PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francis Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Warren (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.

Rodriguez
vs
Warren

180 cm
23
207 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 Las Vegas, Francis Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bryan Warren!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rodriguez wants it to stay on the feet.
Rodriguez slaps away a takedown attempt from Warren, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Warren doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.
Francis Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Warren's hands.

It looks like Bryan Warren has been cut.
Rodriguez misses with a series of wild punches.
A big right from Warren misses.

Warren closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Warren stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Rodriguez throws a hook to the side of Warren's head but Warren sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Warren sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Rodriguez or perhaps it was just good defense by Warren which made him look bad.

Rodriguez gets a takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Warren wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warren is refusing to be controlled, as Rodriguez sits in half guard.
Rodriguez prevents Warren from standing back up.
Warren looks gassed!
Warren is refusing to be controlled, as Rodriguez sits in half guard.
Rodriguez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rodriguez thows a huge punch but Warren dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rodriguez trying to control the action but Warren is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Warren!
Rodriguez working the ground and pound effectively.
Rodriguez looking to control but Warren is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rodriguez is landing with some decent strikes but Warren is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to control but Warren wriggling away.
Warren is looking to get to half guard.
Rodriguez trying to control but Warren is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Warren wants to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rodriguez tries to control but Warren wriggling away.
Rodriguez lands a big shot there that rocks Warren but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rodriguez with the ground and pound from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Warren can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rodriguez working Warren over with strikes here.
Rodriguez punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tries to control but Warren wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Rodriguez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bryan Warren's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rodriguez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rodriguez is looking to take a break and control but Warren is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Warren avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodriguez.
Warren is looking to control Rodriguez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Warren avoid being mounted?
Rodriguez working over Warren with some ground and pound. Warren looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rodriguez is looking to take a break and control but Warren is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Warren is breathing heavily.
Warren is looking for a sweep. Rodriguez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warren makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Warren.
Rodriguez passes Warren's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rodriguez working over Warren with some ground and pound. Warren looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Rodriguez gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
No joy there for Rodriguez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rodriguez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rodriguez shoots in for a double leg but Warren sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warren stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodriguez. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet.

Warren scores with a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
Warren wants to stand but Rodriguez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Warren won't allow Rodriguez to get back to his feet.
Warren is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Warren won't allow Rodriguez to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warren trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Rodriguez or perhaps it was just good defense by Warren which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Rodriguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Warren shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Warren showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to kick Warren off but Warren keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Warren decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Rodriguez looks for a takedown but Warren sprawls well.
Warren shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rodriguez sprawls well. Rodriguez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Warren gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodriguez looks to land a combination but Warren avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Warren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bryan Warren's cut.
That's time! Rodriguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Warren decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.
Warren tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rodriguez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Warren seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Warren stops Rodriguez from getting back to his feet.
Rodriguez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Francis Rodriguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Warren stands up from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warren with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rodriguez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodriguez.
A combination from Rodriguez does no damage.
Warren shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Warren's guard now.
Rodriguez wants to control from the top but Warren keeps moving.

Warren pushes Rodriguez off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warren throws a series of punches but Rodriguez avoids them all with ease.
Rodriguez misses with a low kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Warren.
Francis Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Warren.
Warren tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rodriguez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Warren somewhat.
Warren on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rodriguez cracks Warren with a good jab.
Warren pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Warren fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rodriguez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warren is not content to let Rodriguez control the position.
Warren tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Rodriguez tries to move to mount but Warren blocks the move with his legs.
Warren tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Warren looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Rodriguez misses with a punch to the head.
Rodriguez struggling to land strikes to the head as Warren covers up.
Warren is keeping busy.
Rodriguez is not going to allow Warren to sit and survive in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francis Rodriguez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rodriguez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

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