PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Mills (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rod Hackney (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.

Mills
vs
Hackney

155 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rodrigo Mills!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rod Hackney!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hackney looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mills is fending him off so far but Hackney persists. Nope, Mills circles away and we're back to standing.
Hackney dives in for a single leg takedown but Mills sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hackney tries for a takedown but Mills circles away easily

and Mills counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mills.
Rodrigo Mills has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rod Hackney.

Hackney working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mills doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mills manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Mills thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mills has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mills lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mills throwing strikes but missing.
Mills works over Hackney with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mills's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mills landing with the ground and pound.
Hackney is trying to control the position but Mills postures up.
Mills is working Hackney over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mills is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mills landing with the ground and pound.
Mills is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mills seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mills postures up in Hackney's guard and throws a big left but Hackney blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mills seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hackney utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hackney throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mills knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hackney on the ground.

Hackney scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Mills really is a fat lump.
Hackney fails with the takedown

and Mills counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mills.

Mills breaks the clinch.

Hackney throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mills tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hackney is in Mills's guard.
Mills 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.
Mills is adopting a defensive guard.
Mills trying to control the position.
Hackney wants to control from the top but Mills keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hackney wants to pass the guard but Mills is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mills is pulling down on Hackney's head to control his posture.
Hackney is working Mills over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mills looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hackney puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Mills regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mills looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hackney is one step ahead there.
Hackney being controlled here momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hackney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hackney tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mills swivels and escapes.
Hackney has his takedown stuffed
and Mills connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hackney tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mills paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Mills closes the distance and clinches.

Mills breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hackney fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodrigo Mills has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rod Hackney.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mills displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hackney.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hackney tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mills sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hackney somewhat.

Mills gets a clinch.
Mills is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hackney can do to turn this around?
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mills's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mills gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hackney.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Mills turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Hackney manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Mills looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Mills is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills prevents Hackney from improving his position.
Hackney throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mills content to control rather than advance.
Hackney wants to improve his position but Mills is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mills winds up and cracks Hackney with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hackney tries to get to full guard but Mills has control of the leg.
Hackney trying to control here.
Mills controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mills is thwarting Hackney's attempts to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Mills dominated that second round.
That's time! Mills's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mills moves into range and clinches up with Hackney.
Mills's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Mills gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hackney is trying to get back to full guard.
Mills is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mills is looking for a kimura but Hackney is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mills to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mills seems to be working for a kimura but Hackney defends the submission attempt.

Mills is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hackney defends it well.
Hackney tries to get to full guard but Mills has control of the leg.
Hackney trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Mills manages to pass to mount!
Hackney tries to reverse the position but Mills maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hackney is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mills breaks from Hackney's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mills controlling from mount.

Mills jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hackney is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hackney and Mills has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Mills scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hackney to see if he's OK.
Mills moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Mills throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hackney tries to buck Mills off but Mills is having none of it.
Hackney sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Mills is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hackney has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hackney trying to control here.

Mills is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hackney trying to control here.

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.
Hackney missing with punches from the bottom.
Hackney is trying to maintain the position but Mills is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rod Hackney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hackney shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mills pinned against the cage. Mills gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Mills showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mills has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Mills!