takedown but Rodriguez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Aurelio's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rodriguez shoots in and drives through. Aurelio sprawls well.
Anthony Rodriguez is winning the standup battle so far.
Rodriguez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aurelio avoids it really well and circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez shoots in but no luck this time.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that Aurelio avoids nicely.
Rodriguez fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aurelio gets tackled into the cage by Rodriguez. Rodriguez maintains the clinch.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rodriguez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Aurelio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodriguez smiles and moves away.
Aurelio is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rodriguez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Aurelio tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Aurelio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodriguez smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rodriguez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Aurelio drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rodriguez pulls his leg out and moves away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rodriguez has Aurelio up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Rodriguez dominated that second round.
That's time! Rodriguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Aurelio misses with a head kick.
Rodriguez shoots in but Aurelio avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rodriguez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aurelio shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodriguez as he jumps to the side.
Aurelio looks for a takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well.
Nice sprawl there from Aurelio as Rodriguez shoots in.
Aurelio takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Aurelio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice sprawl there from Aurelio as Rodriguez shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aurelio wants to clinch but Rodriguez slips to the side

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aurelio tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rodriguez counters with a nice body kick.

Rodriguez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice takedown defense from Rodriguez. No joy for Aurelio on that attempt.
Rodriguez misses with an attempted mid kick.
A punch combination from Rodriguez misses.
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt.
Aurelio fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands with a kick to the ribs.

Rodriguez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodriguez misses with a wild combination.
Aurelio tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodriguez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aurelio goes for a double leg but Rodriguez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rodriguez continues to drive forward.
Anthony Rodriguez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodriguez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Aurelio after a bit of a struggle.
Rodriguez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Aurelio pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aurelio avoids it really well and circles away.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Aurelio.
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown but Aurelio manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodriguez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Rodriguez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aurelio, pushing him back against the cage.
Aurelio stalling in the clinch but Rodriguez improves position.
Aurelio is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez lands a head kick. Aurelio smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Aurelio darts in trying to clinch

and Rodriguez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.
Rodriguez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rodriguez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Aurelio in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Marcos Aurelio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anthony Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rodriguez 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Rodriguez!