PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Addy Hardini (ranked 6596 p4p, 423 weight class) and Edson Rodrigo (ranked 7869 p4p, 461 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Hardini
vs
Rodrigo

170 cm
25
152 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Addy Hardini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edson Rodrigo!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Chad Campbell and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hardini gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hardini lands an elbow that stopped Rodrigo in his tracks for a moment.
Hardini tries to land knees in the clinch but Rodrigo avoids the damage to the body.
Rodrigo is trying to pull guard but Hardini has him pressed against the cage.
Rodrigo avoids the elbow strike from Hardini, against the cage.
A short left from Rodrigo.

Rodrigo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardini swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hardini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hardini stuffs the takedown.
Rodrigo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hardini tries to avoid it but Rodrigo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hardini to the ground. Hardini escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Addy Hardini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edson Rodrigo.
Rodrigo tries to bum rush Hardini with a series of wild strikes but Hardini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigo fails with the takedown
and Hardini counters with a two punch combo.
Nice uppercut there from Hardini.
Rodrigo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodrigo slaps away a takedown attempt from Hardini, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rodrigo feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodrigo clinches up with Hardini and pushes him back against the cage.
Hardini wants a takedown.
Rodrigo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hardini is defending well for now.

Rodrigo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hardini is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rodrigo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hardini wants to sweep but no luck.
Rodrigo is looking to work some ground and pound but Hardini has wrist control.
Hardini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardini has a closed guard, preventing Rodrigo from standing up.
Rodrigo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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

Rodrigo moves into the clinch successfully.
Rodrigo stalling against the cage.
Hardini with a knee to the head.
Hardini tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Rodrigo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodrigo takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardini lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rodrigo circles away quickly and effectively.
Rodrigo connects with a looping right hand.
Rodrigo avoids the head kick by Hardini.
Rodrigo follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Hardini is breathing heavily.
Rodrigo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hardini is fending him off so far but Rodrigo persists. Nope, Hardini circles away and we're back to standing.
Hardini dives in and grabs Rodrigo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rodrigo pushes down on Hardini's head and hops out.
Hardini throws a head kick that misses.
Rodrigo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hardini's waist but Hardini gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodrigo off to one side.
Hardini wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rodrigo slips a jab and a cross from Hardini.
Rodrigo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hardini at a distance.

Rodrigo forces Hardini back against the cage and clinches.

Rodrigo decides to pull guard.
Hardini postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo wants to sweep but no luck.

Hardini avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rodrigo is trying to keep Hardini in close.

Rodrigo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hardini is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardini stopping the sweep attempt from Rodrigo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodrigo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rodrigo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hardini works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rodrigo wants to control from the top but Hardini keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Edson Rodrigo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rodrigo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hardini's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hardini duly obliges.
Addy Hardini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rodrigo moves into the clinch successfully.
Hardini misses with a knee to the head.
Hardini lands a nice knee to the body.
Rodrigo avoids a wild elbow strike from Hardini.

Rodrigo jumps into guard, dragging Hardini to the mat.
Rodrigo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hardini.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardini postures up in Rodrigo's guard and throws a big left but Rodrigo blocks it.
Rodrigo trying to control the position.
Hardini wants to stand but Rodrigo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rodrigo working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hardini.

Rodrigo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hardini defends well.
Hardini throws a big right hand that misses.
Rodrigo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rodrigo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hardini throwing strikes from guard but Rodrigo blocks nicely.
Hardini stopping the sweep attempt from Rodrigo.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.
Hardini looking to pass the guard.
Rodrigo is trying to control the position but Hardini postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodrigo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rodrigo raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Hardini misses the shot to the body.
Rodrigo looks to land a combination. Hardini sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hardini lands a high kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hardini tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodrigo looks for a takedown but Hardini sprawls well.
Rodrigo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Addy Hardini is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardini swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hardini swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rodrigo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hardini won't be happy with that.
Rodrigo controlling the position.
Hardini is not content to let Rodrigo control the position.

Rodrigo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardini is not content to let Rodrigo control the position.
Hardini takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hardini is not content to let Rodrigo control the position.
Rodrigo advances to full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Addy Hardini will probably get the nod.
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!

Rodrigo fails to land the takedown.
Hardini tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hardini lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rodrigo will feel that in the morning.
Rodrigo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rodrigo or perhaps it was just good defense by Hardini, which made it look bad.
Hardini is looking to counter punch.
Hardini plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardini tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Despite the aggression on Rodrigo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hardini is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardini throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rodrigo fails to land the takedown.
Addy Hardini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edson Rodrigo.
Hardini ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodrigo moves away.
Hardini stuffs the takedown.
Rodrigo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodrigo defending well as Hardini loads up on a big left hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hardini. That's going to slow Rodrigo down.

Rodrigo closes the distance and clinches.
Hardini lands an elbow inside.
Hardini unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Rodrigo pulls guard successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodrigo can do anything to dispel that myth.

Hardini stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rodrigo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hardini sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hardini thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardini scores with a head kick.
Hardini tries to bum rush Rodrigo with a series of wild strikes but Rodrigo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardini plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hardini misses with a head kick.
Rodrigo lands a two punch combo.

Rodrigo rushes Hardini and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rodrigo dodges an elbow strike from Hardini.

Rodrigo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rodrigo has Hardini up against the cage in a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardini with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rodrigo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Rodrigo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hardini is trying to keep an underhook but Rodrigo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hardini is staying active underneath Rodrigo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rodrigo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hardini knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rodrigo lands strikes from half guard.
Rodrigo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rodrigo wants to pass to mount but Hardini is defending the position.
Rodrigo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hardini knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rodrigo stands up out of the half guard.
Rodrigo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hardini.
Hardini takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Rodrigo clinches.
Rodrigo managing to block the knees to the body from Hardini.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodrigo dodges an elbow strike from Hardini.
Hardini misses with an elbow strike.

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 Addy Hardini.
I think Hardini 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Addy Hardini!