PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Hope Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hope Jr comes to the cage accompanied by Dmx The Rain. Mario Rodrigues is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hope Jr
vs
Rodrigues

192 cm
18
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Billy Hope Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mario Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodrigues tries for a takedown but Hope Jr sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rodrigues is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hope Jr's half guard.
Rodrigues controlling the action here.
It looks like Rodrigues might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hope Jr wants to improve his position but Rodrigues is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues is taking a breather. Hope Jr says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hope Jr wants to get back to full guard.
Rodrigues wants to pass the guard but Hope Jr is defending well.
Rodrigues is taking a breather. Hope Jr says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hope Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hope Jr wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigues keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Rodrigues gets a double leg takedown into Hope Jr's guard.
Rodrigues is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rodrigues slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rodrigues controls the position.

Rodrigues decides to stand back up. Rodrigues steps back and let's Hope Jr get back to his feet.

Oooooh!!! Hope Jr has knocked Rodrigues down with a huge combo! Hope Jr steps away and waves a wobbly Rodrigues back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Rodrigues is rocked!

It looks like Mario Rodrigues has been cut.

Rodrigues shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rodrigues showed some decent athleticism there.
Rodrigues is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues wants to take a breather but Hope Jr is having none of it.
Rodrigues prevents Hope Jr from standing back up.
Rodrigues sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Rodrigues is looking for a kimura but Hope Jr is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rodrigues to get the leverage.
Rodrigues looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hope Jr manages to get to full guard.
Hope Jr is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hope Jr decides to return to a standing position.

Rodrigues bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rodrigues wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hope Jr keeps working.
Rodrigues prevents Hope Jr from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Billy Hope Jr will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Rodrigues's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hope Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hope Jr lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rodrigues leaves his chin hanging out and Hope Jr seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Rodrigues crumbles to the floor in a heap! The referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Billy Hope Jr!
Billy Hope Jr decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.