PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Todd Rodd (ranked 10109 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Tanner (ranked 9539 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rodd
vs
Tanner

225 cm
21
210 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

170 cm
19
216 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Todd Rodd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eric Tanner!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodd moves out of range of the strikes.
Rodd throwing a counter right hand but Tanner manages to avoid it.
Tanner wants to clinch.
Tanner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rodd tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tanner manages to circle out of the way.
Tanner should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Tanner doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodd circles away.
Tanner takes a swing at Rodd's ribcage but misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Rodd misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner moves to clinch but Rodd breaks away
and Rodd counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tanner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rodd manages to avoid it.
Rodd tried to counter with a leg kick but Tanner avoided it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodd swats away the attempt to clinch by Tanner.
Rodd tried to counter with a leg kick but Tanner avoided it.
Tanner shoots in looking for a takedown but Rodd manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tanner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tanner misses the jab.
Rodd is looking to counter the offense by Tanner and move into the clinch.
Eric Tanner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodd paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tanner swings for the body but Rodd moves out of range.
A jab from Tanner misses.
Tanner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rodd was well out of range. Poor timing from Tanner.
Rodd tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tanner manages to circle out of the way.
Tanner throws out a loose jab but Rodd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tanner wants to clinch.
Rodd fires out a quick counter leg kick but Tanner just manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner wants to clinch up but Rodd keeps it at a distance.
Tanner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rodd tried to counter with a leg kick but Tanner avoided it.
Tanner throws out a loose jab but Rodd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodd throws a counter high kick but Tanner was just alert enough to avoid it.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tanner tries to clinch up.
Rodd tried to counter with a leg kick but Tanner avoided it.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rodd tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tanner manages to circle out of the way.
Tanner misses with a straight right.
A big right from Tanner misses.
Rodd appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tanner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rodd tries to counter by clinching up but Tanner breaks away and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Rodd as Tanner shoots in.
Todd Rodd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Tanner.
Tanner misses the shot to the body.
Rodd appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tanner wants to clinch.
Rodd thinks about countering with a body kick.
Tanner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rodd was well out of range. Poor timing from Tanner.
Todd Rodd is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tanner moves in looking to clinch but Rodd pushes him off.
Rodd throwing a counter right hand but Tanner manages to avoid it.
Tanner looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodd is just out of range.
Tanner just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromRodd.
Tanner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A swing and a miss from Tanner.
Rodd thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodd displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tanner throws out the jab.
Rodd appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tanner throws an overhand right that lands on Rodd's shoulder, as Rodd tries to avoid the shot.
Rodd seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Tanner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rodd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodd tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tanner manages to circle out of the way.
Rodd really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A jab from Tanner misses.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodd swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodd seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Tanner just misses with a punch to the body.
Rodd swats away the attempt to clinch by Tanner.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tanner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eric Tanner will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rodd ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tanner looks to land a left hand but Rodd moved out of range nicely.
A counter left hand to the body from Rodd misses its target.
Tanner doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodd circles away.
Rodd lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Tanner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tanner misses with a left hand
and Rodd counters with a head kick.
Tanner misses with a takedown attempt

and Rodd counters by moving into the clinch.
Tanner misses with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner tries to land a knee to the head but Rodd blocks with his arms.
Tanner tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tanner using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rodd has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tanner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rodd avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodd looking to slow down the pace here.
Tanner missing with knees to the body.
Tanner with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tanner misses with a knee to the head.
Rodd wants to stall.
Rodd avoiding damage as Tanner throws knees to the body.
Rodd avoiding damage as Tanner throws knees to the body.
Tanner throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rodd blocks it with crossed arms.
Tanner missing with knees to the body.
Tanner missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodd blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tanner misses with a knee to the head.
Tanner trying to land knees to the body.
Rodd tries to stall but Tanner uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tanner tries to land knees in the clinch but Rodd avoids the damage to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Rodd.
Tanner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rodd controlling the action here for a moment.
Tanner trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodd will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tanner up against the cage.
Tanner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rodd trying to control the position but instead, Tanner has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rodd into the cage.
Tanner misses with a knee strike.
Tanner misses with a knee strike.
Tanner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rodd wants to stall.
Rodd will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tanner up against the cage.

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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Todd Rodd.
Tanner misses the jab.
Rodd was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A jab from Tanner misses.
Rodd jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Tanner looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodd is just out of range.
Tanner swings away with a body shot that misses

and Rodd counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tanner with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tanner tries a knee to the head but Rodd blocks it.
Tanner throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rodd blocks it with crossed arms.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodd is trying to maintain a safe position but Tanner gets an underhook and turns Rodd into the cage.
Eric Tanner seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rodd is pushing Tanner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rodd pressing his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Tanner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rodd's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Tanner misses the target.
Rodd wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tanner tries to clinch up.
Tanner doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodd circles away.
Rodd circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rodd swats away the attempt to clinch by Tanner.
Tanner just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromRodd.
Tanner throws a jab but it's blocked by Rodd.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Tanner has eaten all the pies!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanner looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodd is just out of range.
Rodd wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tanner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rodd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner misses with a wild body shot.
Rodd looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Tanner tries to clinch there but Rodd circles away.
Tanner just misses with a punch to the body.
Rodd staying out of range there.
Rodd is looking to counter the offense by Tanner and move into the clinch.
Tanner tries to clinch there but Rodd circles away.
Rodd ducks under a wild hook from Tanner.
Tanner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodd is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tanner.
Rodd circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rodd appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tanner tries to clinch but Rodd moves out of range.
Rodd throws a counter high kick but Tanner was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner misses the jab.
Rodd throws a quick counter head kick but Tanner was just out of range.
A big right from Tanner misses.
A little feinted left hand from Rodd on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tanner tries to clinch up.
Rodd wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tanner with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tanner tries to clinch up.
Tanner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As Tanner tries to get set, Rodd tries to push him back and clinch up but Tanner manages to avoid the attempt.
Rodd circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tanner misses with a body shot.
Rodd thinks about countering with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodd tries to counter by clinching up but Tanner breaks away and moves out of range.
Tanner misses with a looping right.
Tanner throws a hook but Rodd blocks it.
Rodd tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tanner manages to circle out of the way.
Tanner tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rodd swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tanner looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodd is just out of range.
Rodd is looking to counter the offense by Tanner and move into the clinch.
Tanner tries to clinch up but Rodd circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodd swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tanner moves in looking to clinch but Rodd pushes him off.
Rodd feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A big left from Tanner misses.
Rodd tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tanner manages to circle out of the way.
Eric Tanner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner takes a swing at Rodd's ribcage but misses.
Rodd throws a counter high kick but Tanner was just alert enough to avoid it.
Tanner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rodd tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tanner manages to circle out of the way.
Tanner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tanner misses the shot to the body.
Rodd displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tanner throws out the jab.
Tanner tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tanner throws a hook to the side of Rodd's head but Rodd sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Todd Rodd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eric Tanner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tanner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rodd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Todd Rodd.
I think Tanner has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Tanner!
In his post fight interview, Eric Tanner started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.