PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rico Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Coelho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rico Rodriguez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rodriguez
vs
Coelho

165 cm
20
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rico Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Coelho!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez shoots for a takedown but Coelho saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Coelho looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rodriguez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Coelho manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Rodriguez stopping the sweep attempt from Coelho.
Coelho keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodriguez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coelho keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.

Rodriguez has gone for a leg lock! Coelho slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Coelho is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rodriguez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rodriguez has escaped and now he's on top!
Coelho wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rodriguez throws a big right hand that misses.
Rodriguez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rodriguez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Coelho is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Rodriguez misses with a series of wild punches.
Rico Rodriguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Coelho slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodriguez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rodriguez dives in and grabs Coelho's left leg, looking for a takedown. Coelho pushes down on Rodriguez's head and hops out.
Coelho with a poor takedown

and Rodriguez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Rodriguez pulls Coelho into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Coelho not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Coelho trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rodriguez holds on and takes a little breather.
Coelho has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rodriguez is proving hard to escape from.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Coelho is one step ahead there.

Rodriguez pushes Coelho off and gets back to his feet.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Coelho was covering up waiting for the punch and Rodriguez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rodriguez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rodriguez tries to free his leg and advance position but Coelho is retaining full guard.
Coelho looking for a sweep. Not yet Coelho, not yet.

Coelho is working an open guard so Rodriguez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Rodriguez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Coelho takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Coelho swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rodriguez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Coelho's guard.
Coelho working a defensive guard here.
Rodriguez controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rodriguez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Rodriguez scores a takedown into full mount!
Coelho is desperately trying to improve his position but Rodriguez has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Coelho has his takedown stuffed

and Rodriguez counters with a takedown into side control.
Rico Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Coelho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodriguez remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coelho trying to remain calm as Rodriguez controls from the top position.
Coelho is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Rodriguez is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Coelho is trying desperately to improve position.
Rodriguez manages to capitalize on a mistake by Coelho to take his back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Coelho has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez controlling the position well here. Coelho rolled but Rodriguez kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Rodriguez clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rodriguez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rodriguez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rodriguez works to advance to full mount. Coelho defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Rodriguez controlling from mount.
Rodriguez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Coelho looks a forlorn figure.

Coelho is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez scoring with strikes but Coelho is staying in there.
Coelho is still in real trouble! Can Rodriguez finish him?
Oooooh, big shot lands for Rodriguez! Coelho is hurt baaadly! Rodriguez is firing away with more strikes - Coelho is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Rico Rodriguez!