PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigues has chosen Better Off Alone as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taylor
vs
Rodrigues

175 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodrigues looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigues stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Taylor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodrigues doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodrigues manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Taylor is on top in guard.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodrigues is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rodrigues is on top in guard.
Taylor throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues is pushing down on Taylor's leg trying to pass to half guard. Taylor is fighting to maintain full guard but Rodrigues has managed to sneak the leg through.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Rodrigues is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rodrigues stops Taylor from getting back to his feet.

Rodrigues looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Rodrigues is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rodrigues 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.

Rodrigues wants to work for an arm triangle but Taylor is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Taylor wants to control but Rodrigues is keeping busy.
Rodrigues looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taylor is trying to stand back up but Rodrigues is controlling him

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Taylor shoots and misses

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

Rodrigues has Taylor pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rodrigues pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Taylor tumbling to the mat - Rodrigues dives into Taylor's guard.
Taylor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rodrigues's guard.
Taylor won't allow Rodrigues to sweep him here.
Taylor 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.
Rodrigues utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Rodrigues is trying to keep Taylor in close.
Taylor is pushing down on Rodrigues's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rodrigues is fighting to maintain full guard but Taylor has managed to sneak the leg through.
Taylor 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.
Taylor is really struggling to control Rodrigues but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Rodrigues tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.
Rodrigues is trying to control but Taylor manages to pass to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Taylor working for a guillotine from mount but Rodrigues is in no mood to give up.

Rodrigues defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Taylor.
Rodrigues is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rodrigues wants to control but Taylor is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Rodrigues dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rodrigues avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Taylor looking for a takedown.
Taylor tries to work over Rodrigues's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taylor wants to break free but Rodrigues has control.
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Rodrigues won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodrigues is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Taylor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues dodges an elbow strike from Taylor.

Rodrigues successfully pulls guard.

Rodrigues is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Taylor rolls with it to try and escape but Rodrigues cranks on the arm and Taylor is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joao Rodrigues!