PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Winter Panda (ranked 2558 p4p, 1993 weight class) and Frankie Rodriguez (ranked 342 p4p, 267 weight class). Frankie Rodriguez will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Panda
vs
Rodriguez

150 cm
21
174
4 - 4 - 0

183 cm
28
170
4 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Winter Panda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frankie Rodriguez !
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panda ducks under a wild hook from Rodriguez .
Panda half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Panda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rodriguez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Frankie Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rodriguez gets a clinch.
Rodriguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda misses with the head strike.
Rodriguez landing knees to the body.
Panda 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.

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

Rodriguez rushes Panda and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but Panda blocks it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez slows down the pace here.
Panda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Panda scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez .
Panda swings wildly with an uppercut but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodriguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Panda softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot.
Panda tries to counter with a takedown but Rodriguez is quick to defend against it.
Rodriguez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Panda attempts a counter takedown but Rodriguez avoids it well and moves away.
Rodriguez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Panda circles away quickly and effectively.
Panda feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Panda.
Rodriguez looks to score with a jab to the body but Panda is just out of range.

Panda tries to keep at a distance but Rodriguez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big left from Rodriguez misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rodriguez .

Rodriguez clinches up with Panda and pushes him back against the cage.
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!
Panda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Panda misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Panda.
Rodriguez looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Panda lands an uppercut.
Rodriguez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Panda.
Rodriguez wants to stall.
Rodriguez lands with a right to the head.
Rodriguez lands an elbow just above Panda 's eye.
Panda misses with the head strike.
Rodriguez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Panda throws a punch but it's blocked by Rodriguez .
Panda has a couple of punches blocked by Rodriguez .
Rodriguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Panda swings wildly with an uppercut but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Panda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Panda misses with the head strike.
Rodriguez tries to work over Panda's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rodriguez leaning against his opponent.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Rodriguez .
Panda feinted with a counter takedown.
Rodriguez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Panda takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rodriguez has closed the distance and engaged Panda in a clinch.
Panda throws a head punch that misses.
Panda lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Panda swings wildly with an uppercut but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rodriguez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Rodriguez has closed the distance and engaged Panda in a clinch.
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez .
Rodriguez lands a hook that snaps the head of Panda backwards.
Panda misses with a punch on the inside.
Panda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Winter Panda has been cut.
Panda misses with the head strike.
Panda misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Panda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
A cross from Rodriguez lands.
Frankie Rodriguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rodriguez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Panda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rodriguez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Panda walks into a jab.

Rodriguez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Panda circles away quickly and effectively.
Panda feinted with a counter takedown.

Rodriguez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Winter Panda has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rodriguez throws a punch but it's blocked by Panda.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rodriguez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Panda in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rodriguez blocks an uppercut.
Panda misses with some punches.
A short body shot lands from Rodriguez as the two fighters clinch.
Panda working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Panda misses with a punch on the inside.
Rodriguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Panda pushes Rodriguez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rodriguez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Panda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Panda throws a punch but it's blocked by Rodriguez .
Panda misses with the head strike.
Panda working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Panda lands a hook to the side of the head.
Panda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rodriguez blocking some punches.
Panda misses with a punch on the inside.
Panda misses with the head strike.
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rodriguez pressing his opponent against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Panda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda misses with a punch on the inside.
Panda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Panda is defending well for now.
Panda lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Panda.
Panda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Panda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez blocking some punches.
Rodriguez misses with a punch to the body.
Panda throws a head punch that misses.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.

Rodriguez rushes Panda and presses him up against the cage.
Panda has a couple of punches blocked by Rodriguez .
Panda swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Panda lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Panda controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Panda.

Rodriguez 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rodriguez rushes Panda and presses him up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rodriguez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rodriguez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Rodriguez drives through and clinches with Panda against the cage.
Panda misses with the head strike.
Panda working aggressively here.
Rodriguez lands a damaging elbow.
Panda swings wildly with an uppercut but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodriguez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Frankie Rodriguez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Winter Panda's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Panda moves out of range as Rodriguez strikes.
Panda drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rodriguez sprawls and moves away.

Rodriguez has Panda up against the cage in a clinch.
Panda throws a head punch that misses.
Panda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rodriguez blocks an uppercut.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
A jab from Rodriguez misses.
Panda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Rodriguez darts in and clinches Panda up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rodriguez avoiding damage.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rodriguez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez .
Rodriguez is looking to control Panda's arms but Panda gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rodriguez has his back to the cage.
Rodriguez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodriguez leaning against his opponent.
Panda misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez .
Panda misses with the head strike.
Panda misses with some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Panda creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez .
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Panda.
Rodriguez scores with a shoulder strike.
Panda throws a head punch that misses.
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Panda misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panda softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Panda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Panda throws a head punch that misses.
Panda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rodriguez throws an elbow that misses.
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 breaks the clinch.
Rodriguez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Panda moves out of range as Rodriguez strikes.
Panda changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Rodriguez clinches up with Panda and pushes him back against the cage.
Rodriguez is looking to control Panda's arms but Panda gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rodriguez has his back to the cage.
Panda misses with some punches.
Panda has a couple of punches blocked by Rodriguez .
Rodriguez struggles to land a body shot inside as Panda controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda throws a punch but it's blocked by Rodriguez .
Panda throws a punch but it's blocked by Rodriguez .
Panda throws a head punch that misses.
Panda misses with some punches.
Rodriguez blocks an uppercut.

Rodriguez 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Panda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Panda changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
No joy there for Rodriguez , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rodriguez misses with a hook. Panda ducked under it nicely.
Rodriguez looks to land a body kick but Panda moved away.
Panda attempts a counter takedown but Rodriguez avoids it well and moves away.
Frankie Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Rodriguez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Rodriguez .
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda throws a punch but it's blocked by Rodriguez .
Panda working aggressively here.
Panda misses with the head strike.
Rodriguez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez .
Panda working aggressively here.
Rodriguez lands with a right to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Panda throws a head punch that misses.
Rodriguez is trying to stall.
Panda scores with a shoulder strike.
Panda lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodriguez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Panda. Panda circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Winter Panda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Frankie Rodriguez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rodriguez jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Frankie Rodriguez .
I've got Rodriguez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:30

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