PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chad Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claudio Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas comes to the cage accompanied by Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO. Rodrigues is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Weight of my Pride . Claudio Rodrigues is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Thomas
vs
Rodrigues

185 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Claudio Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas forces Rodrigues back against the cage and clinches.

Rodrigues pulls guard successfully.
Thomas is looking to pass into half guard but Rodrigues pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rodrigues is in guard.

Thomas wants to sweep here but Rodrigues controlling him for the moment.

Rodrigues gets to his feet. Thomas looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Thomas forces Rodrigues back against the cage and clinches.
Thomas goes for a takedown attempt but Rodrigues pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rodrigues throws a body kick that misses

and Thomas counters with a crisp one two that drops Rodrigues! Thomas thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Rodrigues to his feet! Rodrigues is in big trouble!

Rodrigues dives in and scores a takedown into Thomas's guard.
Thomas is wriggling around but Rodrigues manages to pass to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Thomas tries to get to full guard but Rodrigues has control of the leg.
Rodrigues is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodrigues is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Thomas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rodrigues defends well and Thomas ends up having to push Rodrigues into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rodrigues tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rodrigues tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Thomas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodrigues but Rodrigues pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodrigues goes for a double leg but Thomas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Thomas continues to drive forward.

Thomas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rodrigues to the mat! Rodrigues manages to get full guard.
Rodrigues 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Thomas wants to stand but Rodrigues has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodrigues is retaining full guard.
Rodrigues trying to control the position.
Rodrigues looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodrigues, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rodrigues misses with a body kick.
Thomas tries to counter with a takedown but Rodrigues is quick to defend against it.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rodrigues as he avoids it easily.

Rodrigues scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Thomas tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Rodrigues controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rodrigues blocks Thomas's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rodrigues trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is wriggling around trying to escape.

Rodrigues looking for a guillotine from mount but Thomas is having none of it.
Thomas tries to hold on but Rodrigues pushes him away.
Thomas is trying to escape the mount.

Rodrigues looking for a guillotine from mount but Thomas is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Rodrigues dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rodrigues manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rodrigues keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Rodrigues looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.
Thomas postures up in Rodrigues's guard and throws a big left but Rodrigues blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodrigues working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Rodrigues keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
We've been hearing that Thomas has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues wants to stand but Thomas is controlling the position.

Rodrigues had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thomas defends it easily.
Thomas stands up over Rodrigues, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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.
Thomas connects with a couple of short punches.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thomas preventing the sweep.

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodrigues has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Rodrigues's legs - danger averted.
Thomas is in close to Rodrigues's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thomas controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Thomas connects with a couple of short punches.
Rodrigues has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control but Rodrigues is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Claudio Rodrigues has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rodrigues looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodrigues, not yet.
Rodrigues being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown but Rodrigues manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thomas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thomas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodrigues's waist but Rodrigues gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomas off to one side.
Rodrigues tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas thinks about countering with a head kick.

Thomas instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Thomas controlling the pace.

Rodrigues has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Thomas is on him like a limpet, forcing Rodrigues back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rodrigues's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Thomas jumps guard.
Rodrigues has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thomas is proving hard to escape from.
Thomas looking for a sweep. Not yet Thomas, not yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodrigues wants to get up but he can't break Thomas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
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 Chad Thomas will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Rodrigues moves to clinch but Thomas breaks away
and Thomas counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rodrigues dives in and grabs Thomas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes down on Rodrigues's head and hops out.
No joy there for Thomas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown but Rodrigues manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thomas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Rodrigues leaves Thomas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Rodrigues circles away easily

and Rodrigues counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Rodrigues 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Rodrigues is proving a slippery customer.
Thomas controlling the position.
Rodrigues prevents Thomas from getting back to his feet.
Rodrigues postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rodrigues slips nicely into half guard.
Rodrigues looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rodrigues controlling the pace.

That's two 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.
Thomas throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Thomas is controlling Rodrigues's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rodrigues is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Thomas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Rodrigues bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Thomas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rodrigues quickly recovers to half guard.

Rodrigues manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Thomas keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Thomas goes for a takedown attempt but Rodrigues pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rodrigues is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Rodrigues circles away and we're back to standing.

Rodrigues gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodrigues is pressed up against the cage. Thomas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rodrigues down to the mat. Rodrigues avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rodrigues throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.
Rodrigues tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas blocks the body kick.
As Rodrigues looks to move away, Thomas throws a big counter combo but Rodrigues just gets out of the way.

Thomas feints and as Rodrigues raises his hands in defense, Thomas changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rodrigues looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rodrigues is on top in guard.

Rodrigues trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Rodrigues is proving a slippery customer.
Rodrigues won't allow Thomas to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claudio Rodrigues comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rodrigues has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claudio Rodrigues!
Claudio Rodrigues bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
Chad Thomas spoke after the fight, saying 'Everyone gets a lucky one. I'll be back in this ring, and I'll show you all what perfection looks like once again.'.