PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Munenori Ono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Rodri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Munenori Ono has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ono
vs
Rodri

196 cm
26
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
20
250 lbs
2 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Munenori Ono!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Rodri!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodri is defended easily by Ono.
Ono tries to counter with a takedown but Rodri is quick to defend against it.

Ono moves into the clinch.
Rodri throws a head punch that misses.

Ono's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodri doesn't manage to clinch there - Ono circles away.
Ono changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodri tries to avoid it but Ono manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodri to the ground. Rodri escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ono darts in and clinches Rodri up against the ropes.

Rodri manages to break the clinch.
Ono misses with a head kick.
Ono works the jab nicely.

It looks like Jose Rodri has been cut.
Ono misses with a head kick.
Rodri is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodri shoots for a double leg takedown but Ono sprawls well. He's pushed Rodri's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rodri shoots in and bounces Ono off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Ono is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rodri trying to control but Ono postures up.
Rodri wants to improve his position but Ono is controlling well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ono is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodri is trying to get back to full guard.
Ono controlling the pace.
Rodri is trying to maintain the position but Ono is very close to passing his half guard.
Well, if Ono is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rodri trying to control but Ono postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ono prevents Rodri from standing back up.
Rodri is trying to maintain the position but Ono is very close to passing his half guard.

Rodri looking for submissions off his back.
Ono trying to control the action but Rodri is working from the bottom.

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

Rodri gets caught flat footed, as Ono shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ono trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ono 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.
Rodri trying to keep a closed guard but Ono is proving a slippery customer.
Ono is looking to stand up but Rodri won't let him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ono in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ono stops Rodri from standing up.
Rodri can't keep his opponent in guard - Ono advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Munenori Ono dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jose Rodri's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rodri shoots for a double leg takedown but Ono sprawls well. He's pushed Rodri's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Ono rushes Rodri and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Ono wants a takedown.
Rodri doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rodri prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ono drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Munenori Ono. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ono pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Munenori Ono is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodri gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ono fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rodri is trying to pull guard but Ono has him pressed against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodri can't find room to land a body shot as Ono controls the action.
Rodri working hard to break the clinch.
Rodri taking a breather.
A left hand lands to the body for Ono.
Rodri has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ono after a bit of a struggle.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ono is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodri can do to turn this around?
Ono stops a takedown attempt from Rodri.
Rodri is looking for a takedown.
Rodri is breathing heavily.
Rodri is trying to break the clinch but Ono is controlling him.
Ono wants a takedown.
Ono prevents Rodri from breaking the clinch.
Ono is working for takedown but Rodri is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ono has Rodri pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Rodri manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rodri is pressed up against the ropes. Ono has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rodri down to the mat. Rodri avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ono fails with a takedown attempt.
Ono scores with a kick to the body.

Ono has Rodri up against the ropes in a clinch.

Ono breaks from the clinch.
Ono stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodri. Rodri gets slowly back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ono.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodri gets caught napping as Ono dives in and scores a takedown. Rodri manages to retain guard.
Ono looking to sit in guard and control but Rodri gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rodri prevents Ono from getting back to his feet.
Rodri trying to control but Ono is working from the bottom.
Ono bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rodri's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodri is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Munenori Ono overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodri working over Ono with some ground and pound. Ono looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Rodri is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rodri works his way into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodri trying to control the position but Ono is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Munenori Ono will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jose Rodri's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ono shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodri as he jumps to the side.
Ono shoots in looking for a takedown but Rodri manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ono's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rodri tries to counter by closing the distance.

Rodri 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.
Rodri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ono not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rodri trying to control but Ono is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodri won't allow Ono to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodri is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ono is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ono has escaped and now he's on top!

Ono slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ono tries to advance position but instead Rodri slips a leg back in to half guard.
Ono seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ono blocks the strikes from Rodri.
Ono is looking to advance position but Rodri won't allow it.
Ono trying to control the action but Rodri is working from the bottom.
Rodri trying to control here.
Ono is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Rodri is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ono pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ono trying to control the action but Rodri is working from the bottom.

Ono looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rodri has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ono is working away from the top position though.

That's four 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.
Ono wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodri keeps working.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rodri throws a nice looking combination but Ono bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rodri closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ono tries to score a body lock takedown but Rodri shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Munenori Ono. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ono lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodri tries to pull guard but Ono forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Rodri jumps guard but Ono stands there with Rodri around his waist. Rodri gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jose Rodri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Munenori Ono is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ono jumps into guard, dragging Rodri to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Munenori Ono.
Well Ono 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Munenori Ono!
In his post fight interview, Munenori Ono started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.