PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Hess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramon Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramon Rodriguez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Benjamin Hess's chin.

Hess
vs
Rodriguez

152 cm
25
178 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

178 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Benjamin Hess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ramon Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodriguez gets a takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hess makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hess.
Hess looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hess tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hess is controlling Rodriguez's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hess looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hess is controlling Rodriguez's posture.
Hess is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hess is pulling down on Rodriguez's head. It's preventing any offense from Rodriguez, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Hess is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hess seems keen to control Rodriguez's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hess wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hess swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodriguez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodriguez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hess trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to get up but he can't break Hess's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hess swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Hess is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hess really is a fat lump.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Hess is keeping the position.
Hess is pulling down on Rodriguez's head to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rodriguez blocks a head kick by Hess.

Rodriguez takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.

Rodriguez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hess looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hess can't do much from the bottom here.
Hess tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rodriguez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hess manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rodriguez trying to control here.
Rodriguez wants to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rodriguez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to keep Hess in close.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Hess is controlling the position.
Hess's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rodriguez controlling Hess's posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriguez is continuing to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramon Rodriguez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rodriguez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hess manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Hess keeps moving.
Hess seems keen to control Rodriguez's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hess has a closed guard, preventing Rodriguez from standing up.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Hess keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hess looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hess trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.

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

Rodriguez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ground and pound from Rodriguez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rodriguez tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hess's legs.
Hess is trying to control Rodriguez's posture but Rodriguez avoids it.
Hess is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hess is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rodriguez off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez rolls, trying to escape but Hess keeps control of the position.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.

Hess has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rodriguez has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Hess is not going to allow Rodriguez to sit and survive in this position.

Hess looking to break Rodriguez's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rodriguez remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Hess will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to escape the position.

Rodriguez defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hess's arms.
You can see the frustration on Rodriguez's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Can Rodriguez hold on?! Hess is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Ramon Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hess is punishing Rodriguez with strikes - can he finish him?!
Rodriguez wants to escape the position.
Hess slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Rodriguez is trying to remain composed but Hess is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Rodriguez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Rodriguez looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Hess controlling from the back.
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 Benjamin Hess will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A combination from Hess does no damage.

Rodriguez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hess was covering up waiting for the punch and Rodriguez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hess is wriggling around but Rodriguez manages to pass to half guard.

Hess is controlling Rodriguez's trapped leg to prevent Rodriguez from advancing to side control.
Hess is looking for a sweep. Rodriguez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hess holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hess is trying to get back to full guard.
Hess is staying active underneath Rodriguez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hess has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rodriguez is working away from the top position though.
Rodriguez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hess's head.
Rodriguez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rodriguez controlling the action here.
Rodriguez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hess is trying is best to control the position here.
Hess wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hess manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hess looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hess is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rodriguez controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Rodriguez pushes Hess up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez jumps guard and drags Hess to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hess keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rodriguez's head.
Hess might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hess postures up.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hess passes into side control.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hess landing strikes.
Hess lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rodriguez is trying to improve his position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to control but Hess manages to take his back.
Rodriguez can't escape the position.
Hess scores with punches from the back.
Rodriguez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Hess softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Hess. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Hess loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Rodriguez hold on?

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Hess showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hess has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Hess!