PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Nicholes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigues is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 509-E - Oitavo Anjo. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Roy Rodrigues enters the cage!

Nicholes
vs
Rodrigues

190 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Nicholes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roy Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nicholes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rodrigues's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rodrigues holds on and takes a little breather.
Nicholes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodrigues swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nicholes trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nicholes stopping the sweep attempt from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues has his hands on Nicholes's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholes won't allow Rodrigues to sweep him here.
Nicholes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rodrigues is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

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

Nicholes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nicholes showed some decent athleticism there.
Rodrigues tries to get to full guard but Nicholes has control of the leg.
Nicholes tries to pass to full mount but Rodrigues defends it.
Nicholes is just content to waste time from the top position. Rodrigues takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues trying to control the position here.
Nicholes throwing strikes from guard but Rodrigues blocks nicely.
Rodrigues is trying to control the position but Nicholes postures up.
Nicholes being controlled here momentarily.
Rodrigues is trying to keep Nicholes in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicholes preventing the sweep.
Rodrigues keeping moving, preventing Nicholes from controlling successfully.
Rodrigues is trying to keep Nicholes in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rodrigues fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Rodrigues misses.
Roy Rodrigues seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodrigues looks gassed!

Rodrigues drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nicholes sneaks back into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicholes wants to control but Rodrigues is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigues wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nicholes keeps working.
Nicholes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nicholes trying to control but Rodrigues postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholes is controlling Rodrigues's position as best he can from this difficult position.
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 Sam Nicholes will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rodrigues avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rodrigues stuffs the takedown attempt from Nicholes. Nicholes gets slowly back to his feet.

Rodrigues darts in and clinches Nicholes up against the cage.
Nicholes slows down the pace here.
Nicholes is looking to control Rodrigues's arms but Rodrigues gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nicholes has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicholes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Nicholes pulls guard successfully.
Rodrigues wants to pass the guard but Nicholes is keeping the position.
Nicholes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rodrigues controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicholes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rodrigues drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rodrigues jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nicholes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nicholes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rodrigues controls the pace.

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.
Rodrigues postures up.
Rodrigues trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rodrigues not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Despite being in the dominant position, Roy Rodrigues just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown by Nicholes or perhaps it was just good defense by Rodrigues which made him look bad.

That's four 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.
Rodrigues circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nicholes doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodrigues circles away.
Nicholes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rodrigues on the side of the head.
Nicholes misses with a body shot.
Nicholes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Nicholes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rodrigues closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rodrigues is staying tight to Nicholes's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Nicholes struggling a bit here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicholes is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Rodrigues showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nicholes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rodrigues counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nicholes!
Nicholes can't escape the position.

Rodrigues wants to finish this one by submission but Nicholes is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rodrigues.
Nicholes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nicholes tries to lock up and control but Rodrigues gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nicholes is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Rodrigues avoids the attempt from Nicholes to control.
Rodrigues takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicholes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rodrigues takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

That's two 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.
Rodrigues tries to get the hooks in deep but Nicholes pushed the leg off.
Rodrigues not allowing Nicholes to control his hands.
Rodrigues has good solid back control here.
Nicholes trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Nicholes.
A lull in the action here.
Nicholes just trying to survive but Rodrigues is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Sam Nicholes just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Rodrigues with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nicholes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rodrigues has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nicholes is working away from the top position though.
Nicholes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues gets full guard.
Rodrigues is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nicholes trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodrigues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nicholes advances to half guard.
Nicholes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodrigues does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nicholes wants to pass the guard but Rodrigues is defending well.
Rodrigues is positioning himself well to prevent Nicholes advancing to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roy Rodrigues comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rodrigues has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Roy Rodrigues!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Roy Rodrigues!
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Roy Rodrigues!

Roy Rodrigues wins by unanimous decision!