PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rico Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Tobias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Tobias's choice of entrance music: Two Steps from Hell - Sons of War. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rodriguez
vs
Tobias

190 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rico Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Xavier Tobias!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tobias lands a glancing blow to the side of Rodriguez's head.
Tobias scores with a one two! Rodriguez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Tobias shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tobias.
Tobias trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rodriguez's guard.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tobias wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Tobias has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rodriguez is proving hard to escape from.
Rodriguez controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tobias thows a big elbow that misses.
Tobias wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is keeping the position.
Tobias wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tobias wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

Rodriguez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tobias doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tobias manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tobias wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

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.
Tobias working some strikes from top position.
Rodriguez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tobias is looking to work some ground and pound but Rodriguez has wrist control.

Rodriguez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tobias is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rodriguez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tobias's back instead.
Tobias trying to get back to his feet but Rodriguez is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Tobias right now.
Tobias looks gassed!

Rodriguez has his opponent's back but Tobias is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Rodriguez.
No luck for Tobias with that takedown attempt.
Xavier Tobias seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tobias lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rodriguez backs up against the cage.

Rodriguez feints and as Tobias raises his hands in defense, Rodriguez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rodriguez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tobias tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tobias is looking to stand up but Rodriguez isn't so interested in that idea.
Rodriguez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rodriguez with a nice head shot there.
Rodriguez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tobias's head.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Tobias keeps moving.
Tobias is trying to control the position but Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez stopping the sweep attempt from Tobias.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rico Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rodriguez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain a safe position but Tobias gets an underhook and turns Rodriguez into the cage.
Tobias fails to pull guard.

Tobias breaks the clinch.

Tobias closes the distance and pushes Rodriguez back into the cage.
Rodriguez wants a takedown but no success here.
Rodriguez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Rodriguez jumps into guard, dragging Tobias to the mat.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Tobias tries to pass.
Tobias wanted to stand there but Rodriguez had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tobias wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Tobias must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.

Rodriguez has an active guard here but Tobias has managed to pass into half guard.
Still in half guard, Tobias seems content to control.

Tobias stands up and beckons Rodriguez to join him on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodriguez misses with an uppercut.
Tobias tries to land a leg kick but Rodriguez saw it coming and moves away.
Tobias bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rodriguez's head backwards.

Rodriguez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tobias is trying to control Rodriguez's posture but Rodriguez avoids it.
Tobias tries to improve position but can't.
Rodriguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tobias keeps working.
Tobias is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tobias is looking to escape.

Rodriguez decides to return to a standing position.
Rodriguez avoids the head kick by Tobias.
Nice takedown defense from Tobias. No joy for Rodriguez on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tobias displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rodriguez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tobias bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rodriguez's head.

Rodriguez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rodriguez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tobias flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Tobias is not content to let Rodriguez control the position.
Rodriguez prevents Tobias from standing back up.
Tobias is trying to get back to full guard.

Tobias kicks off Rodriguez and gets to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Rodriguez dominated that second round.
That's time! Rodriguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tobias doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rodriguez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rodriguez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Tobias kicks Rodriguez off and gets back to his feet.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rodriguez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tobias is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rodriguez working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tobias is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Rodriguez moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Tobias has worked his arm free - good work by Tobias!
Tobias manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Tobias gets back to full guard.

Tobias uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tobias.
Tobias wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.
Rodriguez shoots and misses
and Tobias counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tobias throws a combination that misses

and Rodriguez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rodriguez.
Tobias 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.
Tobias trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rodriguez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Tobias has his feet on Rodriguez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rodriguez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rodriguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A left and a right from Tobias both land. Nice combination.
Rico Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Tobias closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rodriguez counters by moving into the clinch.
Tobias prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tobias breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Tobias. No joy for Rodriguez on that attempt.
Tobias throws a head kick that misses.
Tobias misses with a looping left.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt

and Tobias counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rodriguez's guard now.

Tobias stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Xavier Tobias has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tobias will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

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 Rico Rodriguez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodriguez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

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