PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darnell Rodgers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ken Masters is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rodgers
vs
Masters

187 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darnell Rodgers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ken Masters!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Masters tries to keep at a distance but Rodgers has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rodgers jumps into guard, dragging Masters to the mat.
Rodgers is adopting a defensive guard.

Rodgers kicks Masters off and gets to his feet.

Rodgers rushes Masters and presses him up against the cage.
Rodgers could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Masters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Masters tries to break the clinch but Rodgers is controlling the position.
Rodgers leaning his opponent against the cage.

Masters breaks the clinch.
Masters misses with a double jab.
Masters fails to land with a series of punches.
Rodgers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Masters defends it nicely.
Masters throws a head kick that misses.
Masters throws a series of punches but Rodgers avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice takedown defense from Masters. No joy for Rodgers on that attempt.
Masters fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rodgers is breathing heavily.
Masters looks to land a combination but Rodgers avoids it well.
A head kick from Masters lands but Rodgers takes it in his stride.
Ken Masters is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Masters misses with a few strikes there.
Some wild striking there from Masters.
Masters misses with the combination.
Rodgers avoids the head kick by Masters.
Ken Masters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masters swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Masters misses with a wild combination.
Rodgers throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Masters misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masters throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rodgers throws a nice looking combination but Masters bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Masters gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Rodgers gets to his feet. Masters looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Masters misses with a low kick.

Rodgers scores with a takedown into Masters's guard.

Rodgers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rodgers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Masters is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodgers is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rodgers gets to his feet - Masters follows without any prompting.
Rodgers tries to clinch there but Masters circles away.
Masters misses with a double jab.
Rodgers tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodgers showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Masters.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rodgers.
Masters is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rodgers asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rodgers trying to control the action but Masters is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodgers decides to stand up, so the ref orders Masters to his feet.

Rodgers closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rodgers lands in his opponent's guard.
Rodgers wants to control from the top but Masters keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Darnell Rodgers will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Masters scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rodgers in his tracks.
Masters throws a head kick that misses.
Rodgers defending well as Masters loads up on a big left hand.
Rodgers misses with a head kick.
Masters throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rodgers.
Rodgers avoids the head kick by Masters.

Rodgers closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Rodgers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Masters has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rodgers is looking to take a break and control but Masters is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Masters is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rodgers is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rodgers is looking to take a break and control but Masters is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rodgers tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rodgers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Masters keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Masters struggling a bit here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rodgers dodges the punch combination from Masters.
Darnell Rodgers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masters misses with a wild combination.
Masters swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rodgers shoots in for a takedown but Masters shows good takedown defense.
A punch combination from Masters misses.
Masters stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Masters wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters lands a head kick!
Masters throws a series of punches but Rodgers avoids them all with ease.
Rodgers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Masters tries to avoid it but Rodgers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Masters to the ground. Masters escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darnell Rodgers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masters throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rodgers holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Masters can't break the clinch.
Rodgers leaning his opponent against the cage.

Rodgers successfully pulls guard.

Rodgers has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Masters off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Masters is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rodgers.
Masters showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodgers.
Masters misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers slips a straight right by Masters.
Rodgers throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Masters connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Rodgers gets a takedown into half guard.
Rodgers thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Masters pushes Rodgers off looking to stand but Rodgers dives back in and keeps control.
Rodgers landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rodgers works his foot free and advances to mount.
Rodgers controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Rodgers dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodgers pushes Masters up against the cage in a clinch.
Masters looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rodgers is working for takedown but Masters is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rodgers goes for a takedown in the clinch but Masters prevents it.
Masters is looking to break free of the clinch but Rodgers has double underhooks.
Rodgers tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Masters smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darnell Rodgers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masters throws a nice looking combination but Rodgers bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodgers takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Masters misses with a body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masters throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rodgers misses with a combination
and Masters makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers shoots in but no luck this time.
Masters misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rodgers looks for a takedown but Masters sprawls well.
Ken Masters seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rodgers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Masters misses with a two punch combination.
Masters leaves Rodgers with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Masters lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rodgers circles away quickly and effectively.
Masters misses with a double jab.
Rodgers closes this distance looking for a takedown but Masters circles away.
Rodgers dodges the punch combination from Masters.
Masters stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Masters wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rodgers avoids a punch combination nicely.
Masters dodges the punch combination from Rodgers.
A head kick misses from Masters.
A head kick by Rodgers misses
and Masters counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rodgers thinking.
Ken Masters has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rodgers has a takedown stuffed.

Rodgers instigates a clinch.
Masters wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Masters is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Rodgers pulls guard successfully.

Rodgers uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Rodgers takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters tries to circle away but Rodgers has him pinned against the cage.

Rodgers ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rodgers no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Rodgers has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Masters off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rodgers takes a kick to the side of the head.
Masters pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rodgers throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Masters's waist but Masters gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rodgers off to one side.
Masters tries to bum rush Rodgers with a series of wild strikes but Rodgers uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rodgers has a takedown stuffed.
Rodgers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Masters avoids it really well and circles away.
Masters throws a nice looking combination but Rodgers bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Masters throws a right hand that Rodgers ducks under and follows up with a left that Rodgers also avoids with ease.
Masters scores with a kick to the body.
Rodgers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Masters throws an overhand right that lands on Rodgers's shoulder, as Rodgers tries to avoid the shot.
Masters lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rodgers fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodgers slips a jab and a cross from Masters.
Masters misses with a double jab.
Darnell Rodgers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Masters lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rodgers circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ken Masters.
I think Rodgers has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darnell Rodgers!