PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keith Rodgers (ranked 934 p4p, 809 weight class) and Diego Garcia (ranked 124 p4p, 111 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rodgers
vs
Garcia

184 cm
34
185
17 - 8 - 0

190 cm
31
192
13 - 7 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Keith Rodgers !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Diego Garcia!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodgers uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Garcia.
A good leg kick by Garcia.
Garcia turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Garcia throws a good cross that connects.
Garcia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Garcia uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rodgers .
Rodgers throws the left hand but Garcia avoids the punch easily.
Garcia looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Garcia slips under a jab.
The fighters circling - Garcia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rodgers throws a body shot but no joy.
Rodgers on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A left lands for Rodgers .
Rodgers throws a body punch but Garcia moves out of range.
Garcia is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rodgers with a body shot.
Garcia throws a lazy right hand but Rodgers sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rodgers lands with a shot to the body.
Rodgers fails with a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodgers swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Garcia has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Rodgers .
A little feinted left hand from Rodgers on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rodgers has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Garcia.
A chopping leg kick lands by Garcia.
Garcia ducks under a wild hook from Rodgers .
Rodgers has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Garcia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rodgers moves forwards but Garcia connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Rodgers has managed to clinch.
Rodgers lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rodgers lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rodgers working aggressively here.
Rodgers trying to control the position but instead, Garcia has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rodgers into the cage.

Rodgers has clasped his hands together around Garcia's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodgers wants to take a breather but Garcia manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rodgers .
Rodgers lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rodgers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rodgers postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rodgers won't allow Garcia to sweep him here.
Garcia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Garcia has momentary wrist control but Rodgers slips an elbow through the middle.

Garcia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rodgers passes into half guard.
Nice strikes from Rodgers there.
Rodgers throwing shots but Garcia is blocking nicely.
Rodgers thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers thows a huge punch but Garcia dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodgers trying to control the action but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Garcia is looking to improve his position.
Garcia regains full guard. Nicely done.
Garcia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rodgers landing some decent shots from guard.
Rodgers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rodgers postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rodgers 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rodgers throwing strikes but missing.

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

Rodgers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garcia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rodgers is looking to sweep but instead, Garcia has passed into half guard.
Rodgers trying to hold on to Garcia's head to control him but Garcia postures up.
Rodgers wants to control but Garcia passes into side.
Garcia is staying tight to Rodgers 's torso, preventing him from escaping.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Rodgers dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Garcia is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rodgers doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Garcia throws a hook but Rodgers blocks it.
Rodgers tries to land a leg kick but Garcia saw it coming and moves away.
Diego Garcia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Garcia throws a leg kick that misses.
Garcia scores with a decent looking hook.
Garcia throws out a leg kick but Rodgers moves out of range and Garcia only half commits.
A little feinted left hand from Rodgers on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Garcia tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rodgers is able to avoid easily.
Garcia misses with a straight left.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodgers is defended easily by Garcia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rodgers darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rodgers misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Garcia swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodgers .
Rodgers tries to score with a low kick but Garcia moves his leg out of the way.

Rodgers closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Garcia to the mat! Garcia manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodgers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rodgers stopping the sweep attempt from Garcia.
Rodgers scoring with punches to the head and body.
Garcia wants to sweep but no luck.
Garcia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodgers manages to get himself to full guard.

Keith Rodgers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodgers keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rodgers is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers postures up in Garcia's guard and throws a big left but Garcia blocks it.
Rodgers wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.
Garcia keeping full guard, as Rodgers tries to pass.
Rodgers looking to sit in guard and control but Garcia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodgers 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.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Rodgers is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Garcia defends well.
Rodgers wants to sweep here but Garcia controlling him for the moment.
Rodgers controls Garcia momentarily but Garcia frees himself.
Rodgers keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodgers is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodgers looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodgers , not yet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Garcia is pushing down on Rodgers 's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rodgers is fighting to maintain full guard but Garcia has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rodgers is trying to control but Garcia manages to pass to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcia prevents Rodgers from getting the reversal.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Diego Garcia will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Garcia throws a hook but Rodgers blocks it.
Garcia just misses with a punch to the body.
Garcia swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rodgers connects with an inside leg kick.
Rodgers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garcia defends it nicely.
Rodgers is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Garcia.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Garcia! But no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodgers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodgers moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia keeps the fight on the outside.
Rodgers misses with a low kick as Garcia jumps back.
Garcia looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rodgers takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Garcia gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rodgers .
Garcia misses with an uppercut.
Garcia takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rodgers throws a hook but Garcia avoids it easily.
A clash of legs there as Garcia blocks the low kick.
Garcia blocks a leg kick.
Garcia takes a swing at Rodgers 's ribcage but misses.
Garcia slips under a jab.
Rodgers works the jab nicely.
A low kick from Garcia is predictable there
and Rodgers cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Garcia fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rodgers misses with an uppercut.
Garcia throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rodgers connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Garcia missing with a left hand there. Rodgers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rodgers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rodgers throws a body shot but no joy.
Garcia throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throws a hook but Rodgers avoids it easily.
Garcia throws a solid leg kick but Rodgers takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Garcia.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcia connects with an inside leg kick.
Garcia lands with an overhand left.
Garcia jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rodgers throws an off balance right hand
letting Garcia counter with a right hand.
Garcia lands a nice shot that snaps Rodgers 's head back.

Rodgers drives through with a takedown into Garcia's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Garcia looking for a sweep. Not yet Garcia, not yet.
Rodgers is working Garcia over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Garcia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rodgers is in close to Garcia's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Garcia tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Garcia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rodgers is looking to control Garcia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rodgers avoid being mounted?
Garcia with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rodgers wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodgers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Garcia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Garcia is working for a kimura but Rodgers is defending it quite comfortably.
Rodgers wants to improve his position but Garcia is controlling well.

Rodgers actively working from the bottom here.
Garcia controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Diego Garcia.
I think Garcia 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!