PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kristobel James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emmanuel Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Rodriguez

185 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kristobel James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Emmanuel Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling James to score with a decent uppercut.
Rodriguez wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
A big left from James misses.
Rodriguez tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James scores with a hook to the body. Rodriguez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
James throws out a loose jab but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kristobel James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Rodriguez checks a leg kick.
Rodriguez takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
James lands a nice shot to the body.
Rodriguez moves out of range of the strikes.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
James lands a jab to Rodriguez's midsection.
Rodriguez gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Rodriguez has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rodriguez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

James breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as James throws out the jab.
James misses with an uppercut.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rodriguez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
James tries to work over Rodriguez's front leg with a kick but Rodriguez checks it.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up.
Rodriguez doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
James misses with a low kick.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James throws a right hand that Rodriguez ducks under and follows up with a left that Rodriguez also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from James misses.
James scores with a sloppy right hand. Rodriguez should have avoided that one.
James throws a series of punches but Rodriguez moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
James stalks Rodriguez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rodriguez's face. Rodriguez staggers backwards, shaken.
Rodriguez blocks a jab.
Rodriguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from James does no damage.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
Decent striking displayed by James there.
James misses with the combination.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rodriguez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rodriguez misses with a knee strike.
Rodriguez lands a left hand.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Come on James - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rodriguez has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a knee to the head but misses.
The referee calls for James to work.
Rodriguez has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
James tries to break free but Rodriguez pushes him back against the cage.
Rodriguez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rodriguez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rodriguez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rodriguez looks gassed!
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
James is trying to break the clinch but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Rodriguez has double underhooks.
Rodriguez connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
A frustrated look appears on James's face as he tries to break the clinch.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four 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.
James can't break the clinch.
Rodriguez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Rodriguez misses with a knee strike.
James blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Rodriguez has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on James's face as he tries to break the clinch.
James is trying to force a seperation but Rodriguez has the dominant position.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James tries to break free but Rodriguez pushes him back against the cage.
Rodriguez misses with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
James tries to circle away but Rodriguez has him pinned against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Emmanuel Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James keeps the fight on the outside.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts James, as that shot connected.
James lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rodriguez doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Kristobel James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez slips a jab and a cross from James.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rodriguez throws a wild body kick that James sees coming a mile off.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.
James has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
James jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.
Nice shot by James.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A punch lands to the side of Rodriguez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
James misses with the combination.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rodriguez wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rodriguez circles away quickly and effectively.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.
Rodriguez scores with a one two! James had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rodriguez wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James misses with an uppercut. Rodriguez saw that one coming.
James's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and James duly obliges.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.
James finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rodriguez fails in his attempt to clinch.
James misses with a double jab.
James falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rodriguez counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James blocks an uppercut.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
James blocking some punches.
Rodriguez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
Rodriguez keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Rodriguez blocks a jab.
James throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Rodriguez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rodriguez fails in his attempt to clinch.
James uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rodriguez has time to react.
Rodriguez is looking to clinch.
Rodriguez tries to clinch up.
James falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rodriguez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rodriguez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rodriguez blocks a jab.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodriguez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James looks to land a left hand but Rodriguez moved out of range nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodriguez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rodriguez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodriguez looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James tries to bum rush Rodriguez with a series of wild strikes but Rodriguez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rodriguez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rodriguez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Donk. James catches Rodriguez right on the button with a cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rodriguez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
James throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez needs to keep his hands up - James had a free shot at his head there.
Rodriguez slips under a jab from James.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James connects with a crisp jab.
James looks for the body kick but Rodriguez saw that one coming.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rodriguez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rodriguez misses with a punch on the inside.
Rodriguez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
James looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.
Rodriguez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.
Rodriguez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Rodriguez misses with a knee strike.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
James is trying to force a seperation but Rodriguez has the dominant position.
Rodriguez throws a knee to the head but misses.
James wants to break free but Rodriguez has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A shot in the inside from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez lands a nice uppercut.
Rodriguez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.
Rodriguez misses with a knee to the head.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rodriguez keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rodriguez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rodriguez misses with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rodriguez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
Rodriguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
James has had enough of the clinch but Rodriguez keeps him there for the moment.
Rodriguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
James blocks an uppercut.
Rodriguez prevents James from breaking the clinch.
Rodriguez misses with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Rodriguez throws a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rodriguez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rodriguez connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Rodriguez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rodriguez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rodriguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
Rodriguez tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
Rodriguez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
Rodriguez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
James is trying to break free.
Rodriguez keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rodriguez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez throws a knee to the head but misses.
James wants to break the clinch but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
James is trying to break free.
Rodriguez missing with knees to the body.
Kristobel James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rodriguez keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Emmanuel Rodriguez.
I've got Rodriguez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emmanuel Rodriguez!