PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Luis Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lou Cifer Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Luis Rodriguez
vs
Cifer Jr

191 cm
28
268 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

200 cm
24
264 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jose Luis Rodriguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lou Cifer Jr!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cifer Jr!
Cifer Jr shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rodriguez sprawls well. Rodriguez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cifer Jr gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodriguez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rodriguez scores with a jab.
Rodriguez defending well as Cifer Jr loads up on a big left hand.
Cifer Jr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cifer Jr avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez tries to sprawl but Cifer Jr drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez wants to control but Cifer Jr passes into side.
Rodriguez tries to bench press Cifer Jr off him but Cifer Jr keeps the position.

Rodriguez sneaks out the side door and pushes Cifer Jr away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cifer Jr fails to land the takedown.
Jose Luis Rodriguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lou Cifer Jr.
Rodriguez misses with a head kick.
Cifer Jr throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cifer Jr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rodriguez throws a sloppy head kick and Cifer Jr moves out of range easily.
Cifer Jr shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lou Cifer Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cifer Jr throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cifer Jr is in Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rodriguez has an active guard here but Cifer Jr has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cifer Jr scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cifer Jr throws a strike but Rodriguez avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Cifer Jr makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cifer Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.

Rodriguez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cifer Jr can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cifer Jr wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Cifer Jr thows a big elbow that misses.
Rodriguez looking to control.
Cifer Jr throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cifer Jr wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cifer Jr postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rodriguez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cifer Jr, into his guard.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Cifer Jr has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cifer Jr trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.
Rodriguez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cifer Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rodriguez has gone for a leg lock! Cifer Jr slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rodriguez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cifer Jr.
Cifer Jr throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cifer Jr throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Cifer Jr from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cifer Jr with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jose Luis Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cifer Jr closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cifer Jr lands in his opponent's guard.
Rodriguez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Rodriguez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cifer Jr is aware though and is defending well.
Cifer Jr is looking to advance position but Rodriguez has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Rodriguez throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cifer Jr because Rodriguez loaded up on that one.

Rodriguez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Cifer Jr turns into him and now he's in Rodriguez's guard.
Rodriguez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cifer Jr is fighting to break Rodriguez's control of his arms but Rodriguez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Cifer Jr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cifer Jr postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rodriguez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cifer Jr's guard.
Rodriguez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cifer Jr manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodriguez manages to get himself to full guard.
Cifer Jr throws and elbow that misses. Rodriguez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cifer Jr's guard. Nice move by Rodriguez!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to free his leg and advance position but Cifer Jr is retaining full guard.
Cifer Jr trying to control the position here.
Rodriguez looking to sit in guard and control but Cifer Jr gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cifer Jr trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Cifer Jr throws a strike but Rodriguez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cifer Jr holds on and takes a little breather.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Lou Cifer Jr wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cifer Jr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to avoid it but Cifer Jr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

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.
Cifer Jr misses with a double jab.

Rodriguez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cifer Jr to the mat! Cifer Jr manages to get full guard.
Rodriguez trying to control but Cifer Jr is working from the bottom.
Cifer Jr seems keen to control Rodriguez's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cifer Jr changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rodriguez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lou Cifer Jr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cifer Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tries a head kick but it misses.

Cifer Jr bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cifer Jr in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Cifer Jr tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cifer Jr lands some shots froms side control.
Cifer Jr looks up at the clock and then as Rodriguez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Cifer Jr smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Cifer Jr throws an elbow but Rodriguez slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodriguez is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cifer Jr is trying to get an arm triangle but Rodriguez is defending well.

Cifer Jr goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rodriguez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cifer Jr's guard! Nice work there by Rodriguez!
Rodriguez preventing the sweep.

Rodriguez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cifer Jr manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rodriguez has Cifer Jr in his guard.
Cifer Jr won't allow Rodriguez to get back to his feet.

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.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cifer Jr passes into half guard.

Rodriguez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cifer Jr pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cifer Jr lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rodriguez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rodriguez tries to kick Cifer Jr off but Cifer Jr keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Cifer Jr is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rodriguez defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cifer Jr is keen to just control but Rodriguez is a slippery customer.
Cifer Jr is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cifer Jr working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Rodriguez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cifer Jr pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cifer Jr lands a nice short elbow.
Cifer Jr thows a huge punch but Rodriguez dodges it nicely.
Cifer Jr working the head and body with strikes.
Cifer Jr lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cifer Jr working over Rodriguez with some ground and pound. Rodriguez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cifer Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodriguez keeps working.
Cifer Jr passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cifer Jr with shots to the head and body - Rodriguez looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cifer Jr has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rodriguez's face.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cifer Jr fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Cifer Jr lands with some strikes.
BOOM! Cifer Jr connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Lou Cifer Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cifer Jr 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lou Cifer Jr!