PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Rodrigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kukulcan Tonga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pablo Rodrigo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kukulcan Tonga's chin.

Rodrigo
vs
Tonga

175 cm
28
160 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

181 cm
28
162 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pablo Rodrigo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Kukulcan Tonga!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonga does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tonga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodrigo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A combination from Rodrigo does no damage.
Rodrigo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tonga paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tonga tries a quick counter leg kick but Rodrigo is wise to it.

Tonga moves into range and clinches up with Rodrigo.
Rodrigo prevents a body shot from Tonga.
Tonga tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tonga misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Tonga fails to land.
Tonga works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rodrigo scores with a shot to the side of Tonga's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonga swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tonga misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Tonga.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tonga.
Tonga presses Rodrigo against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rodrigo looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigo blocks a body shot from Tonga.
Rodrigo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodrigo.
Tonga struggles to land a body shot inside as Rodrigo controls his hands.
Rodrigo misses with a body punch.
Tonga's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tonga lands a hook that snaps the head of Rodrigo backwards.
Tonga prevents Rodrigo from breaking the clinch.
Rodrigo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Tonga breaks from the clinch.
Rodrigo has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Wreckshop in the buildup to the fight.
Rodrigo tries to clinch up but Tonga circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rodrigo.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Tonga.

Rodrigo closes the distance and clinches.
Rodrigo is looking to break free of the clinch but Tonga has double underhooks.
Tonga misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tonga lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tonga gets through Rodrigo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Tonga.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tonga tries to work over Rodrigo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Tonga.
Rodrigo prevents a body shot from Tonga.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tonga.
Rodrigo is looking to control Tonga's arms but Tonga gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rodrigo has his back to the cage.
Tonga lands an uppercut.
Rodrigo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tonga has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Rodrigo seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Tonga can turn it around.
Tonga tries a body shot but Rodrigo blocks it.
Rodrigo lands a shoulder strike.
Tonga throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tonga misses with the head strike.
Tonga misses with a body punch.
Tonga misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Tonga.
Tonga misses with a punch to the body.
Tonga lands with a short shot to the head.

Tonga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Rodrigo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tonga misses with a body kick.
A good leg kick by Tonga.
Rodrigo connects with a looping right hand.
Tonga feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rodrigos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Tonga moves into the clinch successfully.
Tonga swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodrigo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tonga scores with a shoulder strike.
Tonga misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tonga lands with a short shot to the head.

Tonga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodrigo slips a straight right by Tonga.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodrigo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tonga connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo looks to clinch
and Tonga cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tonga scoring well with a low kick there.
Tonga lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Tonga cracks Rodrigo with a good jab.
Rodrigo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tonga swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
An inside leg kick lands from Tonga.
Tonga keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tonga connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tonga scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Rodrigo forces Tonga back against the cage and clinches.
Rodrigo tries to land a knee to the head but Tonga blocks with his arms.
Tonga misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodrigo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tonga misses with some punches.
Tonga lands a shot to the body.
Tonga throws a punch but it's blocked by Rodrigo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kukulcan Tonga dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rodrigo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rodrigo tries to clinch but Tonga is having none of it.
Tonga looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tonga looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tonga scores with a nice strike.
Kukulcan Tonga seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tonga lands a jab to the head.
Rodrigo moves out of range of the leg kick from Tonga.
A head kick misses from Tonga.
Tonga delivers a nice body kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tonga. That's going to slow Rodrigo down.
Tonga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodrigo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tonga motions for Rodrigo to come forward. Tonga throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rodrigo with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigo scores with a body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tonga.
Rodrigo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tonga uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rodrigo.
Tonga chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rodrigo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tonga.
Rodrigo was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Rodrigo has closed the distance and engaged Tonga in a clinch.
Tonga is pressed up against the cage. Rodrigo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tonga down to the mat. Tonga avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rodrigo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tonga.
Tonga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rodrigo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Rodrigo has managed to clinch.
Tonga lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rodrigo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tonga struggles to land a body shot inside as Rodrigo controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tonga lands with a left to the head.
Tonga throws a punch but it's blocked by Rodrigo.

