PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Emanuel Rodrigez (ranked 1839 p4p, 231 weight class) and Marcus Yonic (ranked 1436 p4p, 176 weight class). The key to victory for Emanuel Rodrigez has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rodrigez
vs
Yonic

188 cm
32
173 lbs
12 - 22 - 0

177 cm
27
185 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, Emanuel Rodrigez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Yonic!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yonic leaves Rodrigez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rodrigez misses with a wild combination.

Yonic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Yonic lands in his opponent's guard.
Rodrigez looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodrigez, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yonic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Yonic working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Yonic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yonic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rodrigez is trying to control the position but Yonic postures up.
Yonic is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodrigez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yonic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yonic chips away with some ground and pound.
Rodrigez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rodrigez 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.
Rodrigez trying to keep a closed guard but Yonic is proving a slippery customer.
Rodrigez keeping full guard, as Yonic tries to pass.

Rodrigez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yonic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rodrigez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rodrigez tries to free his leg and advance position but Yonic is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yonic lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Yonic trying to control but Rodrigez is working from the bottom.
Yonic scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rodrigez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yonic trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rodrigez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rodrigez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rodrigez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rodrigez trying to control the position from guard on top but Yonic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodrigez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigez trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Yonic manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Yonic with a nice head shot there.
Rodrigez keeping moving, preventing Yonic from controlling successfully.
Yonic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rodrigez haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rodrigez is trying to keep Yonic in close.
Yonic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rodrigez's head.
Rodrigez definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Yonic preventing the sweep.
Yonic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yonic won't allow Rodrigez to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yonic postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Yonic with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yonic is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Rodrigez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yonic is aware though and is defending well.
Yonic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yonic stands up over Rodrigez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Yonic postures up.
Rodrigez wants to sweep but no luck.
Yonic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rodrigez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yonic lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rodrigez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yonic lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Yonic 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.

Rodrigez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rodrigez shoots in for a double leg but Yonic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Yonic closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rodrigez quickly recovers to half guard.
Yonic trying to control the action but Rodrigez is working from the bottom.
Yonic prevents Rodrigez from improving his position.
Yonic wants to free his trapped foot but Rodrigez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rodrigez is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yonic scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rodrigez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yonic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yonic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yonic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rodrigez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Yonic scores with a couple of nice shots.
Yonic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yonic wants to control but Rodrigez is keeping him busy.
Rodrigez is looking to control Yonic's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rodrigez avoid being mounted?
Rodrigez tries to kick Yonic off but Yonic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yonic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Yonic there.
Rodrigez wants to improve his position but Yonic is controlling well.
Rodrigez keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yonic wants to control but Rodrigez is keeping him busy.
Yonic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Yonic working the head and body with strikes.
Yonic working the head and body with strikes.
Yonic winds up and cracks Rodrigez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Yonic connects with a nice short shot to Rodrigez's temple.

Rodrigez is rocked!
Yonic winds up and cracks Rodrigez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Oh Rodrigez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yonic drops an elbow to the side of Rodrigez's head.
Yonic thows a huge punch but Rodrigez dodges it nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Yonic is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Rodrigez is hurt! He's hurt bad - Yonic fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Rodrigez from any more punishment! Congratulations to Yonic! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Marcus Yonic!
Marcus Yonic thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Emanuel Rodrigez was interviewed post fight and said 'PUTA!!!'.