PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Dan Rodriguez (ranked 5130 p4p, 5109 weight class) and Chad Armstrong (ranked 492 p4p, 490 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rodriguez
vs
Armstrong

166 cm
18
135
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
18
185
0 - 1 - 0

Great elbows
KO power

Excellent MT
Prefers standup

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong circles away from the clinch attempt.

Armstrong tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Armstrong lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Armstrong.
Stalling in the clinch from Armstrong.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rodriguez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Armstrong's brow.
Armstrong blocks the elbow strike.
Armstrong avoiding damage as Rodriguez throws knees to the body.
Rodriguez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Armstrong is defending well for now.

Armstrong breaks from the clinch.
Armstrong keeps the fight on the outside.
Rodriguez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodriguez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Armstrong dodges an elbow strike from Rodriguez.
Armstrong tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rodriguez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Armstrong's elbow.
Rodriguez tries a body shot but Armstrong blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Armstrong.
Rodriguez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Armstrong.
Armstrong lands a right hand.
Rodriguez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Armstrong.

Armstrong breaks from the clinch.

Armstrong pushes Rodriguez up against the cage in a clinch.

Armstrong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Armstrong swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Armstrong moves out of range.

Rodriguez rushes Armstrong and presses him up against the cage.
Armstrong avoiding damage.
Armstrong fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Armstrong stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rodriguez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Armstrong's brow.
A frustrated look appears on Rodriguez's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez misses with an elbow over the top.
Rodriguez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Armstrong is defending well for now.
Armstrong lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right handed body shot lands from Rodriguez.

Armstrong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Armstrong.
Rodriguez is looking for a counter combo.
Rodriguez checks a leg kick.

Armstrong closes the distance and clinches.
Armstrong lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
A body shot lands from Armstrong.
Rodriguez lands an elbow inside that Armstrong shrugs off.

Armstrong breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Armstrong swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Armstrong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodriguez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Armstrong fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Armstrong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Chad Armstrong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Armstrong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Armstrong misses with a looping left.
Rodriguez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Armstrong.
Rodriguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rodriguez drives through and clinches with Armstrong against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws an elbow that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Armstrong.
Rodriguez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Armstrong dodges an elbow strike from Rodriguez.
Armstrong taking a breather.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Armstrong.
Rodriguez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.

Armstrong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Armstrong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Armstrong swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
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!
Rodriguez defending well as Armstrong loads up on a big left hand.
Armstrong scores with a one two! Rodriguez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Armstrong misses with a series of wild punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Armstrong dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Armstrong misses with a hook.

Armstrong closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rodriguez misses with an elbow strike.
Rodriguez blocking some punches.
Rodriguez lands a nice elbow.
Armstrong lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Armstrong.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.
Armstrong avoids a wild elbow strike from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with an elbow over the top.

Armstrong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.

Armstrong moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Armstrong controls his hands.
Armstrong dodges an elbow strike from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws an elbow but it misses.

Armstrong manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Armstrong moves into the clinch successfully.

Armstrong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Armstrong throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Armstrong forces Rodriguez back against the cage and clinches.
Armstrong lands an uppercut.
Chad Armstrong seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Armstrong avoids a wild elbow strike from Rodriguez.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rodriguez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Armstrong's brow.
Rodriguez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

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

Armstrong clinches with his opponent.
Armstrong avoids a wild elbow strike from Rodriguez.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Armstrong has Rodriguez pushed against the cage.
Armstrong blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Armstrong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Armstrong moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Armstrong misses with a looping left.

Armstrong closes the distance and pushes Rodriguez back into the cage.
Rodriguez tries to throw a body punch but Armstrong avoids it by throwing Rodriguez back against the cage.
Armstrong misses with the head strike.
Armstrong avoids the elbow strike from Rodriguez, against the cage.
Rodriguez throws an elbow but it misses.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Armstrong avoids it.

Armstrong breaks the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Armstrong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dan Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Armstrong is having none of it.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Armstrong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rodriguez appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Armstrong swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Chad Armstrong seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Danga de danga de dang - Armstrong scores with a four punch combination!
Armstrong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez dodges the punch combination from Armstrong.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Armstrong clinches up with Rodriguez and pushes him back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Armstrong.

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

Armstrong closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez throws an elbow but it misses.
Rodriguez blocks an uppercut.
Armstrong avoiding damage as Rodriguez throws knees to the body.

Armstrong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Armstrong keeps the fight on the outside.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Armstrong! But no joy.
Armstrong swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodriguez.
Armstrong looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Armstrong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rodriguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rodriguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Armstrong lands an overhand right.
Armstrong circles away from the clinch attempt.

Armstrong staggers Rodriguez with a jab and knocks him down with a follow up straight! Rodriguez looks in trouble, will he beat the count?! The count has reached 5 and he's only back to 1 knee - it's going to be close! 6,7,8 - he's up! Just in time and the ref is going to let the fight continue!
Armstrong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Armstrong forces Rodriguez back against the cage and clinches.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Armstrong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Armstrong scores with a one two! Rodriguez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Armstrong scores with the left hand. Rodriguez knows he should have avoided that one.

Rodriguez is rocked!
Armstrong has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Armstrong is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Armstrong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Armstrong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up but Armstrong circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodriguez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Armstrong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rodriguez swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Armstrong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodriguez went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Armstrong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It seemed like Armstrong was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Armstrong clips Rodriguez with a right and a left that makes him do the chicken dance for a couple of seconds. He touched his left hand down on the canvas so the referee steps between the fighters to give Rodriguez a standing 8 count before we can continue the bout.
Oh Rodriguez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Armstrong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rodriguez seems to have got his legs back now.
Rodriguez tries a body shot but Armstrong blocks it.
Armstrong makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodriguez misses with an elbow strike.
Rodriguez lands an elbow that stopped Armstrong in his tracks for a moment.

Armstrong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Armstrong, as that shot connected.
Armstrong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Armstrong fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodriguez, pushing him back against the cage.
Rodriguez trying to land knees to the body.
Armstrong working aggressively here.

Armstrong manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Armstrong as he connects with a hook.
Rodriguez staying out of range there.
Armstrong swats away the attempt to clinch by Rodriguez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up but Armstrong circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch but Armstrong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Good standup being displayed there by Armstrong as he connects with a hook.
Armstrong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Armstrong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodriguez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodriguez slips under a jab from Armstrong.
Armstrong throws a series of punches but Rodriguez avoids them all with ease.
Rodriguez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Armstrong keeps the fight on the outside.
Armstrong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Armstrong misses with the combination.
Rodriguez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Armstrong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodriguez.
Armstrong might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but Armstrong pushes him off.
Armstrong swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A jab from Armstrong misses.

Armstrong gets a clinch.
Rodriguez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Armstrong.
Armstrong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodriguez pushes off an throws an elbow but Armstrong leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Armstrong keeps control of Rodriguez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Armstrong thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Rodriguez wants to clinch up but Armstrong keeps it at a distance.
Armstrong is looking for the big counter here.
Dan Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chad Armstrong is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Armstrong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Armstrong 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 25:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 25:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Armstrong!