PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Riccardo Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruise Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee has chosen Mortal Kombat Theme as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rodriguez
vs
Lee

175 cm
26
170 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

170 cm
30
166 lbs
9 - 13 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riccardo Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruise Lee!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee shoots in but Rodriguez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez throws a head punch that misses.
Rodriguez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rodriguez tries to work over Lee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rodriguez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lee gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Riccardo Rodriguez has been cut.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain a safe position but Lee gets an underhook and turns Rodriguez into the cage.

Lee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lee clinches up with Rodriguez and pushes him back against the cage.

Lee breaks the clinch.
Lee misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rodriguez rushes Lee and presses him up against the cage.
Rodriguez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lee is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Lee breaks from the clinch.
Lee wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.

Rodriguez has managed to clinch.
Rodriguez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lee is keeping busy.
Rodriguez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Lee tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodriguez smiles and moves away.
Lee fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee gets tackled into the cage by Rodriguez. Rodriguez maintains the clinch.
Lee 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. Lee gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Riccardo Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruise Lee.
Rodriguez throws a combination. Lee tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rodriguez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lee moves away.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Lee's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
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!
Lee has his takedown stuffed
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combo that has Lee backing up. Lee nods at Rodriguez to acknowledge the strikes.

Rodriguez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lee fails to pull guard.
Rodriguez leaning against his opponent.
Rodriguez looking to stall.
Rodriguez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lee's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez gets through Lee's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rodriguez can't find room to land a body shot as Lee controls the action.
Rodriguez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lee up against the cage.
Lee is trying to pull guard but Rodriguez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain a safe position but Lee gets an underhook and turns Rodriguez into the cage.
Lee missing with knees to the body.
Lee prevents a body shot from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez just leaning against Lee, taking a breather.
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Lee controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez stalling against the cage.
Lee is trying to pull guard but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.
Rodriguez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

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

Lee rushes Rodriguez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lee is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rodriguez is keeping busy.

Lee gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rodriguez wants to sweep here but Lee controlling him for the moment.
Rodriguez wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Lee is now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riccardo Rodriguez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Riccardo Rodriguez's cut.
That's time! Rodriguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rodriguez misses the shot to the body.
Lee shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodriguez but Rodriguez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rodriguez keeps the fight on the outside.
A left and a right from Rodriguez both land. Nice combination.
Rodriguez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Riccardo Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez misses with a few strikes there.

Lee tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lee is trying to pull guard but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez can't find room to land a body shot as Lee controls the action.
Lee being controlled against the cage.
Rodriguez is pressed up against the cage. Lee has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rodriguez down to the mat. Rodriguez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Riccardo Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruise Lee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rodriguez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lee is keeping busy.
Rodriguez tries to work over Lee's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rodriguez trying to control the position but instead, Lee has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rodriguez into the cage.
Rodriguez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rodriguez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Riccardo Rodriguez.
Lee fails with the takedown.
Rodriguez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rodriguez rushes Lee and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lee can't get the takedown.
Rodriguez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rodriguez tries a body shot but Lee blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lee pulls guard successfully.
Rodriguez stands up out of Lee's guard for a moment - Lee manages to land a nice upkick.

Lee working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rodriguez has passed into half guard!
Rodriguez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lee can do to turn this around?
Lee is refusing to be controlled, as Rodriguez sits in half guard.
Lee wants to improve his position but Rodriguez is controlling well.
Rodriguez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rodriguez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Rodriguez stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Lee scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rodriguez looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lee 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lee throwing shots but Rodriguez is blocking nicely.
Rodriguez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riccardo Rodriguez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Riccardo Rodriguez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lee shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rodriguez as he avoids it easily.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rodriguez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rodriguez effectively controlling the action here.

Lee breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Lee closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez trying to control the position but instead, Lee has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rodriguez into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez controlling the action here for a moment.
Lee pressing his opponent against the cage.
Come on Rodriguez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Riccardo Rodriguez.

Lee throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lee is in Rodriguez's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Lee drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rodriguez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lee has Rodriguez in his guard.

Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Lee is keeping the position.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.
Bruise Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rodriguez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rodriguez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rodriguez passes Lee's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rodriguez is trying to control. Lee wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lee is looking to control Rodriguez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lee avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Rodriguez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lee is defended easily by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rodriguez pushes Lee up against the cage in a clinch.
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Lee controls his hands.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lee wants a takedown.
Riccardo Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruise Lee.
Lee jumps guard but Rodriguez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lee tries to pull guard but Rodriguez won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riccardo Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodriguez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

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