PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Rendicion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Lesner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rendicion comes to the cage accompanied by El último pecado. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rendicion
vs
Lesner

197 cm
22
235 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

194 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roberto Rendicion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Lesner!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Joseph Jones and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rendicion gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lesner preventing the sweep.
Lesner trying to control the position from guard on top but Rendicion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rendicion escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lesner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rendicion had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lesner defends it easily.

Lesner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rendicion has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lesner has managed to get both his arms back between Rendicion's legs - danger averted.
Rendicion is trying to keep Lesner in close.
Lesner trying to control the position from guard on top but Rendicion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lesner gets to his feet - Rendicion follows without any prompting.
Rendicion drops his hands momentarily and Lesner takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lesner throws a body punch but Rendicion moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner shoots in looking for a takedown. Rendicion tries to sprawl out of it but Lesner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rendicion manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rendicion with a poor takedown

and Lesner decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rendicion's guard.

Rendicion is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lesner defends well.
Lesner wants to pass the guard but Rendicion is keeping the position.
Rendicion working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lesner.
Lesner won't allow Rendicion to sweep him here.
Rendicion trying to control the position.
Lesner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rendicion swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lesner is looking to work some ground and pound but Rendicion has wrist control.
Lesner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rendicion looking to control.
Lesner trying to control but Rendicion is working from the bottom.
Lesner preventing the sweep.
Lesner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Rendicion is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lesner is aware though and is defending well.
Lesner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lesner pushing down on Rendicion's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lesner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rendicion is trying to control but can't.
Lesner is keen to just control but Rendicion is a slippery customer.
Rendicion is looking for a sweep. Lesner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rendicion is breathing heavily.

Lesner is looking for a kimura but Rendicion is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lesner to get the leverage.

Lesner stands up from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rendicion looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lesner shoots and misses

and Rendicion counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rendicion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lesner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lesner wants to stand and escape but Rendicion is having none of it.
Rendicion tries to free his leg and advance position but Lesner is retaining full guard.

Rendicion is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lesner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rendicion drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lesner manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rendicion has Lesner in his guard.
Lesner looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rendicion throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lesner uses it to pass to side control.
Lesner staying calm.
Rendicion manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rendicion is trying to get back to full guard.
Lesner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Lesner dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rendicion tries to clinch there but Lesner circles away.
Lesner doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rendicion counters with a shoot takedown. Lesner fights it but they end up in guard.
Lesner controls Rendicion momentarily but Rendicion frees himself.
Lesner is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Lesner wants to take a breather but Rendicion is having none of it.
Rendicion trying to control but Lesner postures up.
Rendicion tries to roll over but Lesner keeps him under control.
Lesner is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner with shots to the head and body - Rendicion looks very uncomfortable down there.
Lesner looking to control but Rendicion is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rendicion is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lesner cracks Rendicion with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
A nice elbow there by Lesner.
Rendicion tries to reverse the position but Lesner maintains control.
Lesner content just to control the position here.
Lesner in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Lesner scoring with strikes but Rendicion is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rendicion is desperately trying to improve his position but Lesner has a good base and remains in mount.
Lesner working the ground and pound effectively.
Lesner dominating with strikes here.
Lesner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rendicion is looking to escape.
Rendicion is desperately trying to improve his position but Lesner has a good base and remains in mount.
Lesner lands a big shot there that rocks Rendicion but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lesner tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rendicion can't escape the position.
Lesner lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rendicion regains half guard.
Rendicion is trying to maintain the position but Lesner is very close to passing his half guard.
Lesner is looking to advance position but Rendicion won't allow it.
Lesner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Lesner not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Lesner seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rendicion manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Rendicion is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lesner defends well.

Rendicion has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lesner is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rendicion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rendicion is looking to reverse the position.
Lesner looks up at the clock and then as Rendicion takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Lesner smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Lesner trying to control the position but Rendicion is working away.
Rendicion tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lesner trying to control the position but Rendicion is working away.
Lesner cracks Rendicion with a big right hand but Rendicion just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lesner is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Lesner decides to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Lesner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rendicion keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lesner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lesner shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rendicion counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lesner won't be happy with that.
Lesner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lesner wants to control but Rendicion postures up.

Rendicion is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lesner has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rendicion goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lesner rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rendicion's guard! Nice work there by Lesner!
Matt Lesner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rendicion manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner wants to control but Rendicion is having none of it.

Rendicion is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Lesner has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Lesner!
Rendicion preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lesner sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rendicion keeping moving, preventing Lesner from controlling successfully.
Lesner preventing the sweep.
Rendicion is working hard here to advance position.

That's two 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.
Lesner wanted to stand there but Rendicion had control of the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Matt Lesner wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lesner throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rendicion counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Lesner wants to improve his position but Rendicion is controlling well.

Rendicion is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lesner defends it well.

Rendicion is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lesner sees it coming and defends easily.
Lesner is trying to stand.
Lesner makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lesner.
Lesner has Rendicion pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rendicion is pushing down on Lesner's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lesner is fighting to maintain full guard but Rendicion has managed to sneak the leg through.

Rendicion is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lesner sees it coming and defends easily.

Lesner kicks off Rendicion and gets to his feet.
Lesner throws a head kick that misses

and Rendicion counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lesner won't be happy with that.

Rendicion has an Americana. Lesner didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Rendicion is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Rendicion hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Roberto Rendicion!