PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Seymour Ellenbogen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riccardo Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ellenbogen
vs
Rodriguez

178 cm
27
176 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

175 cm
27
170 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seymour Ellenbogen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riccardo Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ellenbogen throws the left hand but Rodriguez avoids the punch easily.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up but Ellenbogen circles away and keeps his distance.
Ellenbogen tried to score with a low kick but Rodriguez checks it.
Ellenbogen misses with a hook. Rodriguez ducked under it nicely.
Rodriguez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez wants to clinch up but Ellenbogen keeps it at a distance.
Ellenbogen just misses with a punch to the body.
Rodriguez throws out a counter right but Ellenbogen avoids it with no problem.
Rodriguez fails to land with a series of punches.
Ellenbogen misses with a right hand
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combo that has Ellenbogen backing up. Ellenbogen nods at Rodriguez to acknowledge the strikes.
Rodriguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ellenbogen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ellenbogen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rodriguez is able to avoid easily.
Ellenbogen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rodriguez! But no joy.
Ellenbogen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rodriguez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez misses with a combination

and Ellenbogen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rodriguez's guard.
Ellenbogen tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.
Ellenbogen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rodriguez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but Ellenbogen is proving a slippery customer.
Ellenbogen wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ellenbogen won't allow Rodriguez to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ellenbogen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellenbogen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.

Ellenbogen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up.
Ellenbogen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Despite the aggression on Rodriguez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ellenbogen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rodriguez is out of range and Ellenbogen settles back down.

Ellenbogen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ellenbogen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rodriguez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ellenbogen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ellenbogen drops his hands momentarily and Rodriguez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but Ellenbogen pushes him off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ellenbogen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rodriguez defends well and Ellenbogen ends up having to push Rodriguez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seymour Ellenbogen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ellenbogen is defended easily by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a counter combo.
Ellenbogen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rodriguez moves out of range as Ellenbogen strikes.
Rodriguez tries to clinch there but Ellenbogen circles away.

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

Ellenbogen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ellenbogen.
As Ellenbogen backs off Rodriguez throws a huge counter combo but Ellenbogen manages to avoid it all.
Ellenbogen throws a jab when Rodriguez was well out of range.

Ellenbogen drives through with a takedown into Rodriguez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellenbogen looking to pass the guard.
Ellenbogen throws a big elbow that misses.
Ellenbogen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.
Ellenbogen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rodriguez's head.
Ellenbogen pushes down on Rodriguez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ellenbogen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rodriguez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seymour Ellenbogen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rodriguez gets caught flat footed, as Ellenbogen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ellenbogen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ellenbogen being controlled here momentarily.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Ellenbogen from controlling successfully.
Rodriguez trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Ellenbogen tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellenbogen being controlled here momentarily.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ellenbogen is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Ellenbogen tries to counter by clinching up but Rodriguez breaks away and moves out of range.
Ellenbogen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rodriguez trying to stall but Ellenbogen improves his position.

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.
A head punch on the inside from Rodriguez fails to land.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rodriguez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez misses with a punch to the body.

Ellenbogen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rodriguez misses with a wild body shot.
Rodriguez throws a body shot but no joy.
Ellenbogen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ellenbogen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rodriguez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ellenbogen scores with a punch to the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Ellenbogen misses the target.
Rodriguez lands with a hook. Ellenbogen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch but Ellenbogen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ellenbogen tries to counter with a takedown but Rodriguez is quick to defend against it.

Ellenbogen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ellenbogen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ellenbogen controlling the position from side mount.

Ellenbogen is trying to get an arm triangle but Rodriguez is defending well.
Ellenbogen scores with a couple of short elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellenbogen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Rodriguez tries to buck Ellenbogen off but Ellenbogen is having none of it.
Ellenbogen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodriguez keeps working.
Ellenbogen is really struggling to control Rodriguez but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriguez is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seymour Ellenbogen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ellenbogen keeps the fight on the outside.
Rodriguez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ellenbogen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodriguez can do to turn this around?

Ellenbogen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ellenbogen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodriguez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ellenbogen shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense.
A countering left hand to the body from Rodriguez misses.

Ellenbogen successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ellenbogen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ellenbogen won't allow Rodriguez to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellenbogen trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ellenbogen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.
Rodriguez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Ellenbogen tries to pass.
Ellenbogen is working hard here to advance position.
Ellenbogen postures up in Rodriguez's guard and throws a big left but Rodriguez blocks it.
Seymour Ellenbogen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rodriguez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ellenbogen is working Rodriguez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ellenbogen controlling from the top position.
Ellenbogen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Riccardo Rodriguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ellenbogen missing with a left hand there. Rodriguez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez stalks Ellenbogen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ellenbogen's face. Ellenbogen staggers backwards, shaken.
Rodriguez ducks under a wild hook from Ellenbogen.
Rodriguez misses with a double jab

and Ellenbogen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rodriguez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ellenbogen cracks Rodriguez with a solid left hand.
Ellenbogen wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Ellenbogen prevents Rodriguez from getting back to his feet.
Ellenbogen scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellenbogen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rodriguez trying to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ellenbogen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodriguez is just out of range.
Rodriguez moves out of range of the strikes.
Rodriguez swinging wildly here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Riccardo Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ellenbogen breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seymour Ellenbogen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ellenbogen, 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seymour Ellenbogen!
After winning the bout, Seymour Ellenbogen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.