PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Corey Rodriguez (ranked 4903 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammed Al Shazlee (ranked 5125 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rodriguez
vs
Al Shazlee

185 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Corey Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mohammed Al Shazlee!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rodriguez!
Rodriguez checks a low kick from Al Shazlee.
Al Shazlee throws a series of punches but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Rodriguez drops down looking for a counter takedown but Al Shazlee sprawls and moves away.

Al Shazlee darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez is looking to improve his position.
Al Shazlee wants to free his trapped foot but Rodriguez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rodriguez is not content to let Al Shazlee control the position.
Al Shazlee throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Al Shazlee has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Shazlee thows a huge punch but Rodriguez dodges it nicely.
Rodriguez moves into full guard.
Al Shazlee is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Al Shazlee sitting in guard here, content to control.
Al Shazlee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Al Shazlee tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.
Al Shazlee trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Al Shazlee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Al Shazlee trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rodriguez swats away the attempt to clinch by Al Shazlee.
Rodriguez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Al Shazlee is fending him off so far but Rodriguez persists. Nope, Al Shazlee circles away and we're back to standing.

Al Shazlee bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Al Shazlee in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Al Shazlee stands up and beckons Rodriguez to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Al Shazlee.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.
Al Shazlee feints the counter takedown.
Al Shazlee fails with a takedown attempt.

Al Shazlee shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Al Shazlee trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez controlling Al Shazlee's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Shazlee throws a big elbow that misses.
Al Shazlee trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Shazlee pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Shazlee controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohammed Al Shazlee dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Al Shazlee is looking to clinch but Rodriguez is avoiding it.
Rodriguez lands a nice hook to Al Shazlee's body. Al Shazlee takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rodriguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Al Shazlee throws a head kick that misses.
Al Shazlee slips a jab and a cross from Rodriguez.
Al Shazlee does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rodriguez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Al Shazlee is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rodriguez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodriguez attempts a counter takedown but Al Shazlee avoids it well and moves away.
Al Shazlee will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Al Shazlee looks for a takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Al Shazlee or perhaps it was just good defense by Rodriguez, which made it look bad.
Corey Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Al Shazlee.
Rodriguez cracks Al Shazlee with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Al Shazlee prevents it.
Rodriguez prevents the takedown attempt.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but Al Shazlee blocks it.
Al Shazlee is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Al Shazlee fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rodriguez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Shazlee jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rodriguez walks away with a smile on his face. Al Shazlee gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Al Shazlee gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Al Shazlee goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rodriguez prevents it.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Corey Rodriguez is winning the standup battle so far.
Al Shazlee dives in for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Al Shazlee is breathing heavily.
Al Shazlee stuffs the takedown.
Corey Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Shazlee shoots and misses
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Al Shazlee shoots in but no luck this time.
Rodriguez lands with a slapping head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Al Shazlee leaves Rodriguez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Al Shazlee shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Rodriguez darts in and clinches Al Shazlee up against the cage.
Al Shazlee wants to get back to striking at distance but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Rodriguez keeps control of Al Shazlee as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rodriguez is struggling to control the position.
Al Shazlee has had enough of the clinch but Rodriguez keeps him there for the moment.
Al Shazlee wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Rodriguez as the two fighters clinch.
Al Shazlee can't break the clinch.
Al Shazlee is trying to break free.
Al Shazlee tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Al Shazlee is trying to pull guard but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.
Rodriguez fails to pull guard.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rodriguez prevents Al Shazlee from breaking the clinch.
Rodriguez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Shazlee can do to turn this around?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Shazlee fails to pull guard.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez connects with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Rodriguez dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Al Shazlee misses with a head kick.

Al Shazlee shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rodriguez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Al Shazlee tries to stand but Rodriguez is controlling his head.
Rodriguez is letting Al Shazlee control him for a moment.
Al Shazlee tries to stand but Rodriguez is controlling his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Shazlee working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Shazlee is trying to get an arm triangle but Rodriguez is defending well.
Al Shazlee throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Al Shazlee working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rodriguez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Al Shazlee happy to just control the position for now.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two 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.
Al Shazlee shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rodriguez as he avoids it easily.
Al Shazlee fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Al Shazlee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Al Shazlee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to counter with a takedown but Al Shazlee is quick to defend against it.
Al Shazlee tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rodriguez forces Al Shazlee back against the cage and clinches.
Al Shazlee tries to pull guard but Rodriguez holds him up against the cage and eventually Al Shazlee drops back down to his feet.
Corey Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Al Shazlee.
Rodriguez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Al Shazlee gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Al Shazlee swings wildly with an uppercut but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.
Al Shazlee is looking to land body kicks.
Rodriguez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rodriguez scores with a head kick. Al Shazlee tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rodriguez checks a low kick from Al Shazlee.
Al Shazlee tries to clinch up.
Al Shazlee tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Al Shazlee displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rodriguez.
Al Shazlee misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rodriguez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Al Shazlee manages to circle out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown but Al Shazlee shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Al Shazlee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Al Shazlee shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodriguez but Rodriguez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Al Shazlee moves in looking to clinch but Rodriguez pushes him off.
Al Shazlee closes the distance and clinches up with Rodriguez, looking for a takedown. Al Shazlee pushes Rodriguez against the cage but Rodriguez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez drops down looking for a counter takedown but Al Shazlee sprawls and moves away.
Al Shazlee with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rodriguez counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Al Shazlee shoots in looking for a takedown but Rodriguez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Al Shazlee's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rodriguez throwing a counter right hand but Al Shazlee manages to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodriguez looks for a takedown but Al Shazlee sprawls well.

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 Corey Rodriguez.
I think Rodriguez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Corey Rodriguez!