PBP Commentary

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

Leaseau
vs
Rodriguez

170 cm
31
177 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

175 cm
29
170 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jermain Leaseau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riccardo Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leaseau scores with the left hand. Rodriguez knows he should have avoided that one.
Leaseau misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodriguez.

Leaseau shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rodriguez is trying to defend but Leaseau finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rodriguez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Leaseau has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rodriguez is controlling Leaseau's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Leaseau wants to take a breather but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Rodriguez is positioning himself well to prevent Leaseau advancing to mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sloppy strikes from Leaseau. Those never looked like landing.

Leaseau gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leaseau tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Rodriguez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Leaseau's best efforts.
Leaseau is thwarting Rodriguez's attempts to control the position.
Leaseau sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Leaseau has control of the leg.
Leaseau trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leaseau is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rodriguez defends it well.
Leaseau looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain the position but Leaseau is very close to passing his half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rodriguez tries to get to full guard but Leaseau has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Leaseau missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Leaseau is thwarting Rodriguez's attempts to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Leaseau feints a jab promting Rodriguez to slip. Leaseau then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rodriguez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Leaseau tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves out of range.

Leaseau shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Leaseau showed some decent athleticism there.
Rodriguez is holding on to half guard well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice strikes from Leaseau there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermain Leaseau dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Leaseau catches Rodriguez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Leaseau moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rodriguez is looking to control Leaseau's arms but Leaseau gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rodriguez has his back to the cage.
Rodriguez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Leaseau is keeping busy.
Leaseau is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rodriguez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Leaseau is looking for a takedown.
Rodriguez blocks a body shot from Leaseau.
Leaseau wants to take the fight to the mat but Rodriguez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jermain Leaseau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leaseau tries to pull guard but Rodriguez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Leaseau tries for a takedown. No joy.

Leaseau is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rodriguez can't fight it off and eventually Leaseau manages to take the fight to the floor. Rodriguez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but Leaseau is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is pulling down on Leaseau's head to control his posture.
Rodriguez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rodriguez controls Leaseau momentarily but Leaseau frees himself.
Leaseau postures up in Rodriguez's guard and throws a big left but Rodriguez blocks it.
Leaseau distracts Rodriguez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Leaseau 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jermain Leaseau overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodriguez is trying to keep Leaseau in close.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Leaseau lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rodriguez circles away quickly and effectively.
Rodriguez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leaseau circles away.
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Leaseau defends it nicely.
Rodriguez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Leaseau avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodriguez.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodriguez.

Leaseau dives in and scores a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez looking to control.
Leaseau wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leaseau is one step ahead there.
Leaseau trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez working a defensive guard here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Leaseau working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rodriguez's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriguez is trying to control the position but Leaseau postures up.
Leaseau looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Leaseau is controlling Rodriguez's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermain Leaseau dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Rodriguez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Leaseau tries to avoid it but Rodriguez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Leaseau to the ground. Leaseau escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Rodriguez looks to move away, Leaseau throws a big counter combo bu Rodriguez just gets out of the way.

Leaseau drives through and clinches with Rodriguez against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rodriguez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Leaseau pulls guard effortlessly.
Leaseau can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rodriguez controls the pace.
Leaseau is trying to control the position but Rodriguez postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leaseau is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodriguez can do to turn this around?
Leaseau keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Leaseau keeps moving.
Rodriguez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Leaseau struggling a bit here.

Rodriguez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Leaseau is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rodriguez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Leaseau sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rodriguez is trying to get an arm triangle but Leaseau is defending well.
Leaseau is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Leaseau tries to get to full guard but Rodriguez has control of the leg.

Rodriguez is trying to work for a kimura but Leaseau is defending well.
Leaseau wants to get back to full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is looking to advance position but Leaseau won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodriguez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Leaseau tries to avoid it but Rodriguez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Leaseau to the ground. Leaseau escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Leaseau shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez working a defensive guard here.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leaseau is one step ahead there.
Leaseau with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez managing to control the position.
Leaseau trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Leaseau throws an elbow that misses. Rodriguez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Leaseau's guard. Nice move by Rodriguez!
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rodriguez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Leaseau looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Leaseau looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Leaseau!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jermain Leaseau showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leaseau 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jermain Leaseau!
Jermain Leaseau seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.