PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Balack Rassum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Louis Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rassum
vs
Rodriguez

170 cm
26
135 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

180 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Balack Rassum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Louis Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez lands with a thumping leg kick.

Rodriguez takes the fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez wants to stall.
Rodriguez looking to throw knees to the head but Rassum is blocking nicely.
Rodriguez is looking to control Rassum's arms but Rassum gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rodriguez has his back to the cage.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rassum blocks the elbow strike.
Rodriguez crunches a lovely knee into Rassum's ribcage.
Rodriguez is trying to stall.
Rassum putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rodriguez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the head.
Rodriguez is trying to maintain a safe position but Rassum gets an underhook and turns Rodriguez into the cage.
Rodriguez scores with a knee to the head.
Rodriguez avoids a wild elbow strike from Rassum.
Rodriguez is trying to stall.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rassum shoots in for a takedown but Rodriguez shows good takedown defense.
Rassum keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Rodriguez moves into the clinch successfully.
Rodriguez wants to stall.
Rodriguez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rassum after a bit of a struggle.
Rodriguez avoids the elbow strike from Rassum, against the cage.
Rodriguez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rassum is defending well for now.
Rassum throws an elbow that misses.
Rodriguez looking to slow down the pace here.
Rassum creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rodriguez is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rodriguez is looking to control Rassum's arms but Rassum gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rodriguez has his back to the cage.
Rassum throws an elbow that misses.
Rassum lands with a left to the head.
Rodriguez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez drags the fight down to the ground.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rassum is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Rassum tries to pass.
Rassum is stalling in the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Balack Rassum just wasn't active enough.

Rodriguez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rassum stalling.
Rodriguez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rodriguez.
Rassum misses with a knee strike.
Rodriguez taking a breather.

Rodriguez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rodriguez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rodriguez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rassum showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rodriguez trying to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rassum wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is keeping the position.
Rassum is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rassum looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rodriguez is fending him off so far but Rassum persists. Nope, Rodriguez circles away and we're back to standing.

Rodriguez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rodriguez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rassum smiles and moves away.
Balack Rassum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Louis Rodriguez.
A good leg kick by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez lands a high kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rodriguez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rassum did well to prevent Rodriguez getting side control.
Rodriguez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rassum is looking to improve his position.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Rodriguez dominated that round.
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 gets a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rassum lands a damaging elbow.
Rassum stalls.
Rassum is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rodriguez is defending well for now.
Rassum throws an elbow but it misses.
Rassum has Rodriguez pressed against the cage, preventing Rodriguez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rodriguez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rodriguez is looking for a takedown.
Rassum looking to throw knees to the head but Rodriguez is blocking nicely.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rodriguez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rodriguez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to stall but Rassum improves his position.
Rodriguez looking for a takedown.
Balack Rassum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Louis Rodriguez.

Rassum escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rassum shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rodriguez as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodriguez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rassum.
Rodriguez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rassum's sensitive parts.

Rodriguez pushes Rassum up against the cage in a clinch.
Rodriguez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rassum is trying to break the clinch but Rodriguez has him pressed against the cage.
Rodriguez lands an elbow inside.

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

Rodriguez clinches up against the cage.
Rassum misses with a knee strike.
Rodriguez controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rodriguez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rassum in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rodriguez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rassum's face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodriguez managing to block the knees to the body from Rassum.
Rodriguez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rassum fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rodriguez stuffs the takedown.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.
Rodriguez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rassum in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Rassum manages to get underhooks.
Rassum looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rassum takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rodriguez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Rodriguez as Rassum shoots in.
Rodriguez thumps Rassum with a low kick.

Rodriguez forces Rassum back against the cage and clinches.

Rodriguez drags the fight down to the ground.
Rassum looking to pass the guard.
Rassum looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rassum 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to free his leg and advance position but Rassum is retaining full guard.
Rodriguez wanted to stand there but Rassum had control of the position.
Rodriguez trying to control but Rassum is working from the bottom.
Rassum has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rassum keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Louis Rodriguez.
Rodriguez scores with a push kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rodriguez has managed to clinch.
Rodriguez leaning against his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rodriguez gets a clinch.
Rodriguez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rodriguez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rodriguez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rassum pulls his leg out and moves away.

Rodriguez takes the fight into the clinch.
Rodriguez lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but Rassum holds him up against the cage and eventually Rodriguez drops back down to his feet.
Rassum stalls.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rassum.
Rodriguez avoids a wild elbow strike from Rassum.
Rodriguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rassum blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez manages to pull guard.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rassum is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rassum seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rodriguez for as long as he can get away with.

Balack Rassum has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rassum closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away.

Rodriguez has managed to clinch.
Rassum gets underhooks to prevent Rodriguez's takedown attempt.
Balack Rassum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Louis Rodriguez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rassum just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rodriguez's brow.
Rodriguez letting Rassum take a breather here.
Rassum pushes off an throws an elbow but Rodriguez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rodriguez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rassum takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rassum will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rodriguez up against the cage.
Rodriguez tries for a takedown but Rassum manages to get underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rassum just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rodriguez's brow.

Rassum breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rodriguez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rassum, pushing him back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rassum as Rodriguez tries to tie him up.
Rassum creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Louis Rodriguez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rodriguez pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rassum forces his way into half guard.
Rodriguez is trying to stand back up but Rassum is controlling him
Rassum controlling the action here.
Rodriguez manages to get to full guard.
Rassum is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rassum preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rassum wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Balack Rassum just wasn't active enough.

Rodriguez forces Rassum back against the cage and clinches.
Rodriguez looking for a takedown.
Rodriguez looking to stall.

Rodriguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balack Rassum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rassum throws a right and a left that both miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rodriguez has Rassum up against the cage in a clinch.
Rodriguez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rassum fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodriguez.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Louis 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Louis Rodriguez!
A less than humble Louis Rodriguez misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.