PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Koya Molar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Plouman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Molar
vs
Plouman

163 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

165 cm
26
144 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Koya Molar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rodrigo Plouman!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Plouman.
Molar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Plouman.
Plouman tries for a takedown but Molar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Plouman looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Plouman moves out of range of the strikes.
Molar swings for the body but Plouman moves out of range.
A big right from Molar misses.
Molar connects with a body shot.
Koya Molar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Molar shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Plouman sprawls well. Plouman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Molar gets slowly back to his feet.
Plouman is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Plouman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Molar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Plouman with the counter takedown but Molar avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Molar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Molar misses with a lunging right hand

and Plouman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Molar won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Plouman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Molar has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Molar regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plouman slows the pace down in half guard.

Plouman is working for a submission of some sort.
Molar tries to kick Plouman off but Plouman keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Molar wants to get back to full guard.

Plouman seems to be looking for submissions.
Molar gets full guard.

Plouman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Molar working a defensive guard here.
Plouman wants to control from the top but Molar keeps moving.

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.
Molar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Molar has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Molar has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Molar wants to get back to his feet but Plouman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Plouman trying to control but Molar is working from the bottom.

Plouman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Molar keeping moving, preventing Plouman from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Plouman might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Molar haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plouman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Molar circles away.
Molar shoots in for a takedown but Plouman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Plouman changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Plouman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Molar.
And Plouman tries to counter it with a takedown but Molar pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Plouman avoids the body shot from Molar.
Molar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Plouman was well out of range. Poor timing from Molar.
Plouman is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Molar throws a right and a left that both miss.
Plouman with the counter takedown but Molar avoids it easily.
Molar misses with a combination

and Plouman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Plouman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Plouman seems to be working for a kimura but Molar defends the submission attempt.

Plouman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Molar sees it coming and defends easily.

Plouman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molar is trying to get back to full guard.
Plouman is trying to control. Molar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Plouman looking for a submission but Molar manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Plouman sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Molar's guard.

Plouman is looking for a kimura here.

Plouman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Molar pushes Plouman off looking to stand but Plouman dives back in and keeps control.
Molar trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Molar is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rodrigo Plouman will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Plouman shoots in for a takedown but Molar shows good takedown defense.
Molar throws a shot from downtown. Plouman moves away and avoids it.
Molar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Plouman changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Plouman dives in for a single leg takedown but Molar sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Molar misses with a jab to the body

and Plouman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Molar keeping moving, preventing Plouman from controlling successfully.

Molar is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Plouman tries for a takedown. No joy.
Koya Molar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Plouman.
Molar misses with a punch on the inside.
Plouman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Molar pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Molar throws a head punch that misses.
Molar stops a takedown attempt from Plouman.

Plouman has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Molar regains guard immediately.

Molar is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Plouman gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Molar regains guard.
Molar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Plouman looking for submissions off his back.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Molar in particular looking to stall.
Plouman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Plouman trying to control the position.
Molar trying to control but Plouman is working from the bottom.
Rodrigo Plouman has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Molar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Molar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Plouman is keeping the position for now.
Molar trying to control but Plouman is working from the bottom.

Plouman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Molar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Plouman working for submissions but it's allowed Molar to get to half guard.
Plouman tries to roll over but Molar keeps him under control.

Plouman looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Plouman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Plouman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Molar is trying to control the action in half guard but Plouman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Plouman trying to control from the bottom.
Plouman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Plouman looking for submissions off his back.

Plouman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Molar pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Molar keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Molar wants to stand but Plouman has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Molar in particular looking to stall.

Plouman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Molar pulls his head out easily.
Molar passes to full mount!
Plouman tries to hold on but Molar postures up.
Plouman is desperately trying to improve his position but Molar has a good base and remains in mount.
Plouman tries to hold on but Molar pushes him away.
Plouman is looking to get to half guard.
Molar content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koya Molar dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Molar throws a series of punches but Plouman moves out of range.
Plouman is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Molar throws a right and a left that Plouman avoids nicely.
And Plouman tries to counter it with a takedown but Molar pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Molar misses with a hook

and Plouman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Plouman.
Molar can't keep his opponent in guard - Plouman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Plouman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Molar is looking to improve his position.
Plouman wants to take a breather but Molar is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Plouman seems to be looking for submissions.
Molar is trying to maintain the position but Plouman is very close to passing his half guard.

Plouman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Plouman is thwarting Molar's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plouman is keen to just control but Molar is a slippery customer.
Molar wants to improve his position but Plouman is controlling well.

Plouman is trying to work for a kimura but Molar is defending well.
Plouman trying to control from half guard but Molar is working away.

Plouman is looking for a kimura here.
Molar is trying to stand back up but Plouman is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Plouman trying to mount his opponent but Molar defends it.
Plouman trying to control from half guard but Molar is working away.
Molar looks like he's trying to stand up.

Plouman seems to be working for a kimura but Molar defends the submission attempt.
Molar is not content to let Plouman control the position.
Molar is looking to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Plouman slips a straight right by Molar.
Plouman with the counter takedown but Molar avoids it easily.
Molar tests Plouman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Molar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plouman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Molar.
Plouman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Plouman shoots in but Molar avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Molar keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A lazy left from Molar finds it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Molar misses the target.
Molar has his takedown stuffed

and Plouman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Plouman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Molar sees it coming and defends easily.
Molar is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Plouman is trying to work for a kimura but Molar is defending well.
Plouman passes to full mount!

Plouman moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Molar has worked his arm free - good work by Molar!
You can see the frustration on Molar's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Molar is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Plouman is controlling him well.

Plouman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Molar, who protects the arm well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Molar is trying to control Plouman's posture but Plouman avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Molar is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Plouman asserts his dominance and retains side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Plouman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Plouman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Plouman!
An out of breath and clearly excited Rodrigo Plouman thanked Spartan Nutrition for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).