PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Rodrigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Taisumov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Taisumov's choice of entrance music: eRa- Enae Volare Mezzo. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rodrigo
vs
Taisumov

175 cm
24
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

174 cm
24
166 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pablo Rodrigo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maxim Taisumov!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Alyssa Summers and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taisumov connects with a single shot there.
Rodrigo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taisumov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodrigo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rodrigo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rodrigo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Taisumov.
A good leg kick by Rodrigo.
Rodrigo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigo misses with a combination
and Taisumov counters with a two punch combo.
Rodrigo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taisumov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rodrigo backs up against the cage.

It looks like Pablo Rodrigo has been cut.
Taisumov avoids the head kick by Rodrigo.
Rodrigo definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nice cross by Rodrigo.
Rodrigo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rodrigo misses with a straight right.
Taisumov tries to clinch but Rodrigo moves out of range.
A big right from Rodrigo misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taisumov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodrigo lands with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taisumov wants to clinch up but Rodrigo keeps it at a distance.
Rodrigo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taisumov.
It looked like Rodrigo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Taisumov.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rodrigo.
A solid body kick from Rodrigo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodrigo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taisumov.
Taisumov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Taisumov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rodrigo throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taisumov tried to score with a low kick but Rodrigo checks it.
A head kick misses from Rodrigo.
As Rodrigo backs off Taisumov throws a huge counter combo but Rodrigo manages to avoid it all.
Rodrigo throws a jab when Taisumov was well out of range.
Taisumov is looking for the big counter here.
Rodrigo is looking to slow Taisumov down with leg kicks.
Taisumov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rodrigo can pounce on him.
Taisumov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Taisumov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Taisumov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Taisumov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taisumov misses with a double jab.
Rodrigo jabs Taisumov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rodrigo looks to throw the jab but Taisumov is out of range.
Taisumov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rodrigo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taisumov.
Rodrigo misses with a hook.
Rodrigo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodrigo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taisumov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Rodrigo gets tackled into the cage by Taisumov. Taisumov maintains the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rodrigo.

Rodrigo breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Rodrigo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pablo Rodrigo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rodrigo lands a really nice looking cross but Taisumov seems unphased.
Rodrigo tests Taisumov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rodrigo cracks the inside of Taisumov's front leg.
Rodrigo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Taisumov.
Taisumov walks into a jab.
Pablo Rodrigo is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rodrigo.
Rodrigo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taisumov can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taisumov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rodrigo misses the shot to the body.
Taisumov blocks a head kick by Rodrigo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Taisumov.
Taisumov misses with a wild combination.
Rodrigo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rodrigo throws a series of punches but Taisumov moves out of range.
As Rodrigo backs off Taisumov throws a huge counter combo but Rodrigo manages to avoid it all.
Taisumov throws a right hand that Rodrigo ducks under and follows up with a left that Rodrigo also avoids with ease.
Taisumov misses with a combination
enabling Rodrigo to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo thuds a left hand into Taisumov's body.
Rodrigo throws a leg kick but Taisumov checks it.
Taisumov throws a counter combo.
Taisumov swinging wildly here.
Taisumov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rodrigo counters with a three punch combo that has Taisumov backing up. Taisumov nods at Rodrigo to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd cheers as Rodrigo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Taisumov doesn't seem phased though.
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!
Taisumov lands with a nice combination. Rodrigo backs away looking to recover.
Taisumov tries to clinch up but Rodrigo circles away and keeps his distance.
Taisumov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rodrigo lands the left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taisumov clinches up against the cage.

Rodrigo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodrigo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Maxim Taisumov has been cut.
Rodrigo is looking to score with low kicks.
Taisumov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rodrigo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Taisumov tries to clinch up but Rodrigo circles away and keeps his distance.
Taisumov tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodrigo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rodrigo lands the left hand.
Rodrigo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taisumov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taisumov tries to clinch but Rodrigo moves out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Rodrigo.
Taisumov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rodrigo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nice jab there from Rodrigo.
Rodrigo misses with a few strikes there.
Rodrigo misses with a double jab
and Taisumov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Taisumov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Rodrigo dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A slow jab from Rodrigo misses its intended target.
Rodrigo throws a nice head kick!
Taisumov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Taisumov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rodrigo lands with a right hand.
Maxim Taisumov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slow jab from Rodrigo misses its intended target.
Taisumov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rodrigo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Taisumov.
Taisumov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Taisumov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rodrigo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Taisumov's calf.
Pablo Rodrigo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taisumov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rodrigo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Taisumov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rodrigo checks a leg kick.
Rodrigo misses with a head kick.
Rodrigo misses with a hook
and Taisumov counters with a left and a right that stings Rodrigo.
Rodrigo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rodrigo digs a good hook to Taisumov's body.
Rodrigo throws a leg kick which misses Taisumov's front leg but catches the back leg as Taisumov tries to avoid it.
Rodrigo throws out a loose jab but Taisumov uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Taisumov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rodrigo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taisumov moves in looking to clinch but Rodrigo pushes him off.
Good leg kick by Rodrigo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rodrigo lands a jab-cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodrigo throws out a loose jab but Taisumov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taisumov throws out a counter right but Rodrigo avoids it with no problem.
Rodrigo scoring well with a low kick there.
Rodrigo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Taisumov.
Rodrigo looks to land a combination but Taisumov avoids it well.
Taisumov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodrigo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taisumov misses with a series of wild punches.
Taisumov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rodrigo.
Rodrigo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodrigo throws a nice head kick!
Rodrigo connects with a leg kick. Taisumov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rodrigo jabs Taisumov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Taisumov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rodrigo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo misses with an uppercut.
Rodrigo throws out a leg kick but Taisumov moves out of range and Rodrigo only half commits.
Rodrigo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taisumov is looking for the big counter here.
Rodrigo jabs Taisumov to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Rodrigo tries to keep at a distance but Taisumov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pablo Rodrigo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stalling in the clinch from Rodrigo.
Taisumov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rodrigo to keep the fight standing.
Taisumov is trying to pull guard but Rodrigo has him pressed against the cage.
Rodrigo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taisumov backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taisumov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Maxim Taisumov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pablo Rodrigo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Taisumov.
Rodrigo blocks a body shot from Taisumov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Rodrigo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodrigo, 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Rodrigo!
Pablo Rodrigo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.