PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between TJ Kool (ranked 3415 p4p, 5387 weight class) and Ryan Rodriguez (ranked 367 p4p, 502 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kool
vs
Rodriguez

178 cm
18
160
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
155
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Sydney Fight Gear (London Rebirth)

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, TJ Kool!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kool misses the jab.
Rodriguez looks to land a body kick but Kool moved away.
Kool swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kool goes for a double leg but Rodriguez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rodriguez continues to drive forward.
Rodriguez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A punch lands to the side of Kool 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kool tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rodriguez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kool's knee momentarily.
Rodriguez throws an overhand right that lands on Kool's shoulder, as Kool tries to avoid the shot.
Rodriguez cracks Kool with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rodriguez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circling - Kool throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rodriguez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kool. Kool circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kool ducks under a wild hook from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez tries to keep at a distance but Kool has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kool jumps guard but Rodriguez stands there with Kool around his waist. Kool gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rodriguez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kool stalling in the clinch but Rodriguez improves position.

Kool lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kool wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodriguez keeps working.
Kool seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kool trying to pass the guard but Rodriguez defending well.
Rodriguez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kool is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rodriguez has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Rodriguez tries to land a front kick but Kool steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Kool closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kool controls the position from side control.

Kool goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rodriguez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kool's guard! Nice work there by Rodriguez!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kool keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.
Rodriguez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kool. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kool pulls Rodriguez in close to prevent any damage.
Rodriguez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kool 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kool is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kool has Rodriguez pulled in close to control his posture.

Kool has his foot on Rodriguez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rodriguez works his way back into a safe position though.

Kool is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rodriguez defends well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kool is pulling down on Rodriguez's head. It's preventing any offense from Rodriguez, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ryan Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice uppercut there from Rodriguez.
Kool 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.
A slow jab from Rodriguez misses its intended target.
Rodriguez lands a jab to the head.
Rodriguez connects with the punch.
Kool gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kool takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rodriguez lands a body shot.

Kool closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kool lands in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kool trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Kool passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kool is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rodriguez tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kool has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

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.
Kool controlling from mount.
Kool tries to control but Rodriguez wriggling away.
Rodriguez is looking to get to half guard.

Kool has control of Rodriguez's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rodriguez regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kool controlling his opponent.
Rodriguez has given up his back.
Kool is looking to control Rodriguez but Rodriguez is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kool is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Rodriguez defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four 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.

Kool has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Kool throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Kool working for a choke but Rodriguez is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kool has the hooks in. Rodriguez is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
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 TJ Kool will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kool moves out of range as Rodriguez strikes.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kool fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rodriguez throws a hook but Kool blocks it.
Kool wants to land a leg kick but Rodriguez is out of range.
Rodriguez tries to work over Kool's front leg with a kick but Kool checks it.
Kool tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Kool fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rodriguez throws a big shot that misses.
Rodriguez looks to score with a jab to the body but Kool is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kool tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kool wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.
Rodriguez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Kool has managed to clinch.

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

Kool moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kool tries to stall but Rodriguez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rodriguez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kool is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TJ Kool. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez prevents a takedown attempt there.

Kool works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rodriguez holds on and takes a little breather.
Rodriguez is continuing to stall.
Kool trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kool slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rodriguez tries to buck Kool off but Kool is having none of it.

Kool tries for a kimura but Rodriguez is defending well.
Rodriguez prevents Kool from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to improve his position.
Kool is staying tight to Rodriguez's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Rodriguez tries to buck Kool off but Kool is having none of it.
Kool moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ryan Rodriguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.

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.
Kool fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rodriguez throws a hook but Kool avoids it easily.

Kool instigates a clinch.
Kool stalling the fight.
Rodriguez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rodriguez manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez takes a swing at Kool's ribcage but misses.
Kool shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kool.
Nice body punch from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rodriguez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kool tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Kool tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rodriguez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kool is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Rodriguez throws a jab but it's blocked by Kool.
Rodriguez misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

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