PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ali Graham (ranked 2731 p4p, 3904 weight class) and Desmond Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 208 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Graham
vs
Rodriguez

150 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ali Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Desmond Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Reed Andrews and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graham shoots in but Rodriguez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but Graham won't let him.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Graham 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Graham could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rodriguez throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Graham tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Rodriguez checks a leg kick nicely.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodriguez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Graham enables Rodriguez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Graham manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Graham wants to get back to his feet but Rodriguez passes into half guard.

Graham wants to improve his position but Rodriguez is controlling well.
Graham has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rodriguez is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to control the action in half guard but Graham is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Graham tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rodriguez has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Graham is desperately trying to improve his position but Rodriguez has a good base and remains in mount.

Rodriguez jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Graham manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Graham might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rodriguez stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Rodriguez scores with a takedown into Graham's guard.
Graham is wriggling around but Rodriguez manages to pass to half guard.

Graham is refusing to be controlled, as Rodriguez sits in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rodriguez lands a nice short elbow.
Graham avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodriguez.
Graham is staying active underneath Rodriguez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to stand up but Graham has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Rodriguez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rodriguez wants to control the pace but Graham is squirming around nicely.
Rodriguez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Graham haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rodriguez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Graham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Rodriguez scores with a takedown into Graham's guard.
Graham is looking to stand back up but Rodriguez counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Graham.

Rodriguez slips a nice elbow through Graham's hands, connecting with Graham's forehead.
Rodriguez wants to control but Graham is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rodriguez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Graham hang on?
Rodriguez punishing his opponent with strikes.
Graham is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rodriguez tries to control but Graham wriggling away.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
You get the feeling that Graham really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Rodriguez lands a nice shot to the head.
Graham is trying to reverse the position but instead Rodriguez has taken his back - oops!
Well, with Rodriguez on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Graham is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Rodriguez struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez has managed to slip his arm under Graham's chin. This could be all over... yep, Graham is tapping out! Submission win for Rodriguez.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Desmond Rodriguez!