Tonga breaks the clinch.
Rodrigo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tonga scoring well with a low kick there.
Tonga scores with a nice body kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tonga. That's going to slow Rodrigo down.
Rodrigo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tonga doesn't seem bothered though.
Rodrigo checks a low kick from Tonga.
Tonga tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rodrigo is able to avoid easily.
Rodrigo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rodrigo connects with a leg kick. Tonga looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rodrigo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tonga to score with a decent uppercut.
Rodrigo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tonga counters with a stiff right hand.
A swing and a miss from Rodrigo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonga works Rodrigo's body with a nice hook.
Rodrigo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tonga rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rodrigo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sloppy strikes from Rodrigo. Those never looked like landing.
Tonga delivers a nice body kick.
Tonga turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tonga cracks the inside of Rodrigo's front leg.
Rodrigo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tonga moves away.
Rodrigo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tonga.
Tonga bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rodrigo's head.
Rodrigo scores with a three punch combo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tonga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodrigo gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Tonga counters with an inside leg kick.
Rodrigo tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo doesn't manage to clinch there - Tonga circles away.
Rodrigo lands a nice shot that snaps Tonga's head back.
Rodrigo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tonga.
Tonga misses with a low kick.
Rodrigo is looking to wear down Tonga with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Tonga fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tonga connects with a nice looking jab.
Rodrigo throws the kick towards the body but Tonga avoids it.
Rodrigo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tonga scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tonga connects with a leg kick. Rodrigo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rodrigo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Tonga counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kukulcan Tonga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tonga throws a hook to the side of Rodrigo's head but Rodrigo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rodrigo throws a push kick but Tonga slaps the foot to one side.
Tonga throws a right hand that Rodrigo ducks under and follows up with a left that Rodrigo also avoids with ease.
Tonga lands a lovely overhand right.

Rodrigo closes the distance and clinches.
Rodrigo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tonga has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Good body shot from Tonga.
Rodrigo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tonga's elbow.
Rodrigo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rodrigo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tonga works on Rodrigo's body with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigo digs a right hand underneath Tonga's ribcage. Tonga let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Tonga softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rodrigo looking to throw knees to the head but Tonga is blocking nicely.

Tonga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rodrigo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rodrigo tries to clinch but Tonga is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonga slips under a jab.
Rodrigo tries to clinch but Tonga is having none of it.
Rodrigo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tonga.
Nice body kick from Tonga.
Rodrigo tries a low kick but Tonga avoids it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rodrigo.
Rodrigo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tonga. Tonga circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rodrigo tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodrigo throws a body punch but Tonga moves out of range.
Tonga fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tonga scores with a kick to the midsection.
No joy there for Tonga, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tonga cracks Rodrigo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pablo Rodrigo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kukulcan Tonga is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A punch combination from Tonga misses.
Tonga feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rodrigo's calf.
Rodrigo misses with a head kick.
Tonga misses with a leg kick.
Rodrigo throws a quick counter kick to the body but Tonga avoids it.
Tonga keeps the fight on the outside.
Tonga fakes the leg kick and cracks Rodrigo in the body.
Tonga moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Tonga connects with an inside leg kick.
Tonga lands an overhand right.
Tonga is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tonga pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tonga slips a jab and a cross from Rodrigo.
Tonga throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rodrigo missing with a left hand there. Tonga was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonga wants to land a leg kick but Rodrigo is out of range.
Rodrigo swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tonga throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rodrigo crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Tonga - the referee stops the clock and Rodrigo gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Tonga. Rodrigo manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Tonga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tonga.
Rodrigo will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Rodrigo throws a head kick that misses
and Tonga cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tonga scores with a shot to the body.
Tonga feints a jab promting Rodrigo to slip. Tonga then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rodrigo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Tonga circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tonga counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rodrigo takes one on the button.
Tonga bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodrigo takes a swing at Tonga's ribcage but misses.
Tonga scores with a nice right hand.
Tonga throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rodrigo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tonga fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A good leg kick by Tonga.
Rodrigo cracks Tonga with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tonga.
Rodrigo takes a swing at Tonga's ribcage but misses.
Rodrigo moves in looking to clinch but Tonga pushes him off.
Tonga thuds his right hand into Rodrigo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tonga throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rodrigo is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tonga.
Tonga cracks the inside of Rodrigo's front leg.
Tonga throws a head kick that Rodrigo semi-blocks.
Rodrigo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kukulcan Tonga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tonga 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kukulcan Tonga!
A very excited looking Kukulcan Tonga made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Pablo Rodrigo was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll be back'.