PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stachu Cwikla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rhodes has chosen Imperial March (L.O.D. Rage Mix) as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Cwikla
vs
Rhodes

167 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

174 cm
18
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stachu Cwikla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randy Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cwikla misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rhodes with a hook.
Cwikla tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rhodes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rhodes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cwikla is breathing heavily.

Rhodes has Cwikla up against the cage in a clinch.
Rhodes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cwikla avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rhodes slows down the pace here.
Rhodes stalling in the clinch but Cwikla improves position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cwikla is defending well for now.
Cwikla stops a takedown attempt from Rhodes.
Rhodes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stachu Cwikla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Rhodes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cwikla walks away with a smile on his face. Rhodes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stachu Cwikla is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cwikla tries to clinch there but Rhodes circles away.
Cwikla looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Cwikla forces Rhodes back against the cage and clinches.

Rhodes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rhodes thuds a left hand into Cwikla's body.
Cwikla tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cwikla tries to clinch but Rhodes is having none of it.

Rhodes rushes Cwikla and presses him up against the cage.
Rhodes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rhodes tries for a takedown but Cwikla manages to get underhooks.
Rhodes is pushing Cwikla up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cwikla tries a knee to the head but Rhodes blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rhodes successfully pulls guard.
Cwikla stopping the sweep attempt from Rhodes.

Cwikla decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rhodes, up you get!
Cwikla tries to clinch but Rhodes moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cwikla looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rhodes goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Stachu Cwikla has been cut.
Rhodes shoots in but Cwikla avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cwikla swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rhodes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cwikla swivels and escapes.
Cwikla was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rhodes keeps the fight on the outside.
Rhodes is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cwikla with a body shot.
Cwikla lands a jab to the nose.
Rhodes moves in looking to clinch but Cwikla pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cwikla moves into the clinch successfully.
Rhodes'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.
Cwikla avoiding damage as Rhodes throws knees to the body.
Rhodes wants to stall.

Rhodes drags the fight down to the ground.
Rhodes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cwikla is controlling him.
Cwikla would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cwikla postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cwikla decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Rhodes scores with a takedown into Cwikla's guard.
Rhodes throws a big right hand that misses.

Rhodes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Rhodes gets a double leg takedown into Cwikla's guard.
Rhodes 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.

Rhodes gets to his feet - Cwikla follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Rhodes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stachu Cwikla's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rhodes throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cwikla's head.
Cwikla tries to close the distance and clinch but Rhodes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rhodes shoots in for a takedown but Cwikla shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rhodes's coach down at Rip Shit Riot Yoga Club was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Rhodes's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Cwikla misses with a straight right.
Cwikla throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rhodes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rhodes fails with a takedown attempt.
Cwikla appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cwikla looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rhodes shoots in for a takedown but Cwikla shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stachu Cwikla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Rhodes.
Rhodes misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cwikla misses with a hook. Rhodes ducked under it nicely.

Rhodes dives in and scores a takedown into Cwikla's guard.
Rhodes trying to control the position from guard on top but Cwikla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rhodes stands up and waves to Cwikla to follow him.

Rhodes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rhodes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rhodes throws a big elbow that misses.
Rhodes trying to control but Cwikla is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cwikla being controlled here, momentarily.
Rhodes landing with the ground and pound.
Rhodes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rhodes trying to control the position from guard on top but Cwikla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rhodes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes is looking to clinch but Cwikla is avoiding it.
Rhodes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cwikla avoids it really well and circles away.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rhodes.
Rhodes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cwikla circles away.
Rhodes misses with a takedown attempt - Cwikla sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rhodes shoots in for a takedown but Cwikla shows good takedown defense.
Rhodes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cwikla.
Rhodes darts in looking for a takedown but Cwikla gets double underhooks and turns Rhodes into the cage.
Cwikla scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes is looking to clinch.
Rhodes misses with a wild body shot.
No luck for Rhodes with that takedown attempt.
Rhodes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cwikla as he jumps to the side.
Cwikla keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rhodes fails to land the takedown.
Cwikla misses with a shot to the body
and Rhodes counters with a big head kick but Cwikla shrugs it off.
Rhodes tries to clinch up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cwikla wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Randy Rhodes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Stachu Cwikla's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rhodes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cwikla tries to clinch but Rhodes moves out of range.
Cwikla avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cwikla throws a big shot that misses.
Rhodes shoots in for a double leg but Cwikla sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rhodes tries to clinch but Cwikla moves out of range.
Cwikla stuffs the takedown.
Stachu Cwikla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Rhodes.

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

Cwikla has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rhodes is on him like a limpet, forcing Cwikla back against the cage.
Rhodes stalling in the clinch but Cwikla improves position.
Rhodes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cwikla just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rhodes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cwikla prevents it.
Rhodes tries to pull guard but Cwikla holds him up against the cage and eventually Rhodes drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cwikla throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rhodes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rhodes is trying to trip Cwikla. He has hold of a leg but Cwikla is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rhodes persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Rhodes with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rhodes gets to his feet. Cwikla looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cwikla pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cwikla tries to clinch up but Rhodes circles away and keeps his distance.

Rhodes drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rhodes trying to control but Cwikla is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cwikla keeping moving, preventing Rhodes from controlling successfully.
Rhodes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cwikla haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes is looking to work some ground and pound but Cwikla has wrist control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cwikla defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rhodes.
A little feinted left hand from Cwikla on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rhodes shoots in looking for a takedown but Cwikla manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rhodes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rhodes takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Rhodes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cwikla tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Rhodes tries to control but Cwikla wriggling away.

Rhodes goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Cwikla is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Randy Rhodes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rhodes has a closed guard, preventing Cwikla from standing up.
Rhodes working a defensive guard here.
Stachu Cwikla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rhodes manages to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stachu Cwikla.
I think Rhodes 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Rhodes!
In his post fight interview, Randy Rhodes started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.