PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Larry Underwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Rodrigues (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.

Underwood
vs
Rodrigues

190 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

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 The Island, Larry Underwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Luis Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Rodrigues or perhaps it was just good defense by Underwood, which made it look bad.
Rodrigues shoots in looking for a takedown. Underwood tries to sprawl out of it but Rodrigues keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Underwood manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Underwood circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rodrigues misses with a takedown attempt - Underwood sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Larry Underwood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Rodrigues.

Underwood shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Underwood stands up from half guard.
Rodrigues throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Underwood tries for a takedown but Rodrigues sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A nice side step and Rodrigues releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Rodrigues misses with a two punch combination.
Underwood tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rodrigues sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Underwood somewhat.
Underwood sets himself, and Rodrigues steps forward looking for the clinch! Underwood avoids it this time.
Rodrigues wants to clinch.
Underwood throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rodrigues fails in his attempt to clinch.
Underwood avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Underwood is looking to counter the offense by Rodrigues and move into the clinch.
A punch combination from Underwood misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Underwood.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Underwood circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rodrigues lets loose with a powerful body kick. Underwood will feel that in the morning.
Rodrigues scores with a three punch combo!
Rodrigues misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rodrigues tries to keep at a distance but Underwood has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Underwood prevents Rodrigues from breaking the clinch.
Rodrigues wants to get back to striking at distance but Underwood won't allow it.
Rodrigues jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Underwood walks away with a smile on his face. Rodrigues gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rodrigues shoots and misses

and Underwood counters by moving into the clinch.
Rodrigues jumps guard but Underwood turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Underwood goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rodrigues prevents it.
Underwood drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rodrigues gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Underwood jumps into guard, dragging Rodrigues to the mat.
Rodrigues must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rodrigues wants to control from the top but Underwood keeps moving.
Rodrigues being controlled here momentarily.
Underwood bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rodrigues's guard.

Underwood content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Underwood defends well.
Underwood showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Underwood passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Underwood dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Underwood misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rodrigues fails with a takedown attempt.
Underwood feinted with a counter takedown.
Rodrigues defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Underwood.

Underwood has Rodrigues up against the cage in a clinch.
Underwood is trying to drag Rodrigues to the mat but Rodrigues just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry Underwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Underwood's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodrigues doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Underwood counters with a three punch combo that has Rodrigues backing up. Rodrigues nods at Underwood to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues shoots for a takedown but Underwood saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rodrigues misses with a takedown
and Underwood counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Underwood fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rodrigues fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodrigues stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rodrigues wants it to stay on the feet.
Underwood shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodrigues as he jumps to the side.

Underwood drives through and clinches with Rodrigues against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues looking to throw knees to the head but Underwood is blocking nicely.

Underwood pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Underwood gets a double leg takedown into Rodrigues's guard.
Rodrigues wants to get back to his feet but Underwood passes into half guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Underwood works his way into full mount!
Larry Underwood overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodrigues wants to control but Underwood is having none of it.
Underwood looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Underwood tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Underwood gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's four 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.
Rodrigues will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rodrigues moves out of range of the body kick.
Underwood dives in and grabs Rodrigues's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rodrigues pushes down on Underwood's head and hops out.
Rodrigues displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Underwood.
Rodrigues is looking to clinch but Underwood is avoiding it.
Rodrigues tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rodrigues tries for a takedown but Underwood sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Underwood appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodrigues has his takedown stuffed

and Underwood counters by moving into the clinch.
Underwood drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Underwood dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Underwood moves into the clinch.
Underwood wants a takedown.
Underwood drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rodrigues pulls his leg out and moves away.

Underwood gets a clinch.
Rodrigues throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Underwood blocks it with crossed arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues is trying to break the clinch but Underwood is controlling him.

Underwood breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodrigues tries to clinch there but Underwood circles away.
Underwood shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rodrigues sprawls well. Rodrigues wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Underwood gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry Underwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodrigues scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Underwood throws Rodrigues to one side and escapes!
Rodrigues lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Larry Underwood has been cut.
Rodrigues tries to clinch there but Underwood circles away.
Underwood lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodrigues showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Underwood.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Underwood scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to improve position but can't.
Underwood taking a breather here.
Sloppy strikes there by Underwood.

Underwood thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rodrigues is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Underwood stands up and beckons Rodrigues to his feet.
Rodrigues stuffs the takedown attempt from Underwood. Underwood gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Underwood as he jumps to the side.
Larry Underwood is winning the standup battle so far.
Rodrigues has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Underwood.
Nice sprawl there from Underwood as Rodrigues shoots in.
Underwood is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodrigues can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rodrigues tries for a takedown but Underwood circles away easily

and Underwood holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Underwood manages to pull guard.
Underwood has control of Rodrigues's left arm, preventing Rodrigues from doing any damage.

Rodrigues gets to his feet - Underwood follows without any prompting.
No luck for Underwood with that takedown attempt.
Rodrigues throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Underwood's waist but Underwood gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodrigues off to one side.
Luis Rodrigues has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larry Underwood is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rodrigues.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Underwood showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Underwood 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Underwood!