PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gotan Wasselach (ranked 1444 p4p, 730 weight class) and Nick Rodriguez (ranked 199 p4p, 107 weight class). Wasselach comes to the cage accompanied by Time Is On My Side. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wasselach
vs
Rodriguez

194 cm
28
210
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
26
220
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gotan Wasselach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Joseph Jones and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez connects with a body shot.
Rodriguez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wasselach throws a solid leg kick but Rodriguez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Wasselach.
A punch combination from Rodriguez misses.
Wasselach swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Wasselach is looking to chop away at Rodriguez's legs.
Wasselach misses with a head kick.
Wasselach throws a looping overhand right but Rodriguez ducks down to avoid it.
Wasselach avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wasselach takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rodriguez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wasselach.
Rodriguez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands a jab to Wasselach's midsection.
Wasselach scores with a nice strike.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wasselach napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rodriguez working away.
Wasselach sneaks back into half guard.
Wasselach trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Rodriguez manages to pass to mount!
Wasselach tries to lock up and control but Rodriguez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rodriguez is trying to take his opponent's back.
Wasselach has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Rodriguez's lack of action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wasselach is trying to stand up here but Rodriguez is controlling him well.
Rodriguez prevents Wasselach from improving his position.
Rodriguez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wasselach defending well though.
Rodriguez wants to pass to mount but Wasselach is defending the position.
Rodriguez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wasselach with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but Wasselach defending well.
Wasselach wants to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez trying to control from half guard but Wasselach is working away.
Wasselach wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wasselach is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rodriguez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rodriguez's back!

Wasselach is looking for the choke from the back position but Rodriguez is controlling his hands well.
Wasselach is hanging on to Rodriguez's back as he tries to escape.

Wasselach looking for the choke but no joy.
Wasselach misses with punches from the back.
Rodriguez trying to control but not successfully.

Wasselach is persistently looking for the submission but Rodriguez is defending it well.
Rodriguez tries to roll but Wasselach sticks to his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wasselach looking for the RNC.
Rodriguez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Wasselach's guard. Nice work there by Rodriguez.
Wasselach lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to control the position but Wasselach postures up.
Rodriguez wants to sweep but no luck.

Rodriguez working for a triangle but Wasselach defends it easily.
Wasselach sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wasselach is one step ahead there.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Wasselach wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wasselach won't allow Rodriguez to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nick Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rodriguez stuns Wasselach with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rodriguez ducks under a wild hook from Wasselach.
Rodriguez tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A punch combination from Rodriguez misses.
Wasselach tried to counter with a leg kick but Rodriguez avoided it.
Rodriguez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wasselach throws a shot from downtown. Rodriguez moves away and avoids it.
Wasselach throws a leg kick that misses.
Wasselach takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
We've been told by Wasselach's head coaches at Hare of the Dog Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodriguez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Wasselach tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rodriguez is in Wasselach's guard.
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
Wasselach is looking to stand up but Rodriguez isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Wasselach is keeping the position.
Rodriguez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wasselach works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rodriguez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rodriguez won't allow Wasselach to sweep him here.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Wasselach is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wasselach looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Wasselach is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Rodriguez presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Rodriguez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wasselach trying to control the position but instead, Rodriguez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Wasselach into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wasselach tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Wasselach misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wasselach struggles to land a body shot inside as Rodriguez controls his hands.
Rodriguez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wasselach pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Wasselach prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gotan Wasselach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Rodriguez.
Wasselach gets underhooks to prevent Rodriguez's takedown attempt.
Wasselach lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rodriguez wants a takedown but no success here.
Wasselach gets through Rodriguez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Wasselach.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Wasselach manages to get underhooks.
Rodriguez wants to take the fight to the mat but Wasselach manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rodriguez has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Wasselach seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rodriguez can turn it around.
Wasselach doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rodriguez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rodriguez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wasselach is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Wasselach stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is working for takedown but Wasselach is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rodriguez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Wasselach is defending well.
Rodriguez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wasselach.
Wasselach softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Wasselach lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Wasselach lands a body punch in the clinch.
Wasselach tries to throw a body punch but Rodriguez avoids it by throwing Wasselach back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Wasselach as the two fighters clinch.
Wasselach lands a left hand.
Wasselach works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Wasselach escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wasselach scores with a punch to the head.
Rodriguez moves out of range as Wasselach strikes.
Wasselach thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rodriguez on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Nick Rodriguez has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wasselach misses with a hook. Rodriguez ducked under it nicely.
Rodriguez doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Wasselach moves away from the strike by Rodriguez.
Wasselach throws a jab when Rodriguez was well out of range.
Rodriguez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rodriguez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wasselach pinned against the cage. Wasselach gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wasselach was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rodriguez throws a body shot but no joy.
Rodriguez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Wasselach rather than just go for the knockout.
Wasselach dodges the punch combination from Rodriguez.
Nick Rodriguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rodriguez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rodriguez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wasselach.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gotan Wasselach dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nick Rodriguez's cut.
That's time! Wasselach's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wasselach looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rodriguez is trying to control the action in half guard but Wasselach is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wasselach slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Wasselach has control of Rodriguez's left arm, preventing Rodriguez from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wasselach wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wasselach has Rodriguez pulled in close to control his posture.
Wasselach is trying to control the position but Rodriguez postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Rodriguez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rodriguez showed some decent athleticism there.
Rodriguez tries to pass to full mount but Wasselach defends it.
Rodriguez is thwarting Wasselach's attempts to control the position.
Wasselach is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez seems to be looking for submissions.
Wasselach moves into full guard.
Wasselach controlling Rodriguez's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez passes Wasselach's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Wasselach kicks off Rodriguez and gets to his feet.
Rodriguez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wasselach sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodriguez somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wasselach throws a lazy uppercut
and Rodriguez counters with a right hand to the body.
Wasselach moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wasselach avoids the body shot from Rodriguez.
Wasselach appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Rodriguez looks to score with a jab to the body but Wasselach is just out of range.
Wasselach half committed to a counter leg kick.
Wasselach steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez cracks a nice hook into Wasselach's ribs.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot
and Wasselach counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rodriguez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wasselach throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wasselach avoids the body shot from Rodriguez.
Wasselach swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wasselach just misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters circling - Wasselach throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A big right from Wasselach misses.
Rodriguez takes a swing at Wasselach's ribcage but misses.
Wasselach takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rodriguez thuds his right hand into Wasselach's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rodriguez has a takedown stuffed.
A little feinted left hand from Wasselach on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nick Rodriguez.
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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

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