PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Donnell Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Santos
vs
Rodriguez

162 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Donnell Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez tries to land a front kick but Santos steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Santos looks to land a combination but Rodriguez avoids it well.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Santos.

Rodriguez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rodriguez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Santos is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodriguez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rodriguez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Santos is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos seems a little lost for a moment, as Rodriguez dominates the positioning.
Santos really is a fat lump.
Santos wants to control but Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rodriguez trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos is being controlled here.
Rodriguez trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos is looking to regain half guard here but Rodriguez keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rodriguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos keeps working.

Rodriguez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The strikes coming from Rodriguez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The referee asks Rodriguez politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rodriguez prefers to stall for the moment though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands a body shot.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rodriguez enables Santos to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rodriguez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Santos is in close to Rodriguez's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Santos drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rodriguez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rodriguez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rodriguez!
Rodriguez trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Santos sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Rodriguez swings around for an armbar but Santos sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rodriguez's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez has a closed guard, preventing Santos from standing up.
Rodriguez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rodriguez has a closed guard, preventing Santos from standing up.
Rodriguez wants to sweep here but Santos controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriguez keeps trying to improve his position.

Rodriguez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Santos defends well.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Santos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's time! Santos's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rodriguez tries to clinch up but Santos circles away and keeps his distance.

Rodriguez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rodriguez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Rodriguez stands up and waves to Santos to follow him.
A head kick misses from Rodriguez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos tries a head kick but it misses.

Rodriguez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Santos!

Santos throws Rodriguez to one side and escapes!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rodriguez tries to bum rush Santos with a series of wild strikes but Santos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Santos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez avoids it really well and circles away.
Rodriguez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santos.
Matt Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santos doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.

Rodriguez drives through with a takedown into Santos's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Santos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is looking to work some ground and pound but Santos has wrist control.
Rodriguez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Santos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodriguez is controlling him.
Rodriguez postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rodriguez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Rodriguez gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to control. Santos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rodriguez thows a huge punch but Santos dodges it nicely.
Santos trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Rodriguez looking to control but Santos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rodriguez wants to control the action but instead Santos gets a body lock and reverses into Rodriguez's guard! Nice work!

That's four 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.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santos is one step ahead there.

Santos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rodriguez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rodriguez has escaped and now he's on top!
Rodriguez throwing strikes from guard but Santos blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodriguez manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Santos's guard.

Santos kicks Rodriguez off and gets to his feet.
Rodriguez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santos.
Rodriguez scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Donnell Santos has been cut.
Rodriguez moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rodriguez instigates a clinch.
Santos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rodriguez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Santos kicks Rodriguez off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Rodriguez lands but Santos takes it in his stride.
Rodriguez misses with a head kick.
Rodriguez throws a low kick, looking for Santos's leg but Santos calmly moves out of range.
Santos throws a body punch but Rodriguez moves out of range.

Rodriguez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rodriguez decides to stand back up.
Rodriguez wants to clinch up but Santos keeps it at a distance.

Santos gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rodriguez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santos trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Santos is proving hard to escape from.
Rodriguez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Santos seems keen to control Rodriguez's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos is looking to stand up but Rodriguez isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rodriguez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriguez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rodriguez postures up in Santos's guard and throws a big left but Santos blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rodriguez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Santos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodriguez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodriguez smiles and moves away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Donnell Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Rodriguez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Santos swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rodriguez moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Rodriguez.
Well Rodriguez 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

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