PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henri Kirchen (ranked 1963 p4p, 2170 weight class) and Nick Rodriguez (ranked 214 p4p, 235 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kirchen
vs
Rodriguez

192 cm
22
237
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
220
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Conviction
Hot Spunk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Henri Kirchen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Rodriguez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rodriguez lands in his opponent's guard.
Rodriguez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kirchen is keeping the position for now.
Rodriguez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kirchen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirchen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Kirchen is looking for a triangle but Rodriguez pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirchen keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.

Kirchen looking for a guillotine here but Rodriguez defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirchen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rodriguez defends well.
Kirchen looking for a sweep. Not yet Kirchen, not yet.
We've been hearing good reports from Kirchen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rodriguez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirchen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriguez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rodriguez stands and throws Kirchen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two 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.
Kirchen is not content to let Rodriguez control the position.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kirchen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rodriguez tries to move to mount but Kirchen blocks the move with his legs.
Kirchen is trying to improve his position.
Kirchen prevents Rodriguez from improving position.
Rodriguez is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Kirchen will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirchen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rodriguez has knee on belly momentarily but Kirchen bucks him off and regains half guard.
Rodriguez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kirchen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kirchen won't allow Rodriguez to pass to mount.
Rodriguez is looking to take a break and control but Kirchen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kirchen gets back to full guard.

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.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rodriguez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirchen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirchen is trying to keep Rodriguez in close.
Rodriguez tries to free his leg and advance position but Kirchen is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kirchen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
Kirchen keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Some bone on bone action there as Rodriguez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rodriguez feints and as Kirchen raises his hands in defense, Rodriguez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kirchen is trying to control the position but Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez trying to control but Kirchen is working from the bottom.

Kirchen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rodriguez defends well.
Kirchen keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.

Kirchen working for a triangle but Rodriguez defends it easily.
Rodriguez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirchen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirchen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.
Rodriguez forces his way into half guard.
Rodriguez wants to control but Kirchen is keeping him busy.
Kirchen is looking to improve his position.
Rodriguez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kirchen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rodriguez is looking to take a break and control but Kirchen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriguez tries to pass to full mount but Kirchen defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kirchen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kirchen is looking to improve his position.
Rodriguez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kirchen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kirchen manages to get to full guard.
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
Nick Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rodriguez trying to control but Kirchen is working from the bottom.
Kirchen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirchen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep. Kirchen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rodriguez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rodriguez wants to sweep here but Kirchen controlling him for the moment.

Kirchen 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 looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kirchen works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain the position but Kirchen is very close to passing his half guard.
Rodriguez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kirchen works his way into side control.

Kirchen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rodriguez is not content to let Kirchen control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep.
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 Henri Kirchen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kirchen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rodriguez pinned against the cage. Rodriguez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rodriguez feints the counter takedown.
Rodriguez has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Kirchen is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Kirchen tries a low kick but Rodriguez avoids it.

Rodriguez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kirchen!
Rodriguez trying to control the position but Kirchen is working away.
Rodriguez controlling the position from side mount.

Rodriguez tries for a kimura but Kirchen is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirchen struggling a bit here.
Kirchen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rodriguez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kirchen defends it well.
Rodriguez is pressing down on Kirchen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kirchen is holding on for now.
Kirchen gets full guard.
Rodriguez passes Kirchen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kirchen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirchen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Kirchen stopping the sweep attempt from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is looking to sweep but instead, Kirchen has passed into half guard.
Rodriguez moves into full guard.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Kirchen tries to pass.
Rodriguez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kirchen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kirchen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kirchen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Kirchen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirchen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kirchen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rodriguez passes Kirchen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rodriguez trying to advance position but Kirchen counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirchen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Kirchen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rodriguez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kirchen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rodriguez defends well.
Kirchen can't keep his opponent in guard - Rodriguez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rodriguez is working for a kimura but Kirchen is defending it quite comfortably.
Rodriguez moves into full mount! Kirchen won't be happy about that!

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rodriguez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

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