PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leandro Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Calzaghe comes into the arena with The Pride of Wales blaring out of the sound system. Rodrigues has chosen New Order Blue Monday as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Calzaghe
vs
Rodrigues

182 cm
29
173 lbs
21 - 14 - 1

175 cm
27
184 lbs
20 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

ANABOLIC Nutrition 160Q and LAUNDRY 85%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Joe Calzaghe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leandro Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calzaghe cracks a nice hook into Rodrigues's ribs.
Rodrigues wants to clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rodrigues jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The fighters circling - Rodrigues throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A swing and a miss from Rodrigues.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab.
Calzaghe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Calzaghe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Calzaghe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodrigues moves away.
Calzaghe feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rodriguess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Calzaghe scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rodrigues takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Rodrigues has closed the distance and engaged Calzaghe in a clinch.
Rodrigues controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on Rodrigues's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Calzaghe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Calzaghe lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rodrigues lands with a short shot to the head.
Rodrigues is stalling here.
A right hook to the body lands for Calzaghe.
Rodrigues swings wildly with an uppercut but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Calzaghe just leaning against Rodrigues, taking a breather.
Rodrigues trying to control the position but instead, Calzaghe has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rodrigues into the cage.
Calzaghe is trying to break the clinch but Rodrigues is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues lands a right hand that snaps the head of Calzaghe backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rodrigues lands with a short shot to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rodrigues swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Calzaghe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rodrigues blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rodrigues stalling the fight.
Calzaghe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rodrigues trying to control the position but instead, Calzaghe has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rodrigues into the cage.
Calzaghe wants to get back to striking at distance but Rodrigues won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Calzaghe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Calzaghe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rodrigues avoids the body shot from Calzaghe.
Rodrigues throws a looping overhand right but Calzaghe ducks down to avoid it.
Rodrigues misses with an uppercut
and Calzaghe counters with a straight right hand.
Rodrigues misses with a looping right.
Calzaghe scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Leandro Rodrigues has been cut.
Calzaghe slips a straight right by Rodrigues.
Calzaghe misses with the combination.
Calzaghe misses the jab.
Rodrigues throws an off balance right hand
and Calzaghe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rodrigues pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Calzaghe feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rodriguess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Calzaghe has time to react.
Rodrigues moves in looking to clinch but Calzaghe pushes him off.
Rodrigues tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calzaghe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodrigues uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Calzaghe.
Rodrigues throws a good cross that connects.
A jab from Calzaghe misses.
Calzaghe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Calzaghe scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A telegraphed right hand from Rodrigues misses the target.
Calzaghe takes a swing at Rodrigues's ribcage but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Calzaghe throws a big shot that misses.
Leandro Rodrigues seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodrigues lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Calzaghe at a distance.
Calzaghe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Calzaghe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leandro Rodrigues's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Calzaghe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Calzaghe throws a right and a left that Rodrigues avoids nicely.
Calzaghe walks into a stiff left hand from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a hook
and Calzaghe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Calzaghe lands a jab to Rodrigues's midsection.
Nice cross by Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a hook.
Rodrigues lands a head shot.
Rodrigues lands with a hook. Calzaghe tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Calzaghe shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Calzaghe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rodrigues.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Calzaghe lands with a good body shot.
Rodrigues throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Calzaghe throws a predictable looking body shot

and Rodrigues holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe misses with a punch to the body.
Rodrigues lands a right hand.
Calzaghe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Calzaghe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Calzaghe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rodrigues stalling in the clinch.
Rodrigues blocking some punches.
Rodrigues tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Calzaghe stalling.
Calzaghe taking a breather.
Come on Rodrigues - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rodrigues blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe stalling in the clinch.
Rodrigues will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Calzaghe up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Calzaghe.
Leandro Rodrigues seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Calzaghe scores with a hook to the body.
Calzaghe has had enough of the clinch but Rodrigues keeps him there for the moment.
Rodrigues tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rodrigues tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodrigues lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Calzaghe is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Calzaghe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A shot to the liver by Calzaghe. Beautiful body shot.
Calzaghe is looking to wear down Rodrigues with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rodrigues takes one to the chin there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe looks to land a combination but Rodrigues avoids it well.
Rodrigues takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Calzaghe scores with a jab. Rodrigues acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rodrigues tries to clinch up.
Rodrigues lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rodrigues scores with a sloppy right hand. Calzaghe should have avoided that one.

