PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yair Rodriguez (ranked 2226 p4p, 2197 weight class) and Sammie Conner (ranked 257 p4p, 254 weight class). Rodriguez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Weeknd - "Blinding Lights (Video Edition)" . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rodriguez
vs
Conner

175 cm
21
147
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
146
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Pit Bull Development

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yair Rodriguez !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sammie Conner!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Conner works Rodriguez 's body with a nice hook.

Conner has managed to clinch.
Rodriguez wants a takedown but no success here.
Rodriguez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Conner fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Conner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rodriguez .
Rodriguez shoots for a takedown but Conner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yair Rodriguez . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rodriguez shoots in for a double leg but Conner sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Conner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short uppercut from Conner.
Conner digs a right hand into Rodriguez 's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rodriguez 's gas tank.
Conner makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Conner lands with a right to the head.
Conner lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Conner makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Conner drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rodriguez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rodriguez wants a takedown but no success here.
Rodriguez can't get the takedown.
Conner lands a hook to the side of the head.
Conner lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Conner gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rodriguez .
Rodriguez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Conner gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nice body punch from Conner - that landed with a thud.
Conner is working Rodriguez over against the cage.
Conner is leaning against Rodriguez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Conner lands a hook that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
I was talking to Rodriguez 's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Conner lands a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Conner as the two fighters clinch.
Rodriguez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Conner after a bit of a struggle.
Conner lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rodriguez wants to take the fight to the mat but Conner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Conner prevents the takedown attempt.
Conner pushes Rodriguez back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Conner lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rodriguez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Conner gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner lands a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Conner lands a shot to the body.
Rodriguez can't get the takedown.
Conner is pressed up against the cage. Rodriguez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Conner down to the mat. Conner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Conner moves into range and clinches up with Rodriguez .
Rodriguez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Conner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Conner presses Rodriguez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rodriguez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Conner fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Conner closes the distance and clinches.
Conner scores with a shoulder strike.
Rodriguez wants to break free but Conner has control.
Rodriguez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Conner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Conner lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rodriguez or not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Conner.
Conner lands a left hand.
Conner lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short left from Conner.
Conner lands a nice uppercut.
Come on Conner - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rodriguez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rodriguez wants a takedown.
Rodriguez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Conner pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Conner lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rodriguez .
Conner has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Rodriguez seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Conner can turn it around.
Conner stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rodriguez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Conner avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Good body shot from Conner.
A body shot lands from Conner.
Conner lands a hook to the side of the head.

Conner breaks the clinch.

Conner fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodriguez , pushing him back against the cage.
Conner digs a right hand into Rodriguez 's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rodriguez 's gas tank.
Conner lands a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Conner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rodriguez 's defenses.
Conner lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Conner lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner digs a right hand underneath Rodriguez 's ribcage. Rodriguez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Conner lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Conner lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Conner lands a hook that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Rodriguez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Conner prevents it.
Conner lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Conner is leaning against Rodriguez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Conner manages to break the clinch.

Conner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Conner lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rodriguez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Conner prevents it.
Conner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez fails to pull guard.
Conner cracks Rodriguez with a nice body shot.
Conner working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Conner is pressed up against the cage. Rodriguez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Conner down to the mat. Conner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Conner scores with a nice head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammie Conner 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.

Conner cracks Rodriguez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Conner lands a right hand.
Conner lands with a left to the head.
Conner just leaning against Rodriguez , taking a breather.
Conner lands with a light punch inside.
A short left from Conner.
Nice body punch from Conner.
Conner prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Conner.
Conner lands a left hand.
Conner lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rodriguez .
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!
Conner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Conner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Conner lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rodriguez or not.
Rodriguez working hard to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodriguez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A right handed body shot lands from Conner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner scores with a shoulder strike.
Conner gets through Rodriguez 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Conner.
Conner lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Conner.

Rodriguez is rocked!
Conner lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oh Rodriguez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Conner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Conner lands a body shot in the clinch.
Conner lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Conner lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez tries to score a body lock takedown but Conner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yair Rodriguez . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rodriguez 's defenses.
Rodriguez is looking to take this one to the mat.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Conner lands a right hand.
A short right from Conner.
Conner lands a right hand.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Conner.
Rodriguez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Conner digs a right hand into Rodriguez 's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rodriguez 's gas tank.
Conner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Conner lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Conner.
A short left from Conner.
Conner lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.

Conner manages to break the clinch.

Conner clinches with his opponent.
Conner lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Conner - that landed with a thud.
A short left from Conner.
A short right from Conner.
Conner works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sammie Conner seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Conner lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Conner lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rodriguez .
Conner working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Conner lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Conner - that landed with a thud.
Still in the clinch, Conner scores with a nice short uppercut.
Conner lands an uppercut.
Conner softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rodriguez wants a takedown.
Conner digs a right hand underneath Rodriguez 's ribcage. Rodriguez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Conner lands a nice uppercut.
Conner gets underhooks to prevent Rodriguez 's takedown attempt.
Conner has Rodriguez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rodriguez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A right hand to the body from Conner.
Conner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Conner lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Rodriguez to his knees! Conner keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sammie Conner!
Sammie Conner was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.