PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Conrad Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Riser (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
Riser

188 cm
19
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Conrad 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, Jordan Riser !
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riser tries for a takedown but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Riser circles away easily
and Riser counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rodriguez thinking.

Rodriguez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Riser trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rodriguez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Riser keeps moving.
Riser throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Riser keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
Rodriguez tries to stand but Riser is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Riser is on top in guard.
Rodriguez controls Riser momentarily but Riser frees himself.
Riser thows a big elbow that misses.
Rodriguez trying to control the position.
Rodriguez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rodriguez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Riser wanted to stand there but Rodriguez had control of the position.
Rodriguez being controlled here, momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riser accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riser must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Riser takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Riser tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Riser moves away from the strike by Rodriguez.

Riser gets a takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up here but Riser is controlling him well.
Rodriguez gets full guard.
Riser trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Riser is controlling him.

Rodriguez manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Riser has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rodriguez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Riser has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riser gets control of Rodriguez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Riser will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Riser seems keen to control Rodriguez's posture.
Riser throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Riser pulls Rodriguez in close to prevent any damage.
Riser tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Riser gets the takedown into side control.

Riser stands up and beckons Rodriguez to his feet.
Rodriguez with a poor takedown
letting Riser counter with a right hand.
Rodriguez throws a combination that misses
and Riser counters with a two punch combo.
Riser plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Riser closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Rodriguez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Riser wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rodriguez, who protects the arm well.
Riser trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Riser works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Rodriguez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Riser holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rodriguez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Riser pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conrad Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Riser darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Riser decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Riser avoids them all with ease.
Riser lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rodriguez backs up against the cage.
Riser fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice defenses there by Riser .
Riser tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodriguez misses with a combination

and Riser counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rodriguez's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riser stops Rodriguez from standing up.
Riser 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 is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Riser is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to control the position.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet but Riser is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Riser sitting in guard, not really doing much.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Riser feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Riser is controlling the position.
Riser trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rodriguez wriggles free and stands up.
Rodriguez fails with the takedown

and Riser counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rodriguez!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riser putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Riser cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rodriguez is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Riser showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rodriguez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rodriguez trying to control but Riser is working from the bottom.
Riser wants to improve his position but instead Rodriguez has moved into half guard.
Riser is refusing to be controlled, as Rodriguez sits in half guard.
Riser trying to control but Rodriguez postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Riser gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Riser is proving hard to escape from.
Rodriguez trying to control but Riser is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.
Riser controlling Rodriguez's posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Riser can do anything to dispel that myth.

Rodriguez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Riser pushes Rodriguez up against the cage in a clinch.
Riser pushes Rodriguez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Riser prevents the takedown attempt.

Riser jumps guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Riser is on top in guard.
Riser is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Rodriguez pushes Riser off and gets back to his feet.
Riser goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez scores with a head kick.

Riser scores with a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Rodriguez is wriggling around but Riser manages to pass to half guard.
Riser stops Rodriguez from getting back to his feet.
Rodriguez trying to control but Riser postures up.
Riser blocks the strikes from Rodriguez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riser is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rodriguez is trying to stand back up but Riser is controlling him
Conrad Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Riser throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rodriguez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Conrad Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Riser counters with a takedown into side control.

Riser stands up.

Riser moves into range and clinches up with Rodriguez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jordan Riser comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Riser has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jordan Riser !