PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivory Solis (ranked 25290 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcos Rodriguez (ranked 6421 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivory Solis has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Solis
vs
Rodriguez

214 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

194 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivory Solis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcos Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Solis moves into the clinch.

Rodriguez pulls guard.
Solis is fighting to break Rodriguez's control of his arms but Rodriguez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rodriguez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Solis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rodriguez's head.

Rodriguez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Solis defends it easily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodriguez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rodriguez pulls Solis in close to prevent any damage.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Solis is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez has control of Solis's left arm, preventing Solis from doing any damage.

Solis drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rodriguez dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Solis wants to sweep but no luck.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Solis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rodriguez throws a big elbow that misses.

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.
Rodriguez stays in close to Solis's body and controls the position.
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.
Rodriguez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rodriguez pushing down on Solis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rodriguez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rodriguez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Rodriguez forces Solis back against the cage and clinches.

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

Solis tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rodriguez successfully pulls guard.
Rodriguez wants to sweep but no luck.
Solis won't allow Rodriguez to get back to his feet.

Solis stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Marcos Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but Solis pushes him off.
Rodriguez tries a head kick but it misses.
Solis appears to be looking for a big counter.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Rodriguez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rodriguez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcos Rodriguez dominated that round.
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.

Rodriguez misses with a double jab.
Solis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Solis gets caught napping as Rodriguez dives in and scores a takedown. Solis manages to retain guard.
Rodriguez slips nicely into half guard.
Solis is looking for a sweep. Rodriguez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Rodriguez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Solis keeps working.
Well, if Rodriguez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Solis is defending against the submission attempts here by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two 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.
Solis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but Solis won't let him.
Rodriguez with a nice head shot there.
Rodriguez stays in close to Solis's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodriguez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rodriguez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez moves into range and clinches up with Solis.
Solis has Rodriguez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rodriguez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A head punch on the inside from Solis fails to land.
Rodriguez prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivory Solis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rodriguez jumps guard and drags Solis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rodriguez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rodriguez controlling Solis's posture.
Rodriguez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but Solis isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to control the position here.
Rodriguez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rodriguez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Solis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rodriguez has his foot on Solis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Solis works his way back into a safe position though.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Solis stands and steps away. Rodriguez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Solis moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Solis circles away easily
and Solis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcos Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rodriguez keeps the fight on the outside.
As Solis backs off Rodriguez throws a huge counter combo but Solis manages to avoid it all.

Rodriguez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Solis to the ground. Rodriguez is now in Solis's guard.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Solis keeps moving.

Rodriguez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Solis is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rodriguez, into his guard.

Solis advances to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rodriguez 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.
Solis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rodriguez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solis is standing up over Rodriguez. Rodriguez looks to escape but Solis dives into side control.

Solis decides to stand back up. Solis steps back and let's Rodriguez get back to his feet.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Solis gets a clinch.
Solis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Solis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Solis jumps guard but Rodriguez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivory Solis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Solis is looking to take this one to the mat.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown
and Solis counters with a nice body shot.
Solis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And Rodriguez responds with a good body kick, but Solis manages to step out the way in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez shoots in looking for a takedown but Solis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodriguez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Rodriguez shoots in and bounces Solis off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rodriguez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rodriguez stays in close to Solis's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Solis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Solis wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Rodriguez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Solis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

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.
Solis leaves Rodriguez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch successfully.
Solis working aggressively here.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez shoots in and drives through. Solis sprawls well.
Solis throws a right hand that Rodriguez ducks under and follows up with a left that Rodriguez also avoids with ease.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Solis tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Solis is looking to clinch but Rodriguez is avoiding it.

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 Ivory Solis.
I think Rodriguez 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcos Rodriguez!
Marcos Rodriguez thanked the fans post fight for their support.