PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brady Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philip Lanston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rhodes
vs
Lanston

189 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brady Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Philip Lanston!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lanston works Rhodes's body with a nice hook.
Lanston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rhodes swivels and escapes.
Rhodes blocks the body kick.

Lanston clinches.
Lanston is trying to break free.

Rhodes breaks the clinch.
Lanston shoots in but Rhodes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lanston shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rhodes moves into the clinch.
Brady Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philip Lanston.
Rhodes leaning his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes stalls.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Rhodes for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Rhodes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rhodes takes the fight into the clinch.
Lanston tries to pull guard but Rhodes won't allow it.
Rhodes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lanston to keep the fight standing.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lanston takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Rhodes breaks the clinch.
Lanston goes for a double leg but Rhodes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rhodes continues to drive forward.
As Lanston tries to get set, Rhodes tries to push him back and clinch up but Lanston manages to avoid the attempt.
Lanston shoots in for a takedown but Rhodes shows good takedown defense.
Lanston misses with a two punch combination.
Lanston has a takedown stuffed.
Lanston fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lanston shoots in but Rhodes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Philip Lanston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lanston looks winded!
Rhodes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lanston tries to avoid it but Rhodes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lanston to the ground. Lanston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lanston wants to clinch up but Rhodes keeps it at a distance.
Rhodes throws a shot from downtown. Lanston moves away and avoids it.
Lanston gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rhodes counters by moving into the clinch.
Rhodes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rhodes controlling the action here for a moment.

Rhodes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes misses with a head kick.
As Rhodes backs off Lanston throws a huge counter combo but Rhodes manages to avoid it all.

Rhodes closes the distance and clinches.
Lanston lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rhodes backwards.
Rhodes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rhodes stalls.
Rhodes is looking to control Lanston's arms but Lanston gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rhodes has his back to the cage.
Rhodes pushes off an throws an elbow but Lanston leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rhodes is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Lanston lands a nice uppercut.
Rhodes prevents the takedown attempt.
Lanston is trying to break the clinch but Rhodes has him pressed against the cage.
Lanston wants to take the fight to the mat but Rhodes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Lanston tries to pull guard but Rhodes won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rhodes breaks the clinch.
Rhodes dives in for a single leg takedown but Lanston sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Rhodes moves into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rhodes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rhodes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Rhodes manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Rhodes. No joy for Lanston on that attempt.

Rhodes darts in and clinches Lanston up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rhodes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rhodes tries for a takedown but Lanston sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rhodes moves into range and clinches up with Lanston.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rhodes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Lanston manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Philip Lanston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rhodes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lanston sprawls well initially but Rhodes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Lanston is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rhodes pulls his head out easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rhodes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lanston is trying to get back to full guard.
Rhodes is thwarting Lanston's attempts to control the position.
Lanston is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rhodes scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lanston is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rhodes pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lanston trying to control from the bottom.
Rhodes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lanston tries to get to full guard but Rhodes has control of the leg.
Rhodes is nestled in close to Lanston, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lanston controlling the position well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lanston looking for submissions off his back.

Lanston manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Lanston shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rhodes as he jumps to the side.
Lanston tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rhodes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lanston tries to clinch but Rhodes moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes closes the distance and clinches up with Lanston, looking for a takedown. Rhodes pushes Lanston against the cage but Lanston circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lanston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rhodes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As Lanston tries to get set, Rhodes tries to push him back and clinch up but Lanston manages to avoid the attempt.
Lanston throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rhodes's waist but Rhodes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lanston off to one side.
Lanston is breathing heavily.

Rhodes gets a clinch.
Rhodes stops a takedown attempt from Lanston.
Brady Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philip Lanston.

Rhodes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lanston shoots in looking for a takedown. Rhodes tries to sprawl out of it but Lanston keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rhodes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rhodes's corner calls for a 1-2. Rhodes obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rhodes. Lanston does a little dance to reset his feet.

Lanston tries to keep at a distance but Rhodes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Brady Rhodes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rhodes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lanston as Rhodes tries to tie him up.
Lanston fails to pull guard.
Rhodes displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lanston up against the cage.

Rhodes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lanston fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brady Rhodes dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rhodes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lanston circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lanston wants to counter with a clinch but Rhodes pushes him away.
Lanston throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rhodes.
Lanston with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rhodes moves into the clinch.
Rhodes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rhodes tries to stall but Lanston uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rhodes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lanston to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lanston working hard to break the clinch.
Rhodes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lanston can do to turn this around?

Rhodes breaks the clinch.
Lanston shoots in for a takedown but Rhodes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lanston fails with a takedown attempt.
Brady Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philip Lanston.
Lanston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lanston shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rhodes pinned against the cage. Rhodes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rhodes circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rhodes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lanston is trying to pull guard but Rhodes has him pressed against the cage.
Lanston drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rhodes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rhodes stalling the fight.
Lanston is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rhodes to keep the fight standing.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rhodes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lanston with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rhodes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Rhodes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rhodes drives through with a takedown into guard.

Lanston has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rhodes off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rhodes tries to clinch there but Lanston circles away.
Lanston takes a swing at Rhodes's ribcage but misses.
Lanston throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rhodes's waist but Rhodes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lanston off to one side.

Rhodes closes the distance and clinches.
The referee calls for Rhodes to work.

Rhodes breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lanston misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lanston displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rhodes.
Lanston tries to clinch there but Rhodes circles away.
Lanston throws a combination. Rhodes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rhodes misses with a body shot.
Rhodes fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rhodes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lanston is looking to get back to is feet but Rhodes passes into side control.
Lanston is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Rhodes tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lanston tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brady Rhodes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rhodes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brady Rhodes!