PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Rodriguez (ranked 2895 p4p, 1273 weight class) and Alexander Rusev (ranked 358 p4p, 164 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rodriguez
vs
Rusev

183 cm
27
170
3 - 3 - 0

170 cm
20
174
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frankie Rodriguez !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Rusev!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rusev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rusev is in Rodriguez 's guard.
Rusev wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Rusev postures up and lands a big shot to Rodriguez 's brow.
Rusev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rodriguez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rodriguez tries to get out of the position.
Rusev is fighting to break Rodriguez 's control of his arms but Rodriguez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rusev lands a couple of elbows.
Rodriguez is looking to stand back up but Rusev counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rodriguez .

Rusev is trying to work for a kimura but Rodriguez is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rusev stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
We've been told by Rodriguez 's head coaches at Canadian Combat Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rusev.
Frankie Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev fails with the takedown

and Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez lands a body punch in the clinch.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rodriguez clinches up with Rusev and pushes him back against the cage.
Rusev is trying to pull guard but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.
Frankie Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Rusev.
Rodriguez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rusev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rodriguez is defending well for now.
Rodriguez digs a right hand into Rusev's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rusev's gas tank.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez scores with a body shot.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rodriguez as he avoids it easily.
Rusev fails to land the takedown.
Rodriguez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodriguez as he jumps to the side.
Rusev throws a hook but Rodriguez avoids it easily.
Rodriguez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rusev tries to move into range but Rodriguez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rusev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez defends it nicely.
Rodriguez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodriguez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rusev moves away.
Rusev shoots in looking for a takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl out of it but Rusev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rodriguez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Rodriguez clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev fails to pull guard.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rodriguez .
Rusev jumps guard but Rodriguez stands there with Rusev around his waist. Rusev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rodriguez misses with a punch to the body.
Rusev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rodriguez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rusev shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rodriguez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rusev has time to react.
Rusev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rodriguez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Alexander Rusev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez lands a jab-cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rusev shoots in but no luck this time.
Rodriguez is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Rusev jumps guard but Rodriguez stands there with Rusev around his waist. Rusev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Rodriguez 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodriguez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rusev closes the distance and clinches up with Rodriguez , looking for a takedown. Rusev pushes Rodriguez against the cage but Rodriguez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Rusev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodriguez , pushing him back against the cage.
Rusev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rodriguez gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Rusev ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rusev no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rodriguez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rodriguez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rodriguez throws a wild body kick that Rusev sees coming a mile off.

Rusev shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rodriguez is trying to defend but Rusev finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Rodriguez manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Rusev keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Rusev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rodriguez is defending well.
Rodriguez lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rusev goes for a takedown attempt but Rodriguez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rodriguez works the jab nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rusev back to the cage. Rodriguez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Rodriguez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rusev.
Frankie Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Rusev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev shoots and misses

and Rodriguez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rodriguez pressing his opponent against the cage.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alexander Rusev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodriguez but Rodriguez pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rusev tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rusev fails to pull guard.
Rodriguez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rusev fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Rusev jumps guard and drags Rodriguez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Alexander Rusev has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands a couple of digs.

Rusev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rusev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rusev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rodriguez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but Rusev is proving a slippery customer.
Rodriguez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rusev can do to turn this around?
Rusev throwing strikes but missing.
Rusev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez has his hands on Rusev's head, controlling the position.
Rusev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rusev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rodriguez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rusev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rodriguez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rusev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rodriguez wants to stand up but Rusev is controlling him.
Rodriguez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rusev on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rusev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rusev is in close to Rodriguez 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rusev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rusev throws a big elbow that misses.
Rusev with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rusev looks for a takedown but Rodriguez sprawls well.
Rusev misses with a takedown attempt

and Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Rusev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rodriguez walks away with a smile on his face. Rusev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rodriguez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rodriguez wants it to stay on the feet.

Rodriguez has Rusev up against the cage in a clinch.
Rusev tries to pull guard but Rodriguez won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Rodriguez dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rodriguez instigates a clinch.
Rodriguez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rusev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rodriguez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nice elbow from Rodriguez .

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.
Rusev on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rodriguez scores with a three punch combo!
Rusev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rusev fails with the takedown.
Frankie Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Rusev.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rodriguez sprawls well. Rodriguez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rusev gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodriguez is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rusev.
Rodriguez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rusev.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch successfully.
Rusev is trying to pull guard but Rodriguez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rodriguez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rusev in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rusev is trying to pull guard but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.
Rusev jumps guard but Rodriguez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rusev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodriguez prevents the takedown attempt.
Rodriguez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rodriguez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Rodriguez for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Rodriguez pressing his opponent against the cage.
Frankie Rodriguez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rusev tries to pull guard but Rodriguez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez misses with a body punch.
Rusev tries to pull guard but Rodriguez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rodriguez has Rusev pressed against the cage.
Rusev is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rusev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodriguez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rodriguez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rusev's face.
Come on Rodriguez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nice body punch from Rodriguez .
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rodriguez .
Rusev is trying to pull guard but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Rodriguez .
Rodriguez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rodriguez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rusev letting Rodriguez take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez has Rusev pushed against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Frankie Rodriguez .
Rodriguez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rusev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rodriguez scores with a kick to the midsection.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rusev.
Rodriguez with a hook.
Rodriguez connects with a jab.
Rusev shoots and misses

and Rodriguez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alexander Rusev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rusev ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rusev no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rusev 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Rodriguez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rusev trying to control the position.
Rodriguez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rodriguez looking to sit in guard and control but Rusev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rusev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Frankie Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rodriguez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frankie Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodriguez , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

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