PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Rodgers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodgers's entrance music is Right Now - Korn. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Vasquez's choice of entrance music: Careless Whisper. James Rodgers had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rodgers
vs
Vasquez

191 cm
20
222 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
21
210 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Hellbent, Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Rodgers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Vasquez with that takedown attempt.
Rodgers throws a head kick that misses.
Vasquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodgers keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
James Rodgers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Vasquez.
Rodgers stuffs the takedown.
Rodgers misses with a straight right.
Vasquez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodgers's waist but Rodgers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vasquez off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Rodgers closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vasquez to the mat! Vasquez manages to get full guard.
Rodgers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Vasquez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rodgers can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasquez working for a triangle but Rodgers defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rodgers thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Vasquez is looking for a triangle but Rodgers pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vasquez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vasquez looks gassed!
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Rodgers from controlling successfully.
Vasquez trying to control the position here.
Vasquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vasquez's guard.

Vasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vasquez has Rodgers pulled in close to control his posture.
Rodgers wanted to stand there but Vasquez had control of the position.
Rodgers won't allow Vasquez to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodgers wants to control from the top but Vasquez keeps moving.

Vasquez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Vasquez looking for a guillotine here but Rodgers defends easily.
Rodgers wants to get up but he can't break Vasquez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Vasquez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodgers doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodgers manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Vasquez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rodgers shoots and misses

and Vasquez counters with a single leg into guard. Rodgers didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodgers trying to keep a closed guard but Vasquez is proving a slippery customer.
Vasquez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vasquez wants to control from the top but Rodgers keeps moving.
Vasquez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Vasquez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez taking a breather here.
Rodgers wants to get back to his feet but Vasquez drags him back down.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodgers trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Vasquez is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

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.

Vasquez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Vasquez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rodgers is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Vasquez trying to control the position but Rodgers is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers trying to remain calm as Vasquez controls from the top position.
Rodgers tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Rodgers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Vasquez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Vasquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodgers keeps working.

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.
Vasquez taking a breather here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Michael Vasquez just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodgers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodgers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Vasquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rodgers with a lazy takedown attempt

and Vasquez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rodgers's guard.
Vasquez content to stall in guard here.

Vasquez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rodgers looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rodgers looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rodgers!
Vasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez gets back to half guard.

Vasquez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rodgers pulls his head out easily.
Rodgers wants to control but Vasquez is keeping him busy.
Vasquez is trying to control but can't.

Vasquez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rodgers pulls his head out easily.

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

and Vasquez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rodgers won't be happy with that.
Vasquez is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez advances nicely into full mount.
Vasquez trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Vasquez wants to finish this one by submission but Rodgers is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Vasquez.
Rodgers is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasquez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rodgers has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rodgers really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Vasquez controlling the position easily from mount.
Rodgers is trying to stand but he's just given Vasquez his back.
Rodgers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vasquez on the ground.

That's four 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.
Rodgers is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Vasquez.

Rodgers preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Vasquez.
James Rodgers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vasquez gets his hands free as Rodgers looks to control.

Vasquez working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Rodgers is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Vasquez has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Rodgers taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Michael Vasquez!