PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bender Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Norris
vs
Rodriguez

185 cm
26
190 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

185 cm
25
202 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Cobra Kai Nutrition (St. Pete's Best)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Norris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bender Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norris takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rodriguez thows a body shot but no joy.
Norris throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rodriguez's head.
Norris throws a body punch but Rodriguez moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Rodriguez.
Norris lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nice defenses there by Norris.
Rodriguez misses with a straight right.
No joy there for Rodriguez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A slow jab from Rodriguez misses its intended target.
Norris avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rodriguez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rodriguez wants it to stay on the feet.
Norris throws a head kick that half lands.
A decent looking cross lands there for Norris.
Bender Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Norris slips under a jab.
Rodriguez misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris staying out of range there.
Rodriguez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Norris shoots in looking for a takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl out of it but Norris 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.
Norris lands a jab to Rodriguez's midsection.
Rodriguez jabs at Norris's body.
Rodriguez lands a body shot.
Rodriguez misses the body punch
and Norris counters with a leg kick.
Rodriguez swings for the body but Norris moves out of range.
Rodriguez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Norris blocks a jab.
Rodriguez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Norris sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rodriguez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Norris sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rodriguez swings and misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Norris misses.
Norris throws a head kick that misses.
Rodriguez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Norris manages to avoid it.
Rodriguez throws a right hand that Norris ducks under and follows up with a left that Norris also avoids with ease.
Rodriguez misses with a straight right.
Norris swings for the body but Rodriguez moves out of range.
A jab from Rodriguez misses.

Norris closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rodriguez to the mat! Rodriguez manages to get full guard.
Norris in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Norris preventing the sweep.
Norris throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rodriguez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Norris.
Norris being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris thows a big elbow that misses.

Norris postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rodriguez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Norris, into his guard.

Norris has his foot on Rodriguez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rodriguez works his way back into a safe position though.
Norris manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodriguez manages to get himself to full guard.
Norris postures up in Rodriguez's guard and throws a big left but Rodriguez blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris postures up in Rodriguez's guard and throws a big left but Rodriguez blocks it.
Rodriguez wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Norris is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Norris accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Norris postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Norris throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rodriguez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Norris is controlling him.
Norris is pushing down on Rodriguez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rodriguez is fighting to maintain full guard but Norris has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Norris dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rodriguez misses with a straight right.
Rodriguez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rodriguez ducks under a wild hook from Norris.
Rodriguez misses with a hook to the body
and Norris counters with an outside leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Norris closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.

Norris thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris in side control, throwing shots but Rodriguez defends.
Norris scoring with punches and elbows.
Rodriguez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rodriguez dodges the ground and pound from Norris.

Norris working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rodriguez tries to improve position but can't.
Norris throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Norris goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rodriguez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Norris's guard! Nice work there by Rodriguez!
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.
Norris has a closed guard, preventing Rodriguez from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norris is looking for a triangle but Rodriguez pushes his legs off easily.

Norris is working an open guard so Rodriguez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Norris moves away.
Norris blocks a jab.
Rodriguez looks to land a right hand but Norris moved out of range.
Norris slips under a jab.
A jab from Rodriguez misses.
Norris misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodriguez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rodriguez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Norris manages to avoid it.

That's four 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.
Norris is looking to slow Rodriguez down with leg kicks.
Norris throws a head kick that misses.
Bender Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Norris avoids the body shot from Rodriguez.
Norris displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rodriguez throws out the jab.
Rodriguez misses the body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Rodriguez slaps away a takedown attempt from Norris, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Norris looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rodriguez throws out a loose jab but Norris uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodriguez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Norris uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez loads up on a big right hand but Norris slips the punch.
Norris looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Norris.
Rodriguez is trying to control Norris's posture but Norris avoids it.
Rodriguez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Norris off and has taken his back!
Rodriguez tries to get the hooks in deep but Norris pushed the leg off.
Norris is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Norris wants to escape the position.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Rodriguez's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Norris tries to escape but Rodriguez has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rodriguez controlling the positon.
A lull in the action here.
Rodriguez is hanging on to Norris's back as he tries to escape.
Bender Rodriguez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rodriguez is persistently looking for the submission but Norris is defending it well.
Norris tries to escape but Rodriguez has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mike Norris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris prevents Rodriguez from getting a body triangle.
Rodriguez missing with strikes from the back.
Norris rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rodriguez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Norris tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodriguez throws a hook but Norris avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Rodriguez misses its intended target.
Rodriguez misses with an uppercut. Norris saw that one coming.
Rodriguez throws a hook to the side of Norris's head but Norris sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

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.
Rodriguez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rodriguez!
Rodriguez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rodriguez swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Norris counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Norris trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet but Norris is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Norris trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norris looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Norris has his hands on Rodriguez's head, controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Norris showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Norris has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Norris!