PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Masaldo Laitamos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richie Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laitamos comes to the cage accompanied by Stam1na - Kadonneet kolme sanaa. Rodriguez has chosen Rockstar as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Laitamos
vs
Rodriguez

185 cm
21
212 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

196 cm
24
213 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Frank`s TASTE 'Q147 Recovery*40$

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Masaldo Laitamos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richie Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laitamos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rodriguez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laitamos somewhat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodriguez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodriguez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Laitamos.
Rodriguez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Laitamos blocks a jab.

Laitamos shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rodriguez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rodriguez regains half guard.

Laitamos is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rodriguez has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Laitamos.
Rodriguez trying to control here.
Rodriguez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Laitamos wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is defending well.
Rodriguez is trying to stand.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rodriguez controlling the position for now.

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

Laitamos 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.
Laitamos looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rodriguez thows a big elbow that misses.
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitamos has a closed guard, preventing Rodriguez from standing up.

Laitamos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rodriguez controlling from the top position.
Rodriguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Rodriguez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rodriguez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rodriguez is looking to work some ground and pound but Laitamos has wrist control.
Laitamos might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is working Laitamos over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Laitamos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but missing.
Laitamos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is looking to work some ground and pound but Laitamos has wrist control.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Laitamos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriguez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Laitamos fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rodriguez sprawls well initially but Laitamos persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Laitamos is trying to control the action in half guard but Rodriguez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Laitamos working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Laitamos tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rodriguez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Laitamos lands with a punch from half guard.
Rodriguez is pressing down on Laitamos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rodriguez is pulling down on Laitamos's head. It's preventing any offense from Laitamos, at least for the moment.
Laitamos prevents Rodriguez from getting back to his feet.
Rodriguez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masaldo Laitamos dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rodriguez slips a straight right by Laitamos.
Rodriguez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laitamos moves away.
Richie Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Laitamos.
Rodriguez misses with a takedown attempt

and Laitamos counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rodriguez is not content to let Laitamos control the position.
Laitamos wants to stand but Rodriguez has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Rodriguez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rodriguez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Laitamos.
Laitamos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Rodriguez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Laitamos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Laitamos tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laitamos is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodriguez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Laitamos counters with a takedown into side control.

Laitamos tries for a kimura but Rodriguez is defending well.

Laitamos is trying to get an arm triangle but Rodriguez is defending well.
Laitamos tries to advance to mount but can't.
Laitamos throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Laitamos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodriguez keeps working.
Rodriguez is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitamos trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez wants to control but Laitamos postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rodriguez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rodriguez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Laitamos to see if he's OK.
Laitamos tries to buck Rodriguez off but Rodriguez is having none of it.

Laitamos throws Rodriguez to one side and escapes!
Rodriguez misses with a takedown

and Laitamos counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Masaldo Laitamos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richie Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitamos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodriguez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rodriguez is trying to stand.
Laitamos is looking to take a break and control but Rodriguez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rodriguez is trying to control but can't.
Laitamos passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rodriguez!
Rodriguez tries to lock up and control but Laitamos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Laitamos jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rodriguez manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Laitamos wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rodriguez, who protects the arm well.
Rodriguez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rodriguez wants to control but Laitamos is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rodriguez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Laitamos is looking to take a break and control but Rodriguez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Laitamos is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rodriguez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Laitamos is trying to work for a kimura but Rodriguez is defending well.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain the position but Laitamos is very close to passing his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rodriguez shoots and misses
and Laitamos counters with a series of strikes. Rodriguez will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masaldo Laitamos dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rodriguez closes the distance but Laitamos moves to the side

and Laitamos counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rodriguez!
Laitamos cracks Rodriguez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Laitamos working for a guillotine from mount but Rodriguez is in no mood to give up.
Rodriguez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Laitamos looking to control but Rodriguez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Laitamos with a couple of short strikes.
Rodriguez working to try and regain half guard.

Laitamos with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Laitamos cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rodriguez wants to hold on but Laitamos pushes him away.
Laitamos connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Laitamos is landing with some decent strikes but Rodriguez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Laitamos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodriguez is looking to escape.

Laitamos jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rodriguez manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Laitamos tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rodriguez's legs.
Rodriguez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to control Laitamos's posture but Laitamos avoids it.
Rodriguez stops Laitamos from passing to mount.
Rodriguez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Laitamos connects with a decent elbow.
Rodriguez is looking to reverse the position.

Laitamos decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rodriguez to his feet.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot

and Laitamos counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rodriguez!
Masaldo Laitamos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laitamos won't let Rodriguez get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Laitamos content just to control the position here.
Laitamos 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.
Rodriguez is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez is desperately trying to improve his position but Laitamos has a good base and remains in mount.
Rodriguez tries to lock up and control but Laitamos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Laitamos quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Laitamos but it's paid off an Rodriguez is forced to tap! Nice work by Laitamos.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Masaldo Laitamos!