PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richie Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Myers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodriguez comes into the arena with Rockstar blaring out of the sound system. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Rodriguez
vs
Myers

196 cm
25
213 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

200 cm
21
211 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richie Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Damian Myers!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Myers wants to clinch.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.

Rodriguez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez drops an elbow to the side of Myers's head.
Myers flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rodriguez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rodriguez is looking to take a break and control but Myers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Myers looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rodriguez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Myers defending well though.
Well, if Rodriguez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Myers flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rodriguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Myers keeps working.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Myers with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Myers throws a head kick but Rodriguez moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Myers lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Richie Rodriguez has been cut.

Myers closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent Myers getting side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rodriguez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Myers throwing shots but Rodriguez is blocking nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rodriguez wants to get back to full guard.
Myers thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Myers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Myers sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rodriguez defending well though.
Rodriguez is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Myers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Myers is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rodriguez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rodriguez trying to control the pace.
Myers throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Myers gets full guard.
Rodriguez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Myers is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rodriguez working some strikes from top position.
Rodriguez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rodriguez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Rodriguez stands up from Myers's guard - Rodriguez perhaps looking for a knockout.

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.

Myers gets control of Rodriguez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Myers will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rodriguez throwing strikes but missing.
Myers throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez gets to his feet - Myers follows without any prompting.
Horrible takedown by Myers or perhaps it was just good defense by Rodriguez which made him look bad.
Rodriguez keeps the fight on the outside.
Myers tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rodriguez is able to avoid easily.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up but Myers circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodriguez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Myers avoids it really well and circles away.
Myers blocks a head kick by Rodriguez.

Myers gets caught flat footed, as Rodriguez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Myers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rodriguez trying to control but Myers is working from the bottom.

Myers working for a triangle but Rodriguez defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez drops back looking for a leg! Myers is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Myers manages to kick Rodriguez off! Rodriguez jumps back into Myers's guard.
Myers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriguez is one step ahead there.
Myers working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez distracts Myers with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rodriguez stopping the sweep attempt from Myers.
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 Richie Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Richie Rodriguez's cut.
That's time! Rodriguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch successfully.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Myers won't allow it.
Myers wants to get back to striking at distance but Rodriguez won't allow it.

Myers breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Myers tries to avoid it but Rodriguez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Myers to the ground. Myers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Myers pushes Rodriguez up against the cage in a clinch.
Myers is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rodriguez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rodriguez wants to get back to striking at distance but Myers won't allow it.
Rodriguez tries to break the clinch but Myers is controlling the position.

Myers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richie Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Myers misses with a takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Myers misses with a takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodriguez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Myers working for a triangle but Rodriguez defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Myers throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Myers trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rodriguez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rodriguez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Myers's head.
Rodriguez pushes down on Myers's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rodriguez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rodriguez trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Myers is defending against the submission attempts here by Rodriguez.
Myers is looking to improve his position.
Myers gets back to full guard.
Rodriguez stopping the sweep attempt from Myers.
Rodriguez with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is working Myers over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Myers throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rodriguez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.
Rodriguez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Myers keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Myers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch but Myers is avoiding it.
Rodriguez tries to clinch there but Myers circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that Myers avoids nicely.
Rodriguez avoids the body shot from Myers.
Good exchange - Rodriguez coming out on top.
Myers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rodriguez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Myers manages to avoid it.

Myers instigates a clinch.
Myers tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Myers tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rodriguez tries to break the clinch but Myers is controlling the position.
Rodriguez is pressed up against the cage. Myers has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rodriguez down to the mat. Rodriguez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez gets a takedown into half guard.
Myers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rodriguez is keen to just control but Myers is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richie Rodriguez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Richie Rodriguez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Myers drives through and clinches with Rodriguez against the cage.

Myers breaks from the clinch.
Myers fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rodriguez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Myers's guard.
Myers wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.
Myers keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
Richie Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rodriguez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rodriguez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodriguez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Myers is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Myers throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rodriguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Myers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriguez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Myers keeping moving, preventing Rodriguez from controlling successfully.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Myers is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodriguez throws a shot from downtown. Myers moves away and avoids it.
Myers tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodriguez throws a leg kick but Myers sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rodriguez misses with a low kick.

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.
Myers misses with a takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rodriguez fails to land with a series of punches.
Myers fails with the takedown.

Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rodriguez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Myers is in a horrible position here. Rodriguez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rodriguez landing strikes from the mount and Myers is in trouble!
Myers is desperately trying to improve his position but Rodriguez has a good base and remains in mount.
Rodriguez landing punches.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rodriguez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rodriguez unloading with bombs!
Rodriguez looking to control but Myers is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Richie Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Myers tries to hold on but Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez controlling the position easily from mount.
Myers tries to hold on but Rodriguez postures up.
Myers flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Myers is desperately trying to improve his position but Rodriguez has a good base and remains in mount.
Rodriguez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rodriguez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Myers for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Myers can't escape the position.
Rodriguez with the ground and pound from mount.
Rodriguez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Myers?
Rodriguez controlling the position easily from mount.
Myers is squirming around, avoiding Rodriguez's attempts to control the action.
Myers regains half guard.
Rodriguez working over Myers with some ground and pound. Myers looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Damian Myers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Myers has hold of Rodriguez's hands but Rodriguez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rodriguez passes the guard and advances to mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Richie Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodriguez, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richie Rodriguez!