It looks like Joe Calzaghe has been cut.
Good standup being displayed there by Rodrigues as he connects with a hook.

Calzaghe is rocked!
Rodrigues takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rodrigues misses with a right hand
and Calzaghe counters with a three punch combo that has Rodrigues backing up. Rodrigues nods at Calzaghe to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rodrigues.
Rodrigues connects with a right hand. Calzaghe shakes it off.
Oh Calzaghe is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rodrigues throws out a loose jab but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Calzaghe connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Calzaghe seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rodrigues counters with a nice uppercut.
Calzaghe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rodrigues throws a hook but Calzaghe avoids it easily.
Calzaghe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rodrigues defending well as Calzaghe loads up on a big left hand.
Calzaghe staying out of range there.
Rodrigues throws a poor cross that misses
and Rodrigues takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Rodrigues gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Calzaghe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rodrigues lands with a right to the head.
Rodrigues leaning against his opponent.
Calzaghe blocking some punches.
Rodrigues gets through Calzaghe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leandro Rodrigues showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rodrigues throws a poor cross that misses
and Calzaghe counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Calzaghe lands a jab.
Rodrigues might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Rodrigues throws a looping overhand right but Calzaghe ducks down to avoid it.
No joy there for Calzaghe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Calzaghe closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rodrigues with a jab.
Calzaghe throws a jab but it's blocked by Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Calzaghe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Calzaghe ducks under a wild hook from Rodrigues.
Calzaghe throws a one two combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Calzaghe lands the left hand.
Joe Calzaghe is winning the standup battle so far.
Rodrigues takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rodrigues slips a jab and a cross from Calzaghe.
Rodrigues misses with a lunging right hand
and Calzaghe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rodrigues misses with a hook
and Calzaghe counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rodrigues takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Rodrigues is rocked!
Calzaghe throws a right hand that misses
and Rodrigues cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Good standup being displayed there by Calzaghe as he connects with a hook.
Nice shot lands for Calzaghe.
Rodrigues takes a swing at Calzaghe's ribcage but misses.
Rodrigues throws a lazy uppercut
and Calzaghe counters with a left to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodrigues displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Calzaghe throws out the jab.
Calzaghe moves out of range as Rodrigues strikes.
Rodrigues misses with a left hand
and Calzaghe makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Calzaghe manages to avoid it.
Rodrigues throws a lazy uppercut
and Calzaghe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab.
Calzaghe lands a jab.
Rodrigues takes one to the side of the head.
Calzaghe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Calzaghe misses with a body punch
and Rodrigues cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Calzaghe misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Calzaghe.
Left hook, right uppercut from Calzaghe.

Rodrigues gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rodrigues throws a punch but it's blocked by Calzaghe.
Rodrigues swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Calzaghe blocks an uppercut.
Calzaghe lands a body shot.
Rodrigues throws a punch but it's blocked by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe just leaning against Rodrigues, taking a breather.
Calzaghe scores with a shot to the side of Rodrigues's head.
Rodrigues doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rodrigues throws a punch but it's blocked by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Calzaghe digs a right hand into Rodrigues's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rodrigues's gas tank.
Rodrigues prevents a body shot from Calzaghe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rodrigues.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rodrigues lands a nice uppercut.
Calzaghe blocks an uppercut.
Calzaghe scores with a shot to the side of Rodrigues's head.
Calzaghe misses with the head strike.
Rodrigues has a couple of punches blocked by Calzaghe.
A shot in the inside from Rodrigues.
Calzaghe presses Rodrigues against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rodrigues misses with a punch on the inside.
Calzaghe is looking to break free of the clinch but Rodrigues has double underhooks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Calzaghe scores with a shoulder strike.
Calzaghe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short right from Rodrigues on the inside.
Rodrigues leaning his opponent against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Calzaghe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Calzaghe has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Calzaghe!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Joe Calzaghe waved his t-shirt featuring Untouchable Fight Nutrition Q160 $125's logo in front of the cameras.