PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Conan Barbarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cody Rhodes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barbarian
vs
Rhodes

182 cm
24
184 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

185 cm
21
181 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Bio-Tech Industries
Bio-Tech Industries

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conan Barbarian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cody Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barbarian closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Barbarian creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rhodes takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rhodes is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
An elbow from Barbarian crashes against the mat.
Rhodes tries to improve position but can't.
Barbarian prevents Rhodes from escaping the position.
Barbarian has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Rhodes!
Rhodes takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbarian with the ground and pound from mount.
Barbarian looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barbarian goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rhodes turns into him and now he's in Barbarian's guard.
Barbarian tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barbarian is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbarian lands strikes from half guard.
Barbarian thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rhodes to regain full guard.
Barbarian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rhodes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rhodes is looking to stand up but Barbarian isn't so interested in that idea.
Barbarian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes keeping full guard, as Barbarian tries to pass.
Rhodes controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rhodes wants to stand and escape but Barbarian is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rhodes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cody Rhodes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rhodes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rhodes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rhodes throws a hook but Barbarian avoids it easily.

Barbarian gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbarian thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rhodes gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barbarian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barbarian landing some decent shots from guard.
Barbarian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Barbarian dominated that round.
That's time! Barbarian's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rhodes throws out a loose jab but Barbarian uses good head movement to avoid it.

Barbarian darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rhodes desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Barbarian stops Rhodes from getting back to his feet.
Barbarian missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbarian missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barbarian has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rhodes tries to roll over but Barbarian keeps him under control.
Rhodes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Barbarian thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rhodes to regain full guard.
Barbarian trying to control but Rhodes is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Barbarian feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Barbarian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rhodes is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbarian preventing the sweep.
Barbarian throws a strike but Rhodes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rhodes stopping the sweep attempt from Barbarian.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbarian pulls Rhodes in close to prevent any damage.
Barbarian wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barbarian keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rhodes takes a swing at Barbarian's ribcage but misses.
Rhodes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Barbarian tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rhodes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barbarian somewhat.
Rhodes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barbarian's calf.
Rhodes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barbarian slips a jab and a cross from Rhodes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rhodes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbarian was well out of range. Poor timing from Rhodes.

Barbarian closes the distance and pushes Rhodes back into the cage.
Rhodes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Barbarian.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Conan Barbarian will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Barbarian dives in and grabs Rhodes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rhodes pushes down on Barbarian's head and hops out.
Rhodes throws a hook but Barbarian avoids it easily.
Barbarian misses with a takedown attempt - Rhodes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Barbarian changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rhodes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rhodes gets back to half guard.

Barbarian looking for a submission but Rhodes manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rhodes wants to stand up but Barbarian is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbarian is looking to work some ground and pound but Rhodes has wrist control.

Rhodes pushes Barbarian off and gets back to his feet.
Rhodes doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Barbarian counters by moving into the clinch.
Barbarian tries for a takedown but Rhodes manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conan Barbarian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbarian has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rhodes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Barbarian fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbarian content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rhodes lands a body punch in the clinch.

Barbarian gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rhodes regains guard.
Barbarian is looking to work some ground and pound but Rhodes has wrist control.
Barbarian won't allow Rhodes to get back to his feet.
Barbarian is standing up over Rhodes. Rhodes looks to escape but Barbarian dives into side control.

Rhodes bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Barbarian shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rhodes pinned against the cage. Rhodes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbarian shoots for a takedown but Rhodes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rhodes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rhodes tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Barbarian counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Barbarian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barbarian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rhodes wants to stand but Barbarian is controlling the position.
Barbarian with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rhodes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barbarian is controlling him.
Barbarian throws a big right hand that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rhodes misses with a looping left.
Cody Rhodes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Conan Barbarian is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barbarian keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conan Barbarian showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barbarian, 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conan Barbarian!